southwest travel with breast milk

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Chris Hassan

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Table of Contents

What is allowed on u.s. flights, tips for making tsa screenings easier, what is allowed in other countries, lactation areas, larger quantities of breast milk, breast milk delivery services, traveling with a breast pump, final thoughts.

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We have addressed this many times here before, but traveling with kids can be stressful.

As prepared as you might be, there is always the chance of a delay, a tantrum, rude passengers, and more. Add in trying to transport liquid gold (breast milk) through TSA while simultaneously maintaining it at the right temperature and you may soon realize there is a whole new level of stress that you hadn’t known before!

Unfortunately, we ever so regularly see a news report of a poor mother who was forced to throw away her breast milk due to a poorly informed TSA agent. If passengers (and TSA employees) were properly informed, we could all avoid these types of incidents.

Are you allowed to travel with breast milk? Does it have to be frozen? Does it have to be in liquid form? Does the child have to be flying with the parent? What about breast pumps?

Don’t worry, we did all of the research for you and we have the answers to all of these questions below!

We have already laid out the best ways for families to speed through TSA airport security , but let’s dig into the specifics of breast milk, baby formula, and juice (and even breast pumps) for you and your little one.

3-1-1 Restrictions

For “regular” travelers or travelers who don’t have little ones in tow, they are subject to the 3-1-1 restrictions on liquids.

That means normally you can bring a quart-sized bag of liquids, aerosols, gels, creams, and pastes through a TSA checkpoint. These items are limited to 3.4 ounces (100 ml) each.

Breast Milk, Baby Formula, and Juice Restrictions

Parents who are flying with or without a child are allowed to bring breast milk in “reasonable quantities” in containers greater than the standard 3.4 ounces normally required by TSA.

Yes, you read that correctly —  your child does not need to be with you if you are traveling with breast milk . It may be shocking to some, but breastfeeding mothers may at times need to travel for work or even pleasure without their child in tow.

In order to expedite your screening process, it is recommended that you notify the TSA agent in advance and place these items in a separate bin to be inspected.

It is possible that breast milk will only be tested by X-ray, but in our experience, a manual check for explosives is almost always conducted . This means swabbing the outside, and sometimes inside, of the container.

If you are adamant about TSA not opening the breast milk, there are alternative options for testing. However, that will lead to a longer and more comprehensive screening experience .

Ice packs, gel packs, and freezer packs are all allowed when being used to transport breast milk. However, if the ice packs become partially unfrozen or slushy, they also may be subject to additional screenings.

Hot Tip: If the breast milk is frozen, it will be faster and easier to pass the TSA checkpoint as opposed to fresh or partially thawed breast milk that will need special testing.

When traveling with breast milk there are a few steps that you can take to make your TSA screenings a little easier.

• Separate your breast milk from your other liquids, gels, aerosols, etc. in your carry-on bag and place them in a separate bin at the TSA checkpoint.
• By telling the agents in advance (as opposed to just sending it through the x-ray), you will give them an opportunity to get the appropriate staff and equipment ready for when it is your turn, hopefully saving you and the rest of the line some valuable time.
• As you reach the x-ray machine, have your breast milk out in a separate tray ready for inspection. We like to send anything that may need additional inspection through the x-ray first in an attempt to save time . Just note that the FDA has stated that sending food (or breast milk) through x-ray machines is not harmful. 
• If your breast milk is frozen, it may pass with only a visual inspection. However, if the breast milk is fresh, has thawed a bit, or is slushy, it may be subject to further inspection. You may be asked to open the container so that it can be tested for explosives.
• Be prepared to have any ice packs, freezer packs, or gel packs tested as well.

Just like the U.S. has its own rules, every other country has its own, too, when it comes to traveling with breast milk. And like most things in the travel world, it is subject to change at any time.

