Reader Question: Baby Food on a Plane
Here is a reader question from Cori. Feel free to send me your own questions at debbie AT deliciousbaby DOT com. I will do my best to answer them!
Your articles are so great and so very helpful! I am traveling to Kauai in May with a 10 month old and have a few questions. I am a breast feeding mom, do you have any advice on how to handle a 10 month old during take off and landing? Should I bottle feed? Or try to breast feed during these times? (My son doesn't take a pacifier) I'd also like to take some Plum Organics pouches for my son, I was thinking 2 or 3, and also some Puff snacks. Do you know what the TSA says about that?
Thanks in advance for your advice!!
Cori,
Thanks so much for writing! I'm glad to hear that my site has been a help to you.
There are different opinions about how to handle a breastfeeding infant on a plane. With my own kids, I always held them in my arms and nursed during takeoff and landing. 9 times out of 10 the warm milk and engine noise were so soothing that they would fall asleep in my arms. I put them in their seat once we reached cruising altitude, and with any luck at all, the gentle motion of the plane helped them sleep through the entire flight. That said, takeoff and landing are the most dangerous times during a plane ride, so you might prefer to have your baby secured in a child seat and bottle feed. One thing to note, if a child is sleeping during takeoff or landing, there's no need to wake them up to nurse.
TSA allows you to bring baby food in "reasonable quantities" but doesn't state a rule of thumb for how much food that would be. I try to allow enough for the flight time plus what we'd need to get us through the day until we can visit a grocery store. On some trips, the baby food has passed through screening without question. On others, agents have insisted on opening any pouches that are over 100ml so that the contents can be tested. Open baby food can be kept out of refrigeration safely for just a few hours, so I recommend searching for packages that are under 3.5 ounces (100 grams)
I hope you have a wonderful time in Kaui!
Sincerely,
Debbie
Breastfeeding and Pumping on a Plane
Breeze through airport security with kids
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Posted on April 25, 2013 |
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Comments
eileen @ FamiliesGo! on April 30, 2013 at 6:47 a.m.
Those resealable pouches are often 3 Oz. or under and aren't too perishable. We also like freeze dried fruit, yogurt drops and cheerios for traveling. Not liquid, not perishable, very portable and easy for babies to eat. So so handy!