One of the many challenges of air travel with toddlers is deciding how to best transport the milk, juice, or other liquids they need. Although TSA allows parents with babies and toddlers to bring liquids in excess of 3.4 ounces, the reality is that the process is still far from easy. If you bring milk or other liquids with you for a flight, you very well may have to endure extra security screening. And let's not forget the hassles that liquids like milk pose if you need to keep them cold.
The original inspiration for this post came nearly a decade ago, when I received a full body pat-down at the Orange County, California airport for bringing milk for my 13 month old. It wasn't the first (and it definitely wasn't the last) time this happened to me. After over a decade of flying with little ones, I've experimented with all the options to try and dodge the hassles that toddler travel with milk brings.
There is no perfect solution for air travel with toddlers and liquids. I find it is helpful to do things a bit differently each time I travel, depending on the age of my little one and the duration of the flight. Here are the choices and alternatives you might consider when you need to travel with toddlers and milk.
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Can I Bring Milk on a Plane for My Toddler? Current TSA Rules
Since I started flying with young kids, the official TSA rules about milk and other liquids for babies and toddlers have changed multiple times. Often these rules have been confusing or internally inconsistent. And they've definitely been misinterpreted and incorrectly enforced by TSA agents all over the country.
For the definitive word, always go to TSA.gov's page about traveling with children for the most current formulations of the rules. Here is what they say in 2023:
Liquid Formula, Breast Milk, Toddler Drinks, and Baby/Toddler food (to include puree pouches)
Formula, breast milk, toddler drinks, and baby/toddler food (to include puree pouches) in quantities greater than 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters are allowed in carry-on baggage and do not need to fit within a quart-sized bag. Formula, breast milk, toddler drinks, and baby/toddler food (to include puree pouches) are considered medically necessary liquids. This also applies to breast milk and formula cooling accessories, such as ice packs, freezer packs, and gel packs (regardless of presence of breast milk). Your child or infant does not need to be present or traveling with you to bring breast milk, formula and/or related supplies.
Inform the TSA officer at the beginning of the screening process that you are carrying formula, breast milk, toddler drinks, and baby/toddler food (to include puree pouches) in excess of 3.4 ounces. Remove these items from your carry-on bag to be screened separately from your other belongings. TSA officers may need to test the liquids for explosives or concealed prohibited items....
The bottom line? Yes, you can bring milk, juice, or other liquid foods and drinks for your child. No, your child does not have to be a baby - the rules apply to toddlers too (although the age cutoff for toddlers isn't defined).
Note that the rules contain additional detail, recommending that passengers put liquid in clear, translucent bottles for easier screening. They also make clear that ice and frozen gel packs are permitted to keep permitted items cold as well.
Options & Ideas for Milk on Planes for Toddlers
Now on to the nitty gritty - exactly what products should you bring to make sure your toddlers have milk and their other favorite drinks in-flight? Here are the different solutions we've used and strategies we've employed in a variety of travel situations.
1) Cold milk in a thermos or insulated bottle
If your trip is fairly short and you can keep regular milk somewhat cold in a thermos or bottle, this is probably your best bet. TSA agents are often able to screen the milk by itself easily just by opening and testing the container. This means you often avoid the time and hassle of the dreaded full body pat-down.
If your toddler is partial to warmed or at least room temperature milk, however, you have to think about how best you can bring the temperature up before serving. If you carry a non-insulated container too (like a clear bottle), you can run that under warm water to warm up the contents. But this means a little bit of a juggle and a risk for spillage if you need to transfer the liquid into other containers. This challenge certainly isn't insurmountable, but is worth noting.
2) Shelf stable milk
For longer flights where you can't keep milk cold for the duration of your travels, shelf stable (aseptic) milk packs are your best bet. Since we often travel cross-country to see family, this has been the option we used the most.
We've found two brands are normally easy available in many grocery stores or online - Horizon or Organic Valley. But many grocery stores stores only seem to stock the 1% milk version, so if you have a younger toddler who only drinks whole milk, finding an acceptable product can be more challenging. Ordering online is probably your best bet, although you'll often have to pay a price premium.
- Horizon Whole Milk Boxes on Amazon
Be aware, however, that carrying shelf stable milk will sometimes result in enhanced security at the hands of TSA. Because TSA cannot open the sealed milk boxes (because they'd spoil), some agents insist on subjecting you to an enhanced pat-down. It's no fun, but I just accepted that this would happen some times.