For example, in the U.K., you are also allowed to travel with fresh breast milk in your carry-on, but it is limited to 2000 ml (67.6 oz.) per container. But to be honest, traveling with multiple Coke bottles’ worth of breast milk in your carry-on might not be very practical!

However, in the U.K., if the breast milk is frozen it will need to be placed in your checked bag . While this may not be so bad during the winter months, especially if packaged well, be careful if your bag may be subject to warm weather!

Other European countries have similar rules, but as always, it is best to research each country and airline specifically before you head to the airport.

Once you have journeyed through security, you may find yourself needing to feed or pump and would probably enjoy some privacy while doing so.

Fortunately, thanks to the Friendly Airports for Mothers Act of 2017, large and medium hub airports are now required to provide a “lactation area” in each passenger terminal after security to support moms and their babies.

The bill defines a lactation area as a room or other area (like a pod) that:

• Is shielded from view and free from intrusion from the public
• Has a door that can be locked
• Includes a place to sit, a table or other flat surface, and an electrical outlet
• Is readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities
• Is not located in a restroom

While some airports have stepped up and created dedicated spaces like the Mothers Room at Chicago’s O’Hare , you are most likely to see pods in your travels.

The most popular pod at the moment is the Mamava , which is actually a standalone suite available at over 50 airports (as well as at sports stadiums) in the U.S.

The suites offer a mini oasis from hectic terminals for mothers and their babies to have a moment together and get ready for their next flight.

The Mamava suites that we visited recently at BTV and PHL offered 2 bench seats, a changing table, a mirror, nice lighting — and the best part, a bunch of motivational notes left by other mothers!

Hot Tip: If you are traveling while breastfeeding or pumping and want to try a Mamava, they have a handy app that will help you find the closest lactation suite.

If you are going on an extended trip and you are bringing what someone might consider a larger than normal amount of breast milk, you may run into some issues.

While the TSA website states that you can travel with “reasonable quantities” of breast milk, you are essentially leaving that interpretation up to the discretion of whatever TSA agent you get at check-in.

Depending on the age, stage, health, or any other variable your child may be, the “reasonable quantity” can vary a lot between families and the travel duration.

If you think that the amount of breast milk you want to travel with may be an issue, it is probably best to reach out directly to the airline you are traveling with to get some clear guidance (even better if you can get it in writing).

Hot Tip: If you don’t want to deal with the potential hassle of traveling with breast milk, there are alternatives that include shipping the milk to your final destination!

If you have read all of this and have decided that traveling with your little one AND navigating TSA checkpoints with breast milk is just not worth the hassle, we have found some alternatives for you.

Forget about trying to keep that liquid gold at the perfect temperature with rotating gel packs and free ice from the lounge — let a service like Milk Stork deal with it for you!

Milk Stork is a company that specializes in shipping your breast milk in specialized coolers so that you can feed your little one anywhere in the world. They take care of all of the logistics so that you can focus on what is really important.

Milk Stork will ship you a custom-made cooler so that you can pump and store your breast milk at your convenience and then ship it to your final destination via the prepaid label and postage that came with the box.

At the moment, Milk Stork offers 4 solutions for traveling with breast milk:

