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If you’re a breastfeeding mom who has ever traveled with breast milk, even if it’s just to and from work, you already know the struggles. But going through TSA for the first time with breast milk can feel like a whole other kind of overwhelming. This guide explains everything you need to know about TSA breast milk rules!
TSA Breast Milk Rules Made Simple
- There is no limit to the quantity of breast milk you can travel with
- Your baby does not need to be present or traveling with you
- You can travel with fresh or frozen milk
- Cooling accessories (freezer packs, gel packs) are allowed
- You can refuse x-ray screening of your breast milk
- There are additional screening processes available depending on your breast milk’s mode of transport
These are the quick and easy TSA breast milk rules. But I know traveling with breast milk can be stressful (we work hard for that milk!), so let’s discuss further what to expect when going through airport security.
NO LIMIT TO BREAST MILK QUANTITY
Typical TSA rules state you can’t bring any liquids with you in your carry-on that exceed 3.4 oz. This does not apply to breast milk. Breastmilk (and formula) are considered medically necessary liquids, therefore, you can bring as much as you need.
YOUR BABY DOES NOT NEED TO BE PRESENT
Many new moms worry their baby needs to be with them for them to travel with breast milk, but this is not the case! Your infant or child does not need to be present or traveling with you for you to bring breast milk or related supplies.
COOLING ACCESSORIES ARE ALLOWED
Breast milk cooling accessories, such as ice packs, gel packs, or coolers, are permitted to be brought with you in your carry-on. Regardless of the presence of breast milk! This means even if you’re not currently traveling with any breast milk, you can still pack these in your carry-on.
They are also exempt from the 3.4 oz rule when used for medically necessary liquids. If the cooling items are partially frozen or slushy, they are subject to screening but still allowed.
TRAVELING THROUGH TSA
When you reach security, inform the TSA officer that you are traveling with breast milk in quantities that exceed 3.4 ounces. Keep all feeding items separate so you can easily remove them for the screening process.
According to TSA, there is no harm caused to your breast milk during an X-ray screening. However, you do have the right to deny and can request manual screening.
Remove your breast milk from your other items and place it in a separate bin. State you would like a manual inspection and to be present during the screening of your breast milk.
TSA recommends that breast milk be transported in clear, translucent bottles (not plastic bags). However, this is not required and is recommended based on the ability to expedite the screening process.
At this point, the TSA agent will need to touch and sort through your milk depending on how it is stored. You can request that the officer change their gloves before handling your breast milk for sanitary purposes.
If you are traveling with frozen milk in plastic storage bags, I recommend keeping them all in a clear, gallon ziploc bag in the cooler so they can be easily seen, but don’t have to be sorted through. They may perform a residue wipe on the outside of a bag for screening purposes.
If you are traveling with fresh or thawed breast milk, the TSA agent will open the container and hover what looks like a little dip stick over the top of the milk. The screening will never include placing anything into the breast milk.
Once the TSA agent has completed the screenings, you should then be able to safely pack your breast milk back up.
Here you can see the TSA officer explaining how to perform the vapor test on a Ceres Chill breast milk chiller. The original video comes from @whereisbriggs on Instagram (one of my favorite traveling with kids accounts)!
ANY ADDITIONAL CONCERNS
If you have any additional concerns or want to speak to someone about the screening process directly, you may contact TSA Cares at (855) 787-2227.
Packing for Traveling with Breast Milk
I can’t speak about traveling with breast milk without mentioning one of my favorite breast milk storage containers, the Ceres Chill breast milk chiller.
I absolutely love my chiller for many reasons, but travel is definitely at the top. Rather than carrying around a bunch of bottles and a bulky cooler, the Ceres Chill chiller keeps up to 28 ounces of breast milk cold for up to 20+ hours! And, it’s TSA-approved! Many new moms have traveled through TSA with the chiller, and it makes it so easy.
You can use the code JUNEANDLILY for 15% off! Ceres Chill is the OG breast milk cooler, and the company is the definition of moms supporting moms 💗
Depending on how much breast milk you’re planning to travel with, you can use your chiller alone (or two of them). Or if you plan to travel with more than 28 ounces, I recommend freezing the additional breast milk in storage bags and carrying that in a cooler with freezer packs.
Freezing your breast milk makes traveling through TSA a bit easier, so I recommend this option when you can!
All of My Favorite Products for Traveling with Breast Milk
These are just a handful of my essentials when traveling with breast milk. I prefer bringing a powerful, but portable breast pump. Depending on the age of my baby, I may use the fridge hack when storing pump parts. Otherwise, I pack everything needed to safely wash and store bottles and pump parts.
I hope with this post, you feel more prepared and confident traveling through TSA with your breast milk!
References:
https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/items/breast-milk