If you fly often, you'll quickly learn which airports let these milks pass with ease (usually the larger ones used to seeing a lot of family travelers). Luckily, my home airports of SFO and OAK seem to let me pass without incident.
3) Powdered toddler formula
Toddler formula was one of the newer products on the market when my first child was a toddler. And although it is probably not a necessary product for most toddlers most of the time, it has the huge advantage of being available in powdered form. And that means no worries about liquid screenings for air travel!
As long as your toddler likes the taste, you can use it instead of milk while in transit. Bring a small amount of the powder with you on your air travels, and mix it up with water in the airport or on the plane.
Before you commit to this strategy, however, try the formula out at home well in advance of your trip if your toddler doesn't normally drink it already. The taste might be a struggle for some toddlers who've fully transitioned to milk.
4) Buy milk in the airport
Many families simply plan to avoid the TSA screening hassles by purchasing milk for their toddlers once they get through the checkpoints and on the sterile side of security. This is a little risky, as milk isn't always available in every location in every airport. You may have to try multiple stores, and you may not be able to find the type of milk your child drinks - particularly if you have a younger toddler who drinks whole milk.
However, if you know the airport you are departing from (or if you can wing it without milk with one or more of these other backup options if it turns out to be unavailable), this approach is certainly viable.
As our toddlers got older and drank juice on occasion, we knew that could work in a pinch in transit as well for hydration.
5) On-board your flight
This is the one option that I don't recommend - at least when it comes to milk! Although all airlines usually carry several varieties of juice, most airlines do not carry much milk on board, if any. And some airlines will only make the limited milk they do have available for use with the coffee service. If you wait to think about milk for your toddler until you board the plane, you will likely be out of luck. So plan ahead for another choice.
Additional Tips for Milk and Air Travel
Worried that carrying milk or other toddler liquids is going to be a hassle? Here are a few other tips to set you up for success.
- Leave extra time: If you are carrying liquids over the 3.4 ounce limits, always build in extra time for TSA screening. And make sure you know all the other tricks for speeding through airport security with kids so it's only the milk that might slow you down!
- Print/screenshot TSA Rules: If you anticipate trouble with TSA (or even if you don't!), it's never a bad idea to have the rules handy to address any misunderstandings. Don't assume TSA agents know the rules. Chances are good many parents who do their research know them better!
- Ask for a supervisor: If you are having trouble with a particular agent and think the toddler milk rules are being misapplied to you, don't be afraid to ask for a supervisor. I did this several times when agents insisted that I open shelf-stable cartons which would result in the milk inside spoiling.
- Do additional research for international travel: The rules for milk and liquids are often different in other countries. So although this post should have you covered for domestic U.S. travel, if you are traveling internationally, you need to carefully read security screening rules for all airports you are departing from and connecting in.
How have you handled milk when traveling with toddlers? Leave your tips in the comments.
Eleanor says
This is very helpful! But the other option is to have the kid make do with water until you get to your destination. She's not going to suffer medically from not having milk temporarily, so it just comes down to trying to keep her happy while traveling (a worthy goal also). Just to mention it, in case it relieves some pressure on traveling parents.
tripswithtykes says
Yes, excellent point! Definitely not medically necessary, but my little guy is much happier when he gets his milk at fairly set times, as he's only 13 months. When our daughter was an older toddler, we definitely made do with juice and water.
Ann says
I guess this is applicable for the short flight but not long international flights
Megan says
My thermos for my daughter says it keeps liquids cold for 10 hours? More i suspect if you chilled it all prior. I plan to use that, add take along an UHT milk for after the first thermos has been consumed or is no longer good.
Sarah C. says
We actually have tried to use the shelf stable milk several times for our now 20 month old (other trips were at 14 and 16 months) and they always make us open it since it isn't medically necessary and those packs are over 3 oz. It sounds like this hasn't been a problem for you, but just a heads up that I've only successfully gotten them through once...the other 5 times through security they have given me the option of tossing it or opening them all (which defeats the purpose obviously;).
tripswithtykes says
Bummer! Was is all at the same airport? Please share which one if so! I've never once had to open them and I've traveled with them dozens of times through many different airports (including SFO, JFK, ATL, and many others). But I've had to stand my ground a few times and agree to do an enhanced pat down instead to get them through. Good advice to always have a backup because TSA agents unfortunately have the power to put you in a tight spot. I wish it weren't so arbitrary.