• This option is best when you want to carry your refrigerated milk home with you and you don’t need to ship it (such as a carry-on, road trip, cruise, etc.).
• Milk Stork will ship you a convenient carry-on tote bag that meets TSA regulations as well as cooling accessories for breast milk that provide up to 60 hours of refrigeration.
• Pricing starts at $79 plus shipping and handling for the tote bag and supplies.
• This option is best when you want to overnight ship your refrigerated milk while you are away.
• Milk Stork will ship you everything you need to have your breast milk overnighted by FedEx with a minimum of 72 hours of refrigeration guaranteed.
• Pricing starts at $139 for 34 ounces and $159 for 72 ounces plus shipping & handling to the final destination.
• This option is for those who are traveling internationally and want to take their refrigerated breast milk with them as a checked piece of luggage.
• Milk Stork will ship you their custom 108-ounce cooler (which they say is the equivalent of a 3-5 day supply of breast milk for most moms) which will provide a minimum of 90 hours of refrigeration from activation. The exterior dimensions of the cooler are 12 x 8 x 10 inches and the cooler weighs 16 pounds when fully loaded.
• 25 breast milk storage bags
• Circular seals to secure the exterior of the cooler, however, these may be broken if airport security feels the need to inspect the cooler
• Tamper-proof stickers to secure each individual breast milk storage bag
• Luggage tag
• Pricing starts at $289 .
• This door-to-door solution via FedEx is ideal for international travelers.
• Simply log onto their website with at least 4 business days of lead time to set up your delivery. Just be aware that they cannot process rush orders and that Saturday delivery isn’t available for international shipments.
• $289 — North America (Mexico, Canada, and the Caribbean)
• $329 — Europe, Asia, and Australia
• $399 — All other areas

Hot Tip: Call your airline to see if stored breast milk will qualify as child gear, as most airlines won’t charge for extra checked luggage for items such as strollers and car seats. 

Maven is a women’s and family healthcare company that offers a wide range of services to families and mothers.

One of their services is Maven Milk , which was created to help new parents transition back to work and get breast milk back to their baby easily, safely, and reliably.

Similar to Milk Stork, Maven Milk offers easy to use, TSA-approved, and travel safe options for your breast milk.

They even have very similar names and packages, such as:

• This option can domestically transport up to 36 ounces of breast milk and keep it refrigerated for up to 72 hours.
• 6 tamper-proof breast milk bags
• Medical-grade refrigerated shipping container
• FedEx packing and shipping directions plus delivery alerts
• These foams packs are TSA-friendly, keep breast milk cold longer than gel or water ice packs, fit easily in most travel coolers , and are reusable.
• This kit is designed to get you home from a trip abroad with your frozen breast milk (think working mom who is still pumping and had to leave her little one at home).
• Packs up to 270 ounces of frozen milk (about 9 days worth)
• Keeps milk frozen up to 24 hours
• Durable Coleman cooler with antimicrobial liner
• 9 foam cooling packs

While these kits all sound great, at the moment Maven Milk is only available through employers, so ask your HR rep if your company offers this service.

If you really don’t want to deal with the hassle of breast milk at the airport but are still more of a do-it-yourselfer, you can always just ship your milk to your final destination on your own.

FedEx offers some great options for shipping items that need to stay cold in transit. Their Temp-Assure shipping packages come in 5 different options and can get keep your breast milk between 35.6°F-46.4°C for up to 48 or 96 hours.

The Temp-Assure technology can keep your breast milk cold without the weight, hassle, and expense of using gel packs or dry ice.

Each of the 5 cold shipping packages includes a chilling unit that is activated by the shipper (by the press of a button!) and placed in the box with the breast milk. The unit continuously evaporates small amounts of water at a low pressure keeping your package at a safe temperature.

Some of the packaging highlights include:

• Constant Temperature : Your shipment will maintain a consistent temperate between 35.6°F and 46.4°F.
• 2 Cooling Duration Options Across 5 Box Sizes: Keep shipments cool up to 48 hours with the standard units available in 3 sizes, or up to 96 hours in the medium and large-sized boxes.
• Lightweight: Compared to dry ice or gel packs, you will pay less to the ship the unit itself.
• Hassle-Free Preparation: Simply press a button to start the unit before you pack it.
• Replacement Cooling Engines: Easily replace an expired cooling engine on your cold shipping package. Engines are available in all 5 package sizes which are great for reusing on future trips.

Prices start at $46 for the small standard duration unit (48 hours) and jump to $155 for the large extended duration unit (96 hours). Replacement engines start at $59 for a pack of 2 for a small box and go up to $170 for a pack of 3 that can be used in the large boxes.

