How To Bring Frozen Breast Milk On An Aircraft?

This guide provides tips on how to safely pack frozen breast milk for traveling on an airplane. It includes tips on packing, thawing, and feeding the milk while traveling. Checked bags are allowed, but formula, breast milk, toddler drinks, and baby/toddler food in quantities greater than 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters are not allowed. If you don’t need to access the milk during your flight, you can check it in a small insulated cooler with frozen ice packs.

When freezing your milk, lay it flat in the freezer and purchase a leakproof zippered cooler. If traveling with frozen breast milk, pack it in a cooler filled with ice packs or dry ice. If using dry ice, make sure to remove it from your luggage. The TSA website states that formula, breast milk, and juice are allowed in reasonable quantities in carry-on bags.

Organize your frozen breast milk bags and store them in gallon-size Ziploc bags. If you have a large freezer, pack the frozen breast milk pouches into an insulated cooler bag and fill any air pockets with homemade ice packs prepared ahead of time. There is no limit to the amount of frozen breast milk you can check in your bag. Double bagging your milk is recommended.

Inform the TSA officer at the beginning of the screening process that you are carrying formula, breast milk, toddler drinks, and baby/toddler food. If ice packs begin to melt, they are also permitted but may be subject to further screening by TSA. You can carry freezer bags, ice packs, and gel packs to keep your breast milk frozen, but they need to be frozen solid.

How do you store frozen breast milk in a bag?

To store human milk, use clean food-grade containers or unused breastmilk storage bags, as they are the best for storing frozen milk for weeks or months. Avoid using bottles with the recycle symbol number 7, as they may contain BPA. Avoid using regular disposable bags, as freezing can cause leaks and breakage. If using breastmilk storage bags, squeeze the air from the top before sealing tightly. Place bags upright in another container to prevent leaks. Lay the bag flat in the freezer for faster thawing.

Combine milk from both breasts into a single container, storing only 2 to 4 ounces per container. Label each container with the date and any medicines taken. Some people combine milk from different pumping sessions into a large container and store it at the end of the day.

Store milk in coolers, refrigerators, and freezers for healthy, full-term infants. For premature or high-risk infants, consult your baby’s healthcare provider for specific instructions. Fresh breastmilk has the most active anti-infective properties, followed by refrigerated and frozen breastmilk.

How do I bring breast milk to the airport?

To avoid TSA screening, inform the officer about carrying formula, breast milk, toddler drinks, and baby/toddler food over 3. 4 ounces. Remove these items from your carry-on bag and be screened separately from other items. Test liquids for explosives or concealed prohibited items. Use clear, translucent bottles for formula and breast milk, not plastic bags or pouches. Bottle Liquid Scanners may not screen plastic bags or pouches, so alternate screening methods like Explosive Trace Detection and Vapor Analysis may be used.

Screening will never involve placing anything into medically necessary liquids. TSA X-ray machines are not harmful to food or medicines, but if you prefer not to have these items X-rayed or opened, inform the TSA officer. Additional screening procedures, including Advanced Imaging Technology screening and enhanced screening of other carry-on property, will be conducted.

How to keep breast milk frozen when travelling?

To freeze breast milk, use leak-proof, freezer-friendly pouches or containers like Stasher Go Bag or Stasher 1-Cup Bowl. Pack the frozen pouches into an insulated cooler bag and fill air pockets with homemade ice packs. The cooler should be full to prevent spoilage and slow down the melting process of the ice packs. A travel-friendly thermometer can help monitor the cooler’s temperature, ensuring it stays in the “freezer” range.

Travelling with breast milk by car is more convenient due to more storage space and access. However, the basic rules remain the same as by plane: keep frozen breast milk frozen, don’t let fresh milk sit at room temperature for more than 4 hours, consume chilled milk within 24 hours or freeze, and use a thermometer to monitor the temperature of your cooler during long drives.

How long can dry ice keep breastmilk frozen?