Isabelle C says
Just back from dmk airport bangkok. They dont allow me to bring the whole milk as they said its not for baby above 1 years old. They told me “baby dont drink this”. After some arguement they only allow me to bring 8oz?. Definately not enough for a 18month baby for next 7 hours. Really frustrating with the 0 knowledge about the baby/infant when u are working in the airport that scan thru thousands of people per day.
Newish Mom says
Another option for buying milk at the airport is to find a Starbucks or other coffee chain. They typically have a variety of milk types available. I just bring a couple of empty thermos through screening and then buy it there. I do have a couple of shelf stable in the diaper bag just in case.
Megan says
Good idea!
Kate says
I plan to carry whole milk the same way I would breastmilk - in the medela pumping bottles, in the small medela cooler with icepack. I used this setup while pumping and it keeps up to 20 ounces of milk cold for 12+hrs.
Dana says
How did your experience go with the ice pack and Medela bottles?
Anonymous says
I went thru San Diego with medela bottles of BM. They opened them all and let me thru. No problem. It wasn't much or far so I froze them.
Jenee says
Would tsa officers know the difference between bm and whole milk? I'd like to do the same this coming November but I don't want my whole milk to go to waste...
Angela says
The best option is powdered milk (not baby formula, powdered milk). It can be purchased at any grocery store and just needs water to be mixed in with it just like baby formula. You can purchase water after security checkpoint. If you buy a box, it equates to about $3/gallon after it has been reconstituted. We don't have to make it harder than it needs to be by buying everything at the airport (or starbucks!). Just buy powdered milk, put it in ziploc bags or formula holders. 1/3 cup makes 8-9 oz of milk.
Alicia says
@Angela, yeah there is no way my kid is drinking powdered milk. She hates it. So this does not work for everyone. Maybe dont be so very pedantic in whats best. This was an excellent post showing different options that might work for different families/kids/flights.
mamaknowsbeautiful says
Great tips!! - I will definitely look into horizon
last trip to boston i just brought the 2 ounce premade enfamil gentlease formula for my toddler - i had a bunch of small bottles of these but just packed in a ziplock and didn't have an issue with security
of course took forever for them to look at my stroller this time around for whatever reason
my pediatrician doesn't recommend the toddler formula?
Fanny says
Thank you for these great tips, especially the shelf stable whole milk. We'll be flying out of SFO to the east coast with our 14 month old later this week and I've been stressing out about sourcing whole milk at with limited layover time. Bring on the pat down, this will be worth it.
lisa chavez says
Age two-year-old first flight 5 hours to Florida from California get for milk and keeping her occupied South screaming
Anonymous says
I think you made a wonderful article. But maybe you should add that in the case of smaller prepackaged milk, some airports... like Denver International Airport... will poke a hole thru the container to test for whatever they test for. Which means out of the 6 bottles I brought they opened one which got thrown away because they didn’t even open it normally... they poked a hole thru the side of the bottle. ? Idk I was getting patted down. But luckily I had brought enough to have some casualties, and they did let me have it. Note this is also the same airport security that makes my 2 year old remove his shoes to pass thru security and took apart my car seat cup holders and inspected everything.
Melissa Perez says
Another option is to freeze any liquid you bring no matter what size. I pureed all food, packed in glass containers of all sizes and frozen everything including milk(more slushy than frozen). The TSA security staff said that was the smartest thing to do. They don't need to test anything frozen...Liquids are the problem.
ZMom says
@Melissa Perez, This is a great idea! The food that you packed in glass containers, were those frozen as well? If anything one can freeze the puree and milk. Right? How about water bottles? Is that allowed?
Melissa G says
We had to travel multiple times last year for family emergencies and we found the easiest way to get a warm bottle of milk for our toddler (she would not drink it cold after being weaned off nursing) was to get it from a coffee shop. I asked for kid-temp whole milk and would either transfer it into her bottle or have them fill my hydroflask to keep it warm til ready in the flight. Careful though, kid-temp was often still to hot so we had to let it cool just about every time.
Melissa G says
@Melissa G, to clarify - from coffee shops AFTER the TSA check point.
Sabi says
Hi all, any suggestions for travelling International to DR with a toddler 18 months ago only drink dairy free milk? He's been drinking breastmilk since he was born into he was 1 year old, after that he's drinking Ripple milk which made mainly from
pea protein. Not sure what other dairy free milk are available in DR.
Hasi says
@Sabi,
Hi,
How did it work out for you?
I’m traveling to Jamaica with a 16 month old that drinks ripple milk as well. Curious if you had any tips?