To freeze or cool breastmilk, use dry ice in an insulated shipping container, which can last up to 48 hours. Use an overnight or next-day delivery service to send the milk home. If traveling by plane, check with your airline to confirm if they allow dry ice on the flight. The airline agent should provide a Dry Ice sticker with the label “Carbon Dioxide Solid” or “Dry Ice” and the net weight of the insulated shipper, which can be up to five pounds. The process is not illegal or banned by the TSA.

What are the rules for frozen breast milk?

Frozen breast milk can be stored at 0°F or colder for up to 12 months, with optimal use within 6 months. The type of freezer does not matter, as long as the temperature is 0°F or below. To ensure the milk stays frozen, move it between freezer locations quickly and pack it on ice packs. If you plan to refrigerate breast milk and then freeze it later, it should be used or thrown away after 4 days, as its properties slow down the growth of bad bacteria. If you plan to freeze it, do so as soon as possible to maintain its quality.

How do you fly with cold breast milk?

Breast milk can be stored in a small insulated cooler with frozen ice packs on planes for domestic flights. Breast pumps can be brought on an airplane as a personal item, and can be carried like a laptop or purse on most airlines. Some airlines consider breast pumps a medical device and do not count them towards the carry-on total. However, some airlines may not count them. If you need to pump during the flight and want to stay in your seat, a battery-powered or manual breast pump may be useful. It is essential to contact your airline to confirm their policy.

How do you carry thawed breast milk?

Fresh milk can be transported within 24 hours with proper storage and transportation times, provided the fridge temperatures are maintained using an insulated box and deep frozen ice-packs. If no ice-packs are used, use within 4 hours. Hand-expressing and storing breastmilk can help relieve pressure from blocked ducts or mastitis, and can also provide extra milk for the baby in the first few days. This information can be found in a downloadable leaflet on Expressing and Storing Breastmilk.

How many hours does frozen breast milk last?

Breast milk is a valuable source of nutrition for babies when they are not around. It can be stored safely in a room temperature of 16°C to 25°C or in a freezer of -18°C or colder. The safe storage time for breast milk is up to four hours, six hours for very clean conditions, and up to nine months for very clean conditions. Expressed breast milk retains most of its health-giving benefits, making it a better option than formula. However, good hygiene is crucial to ensure the safety of stored milk.

Freshly expressed breast milk is preferable to refrigerated milk, as it has the best bacteria-fighting properties and is higher in antioxidants, vitamins, and fat than refrigerated or frozen milk. Therefore, it is essential to store and use breast milk properly to ensure the best possible nutrition for your baby.

How do you fly with dry ice and breast milk?

To prepare breast milk for shipping, carefully pour it into storage bags, remove excess air, and seal. Freeze the bags overnight, then place them in a styrofoam cooler with dry ice wrapped in newspaper. Fill any excess space with newspaper, seal the cooler with packing tape, and place it inside a cardboard shipping box. Seal the box and bring it to your post office or shipping center with pre-printed shipping labels. If shipping to a hospital, follow specific instructions from the staff.

If shipping to a donor milk bank, follow the specific handling, storage, and shipping guidelines. Ensure someone is available to accept the milk upon arrival and ensure it is properly stored after being removed from the shipping package.

How long does frozen breast milk last in a cooler bag?

Breast milk storage is crucial for maintaining the quality of expressed milk and the health of the baby. To ensure safe storage, nursing mothers and caretakers should wash their hands before handling the milk, store it in clean containers, and clearly label the container with the child’s name and date. Do not mix fresh milk with frozen milk, and do not save milk from a used bottle for another feeding. When filling a container for storage, leave an inch of space at the top to allow the milk to expand as it freezes.

Frozen breast milk should be kept in the middle of the freezer away from the sides where the temperature can fluctuate, and not partially thawed as it cannot be refrozen. This will help ensure the best possible storage and use of the milk.

Can I take frozen breast milk on a plane?

The TSA rules allow frozen liquid items to pass through the checkpoint as long as they are frozen solid when presented for screening. However, the liquid must be completely frozen. If this is the case, the item can pass through security like normal. Liquid milk can also pass through, provided the baby is present. Swab testing of the husband and possibly the container’s exterior is required. The specific wording of the rules varies depending on the specific situation.