How to Set up Your FedEx Breast Milk Shipment

Once you have decided that you are going to ship with FedEx, you will need to order your boxes from orderboxesnow.com which will then be delivered to you by FedEx.

After receiving your boxes and cold packs (“engines”), you just pack up your breast milk, press the button on the cold pack and schedule a pickup and delivery with FedEx.

Bottom Line: Milk Stork is obviously catered towards mothers and breast milk delivery, which may help make the process feel easier. However, if you are looking at shipping from point A to point B, FedEx has some pretty compelling options as well. 

This may be one area where things get a little confusing for TSA staff, not only because there aren’t any black and white rules regarding traveling with breast pumps, but also due to lack of personal familiarity.

While it is plausible that TSA agents without children may understand the need to travel with breast milk, it may not be as obvious why a mother (who may be without a child at the moment) may need to carry-on a breast pump.

As murky as the rules are for traveling with breast milk, at least they are laid out on the TSA website that you can bring up if needed. However, it is not as clear when it comes to breast pumps.

Is a Breast Pump a Medical Device?

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does consider breast pumps to be medical devices. That means that you can carry it on your flight and TSA should give you no trouble.

However, specific policies regarding the number of carry-on items are still left up to individual airlines.

Bottom Line: If you think you may be near your carry-on limit and are traveling with a breast pump, it may be a good idea to reach out to the airline directly to get clarification.

The most important take away is that you are allowed to bring breast milk above and beyond the standard 3-1-1 limits in your carry-on when traveling in the U.S.

On top of that, you are also allowed to bring baby formula and juice in quantities above the normal TSA limit of 3.4 ounces as well.

Just keep in mind that all of these items need to be separated from your other carry-on items to pass through the x-ray and will be subject to additional screening and explosive testing.

Additionally, if you are traveling with a large amount of breast milk that may be interpreted as more than a “reasonable quantity,” you could also consider shipping the milk to your final destination and avoid the stress of airport security.

Companies like Milk Stork and FedEx offer practical solutions for maintaining breast milk at safe temperatures while also assisting with transportation logistics.

At the end of the day, whether you are traveling with your child or not , there are plenty of options for transporting breast milk on your next trip!

And if you want to make sure you have no issues at check-in, be sure of have a printout of this TSA webpage handy!

Want more tips and tricks on family travel? Explore our dedicated Family Travel section.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can i bring breast milk and formula through security.

Yes! Parents are allowed to bring breast milk, baby formula, and juice above and beyond the normal 3.4 ounce TSA restrictions. Just be ready to keep them separate from your other carry-on items and to be tested for explosives.

How much breast milk can I carry on my flight?

According to the TSA website, you can carry on a “reasonable quantity” of breast milk, baby formula, and juice. If you are traveling with what someone might consider a large amount, it might be a good idea to contact your airline in advance to get clearer rules and or specific permission.

Can I ship or check my breast milk?

Yes! There are services available like Milk Stork and FedEx that will help you keep your breast milk at a safe temperature and handle the shipping logistics as well. Alternatively, Milk Stork has custom coolers to help with checking luggage internationally.

Can I bring my breast pump as a carry-on?

Yes. Breast pumps are considered medical devices by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) which means you can get past TSA with no issues (in theory). However, each airline can dictate their own rules when it comes to how many carry-on pieces you are allowed.

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About Chris Hassan

Chris holds a B.S. in Hospitality and Tourism Management and managed social media for all Marriott properties in South America, making him a perfect fit for UP and its social media channels. He has a passion for making content catered toward family travelers.

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Southwest Airlines: A Parent’s Guide to Flying with A Baby

• Southwest Airlines: A Parent’s Guide…

Bringing your baby on your travels can be a wonderful experience for both of you. But it can be difficult navigating airline travel with your little one. This guide to flying with a baby on Southwest will help you prepare for your next trip.

With Southwest Airlines, every adult has the right to one lap infant under two years old. A breast pump doesn’t count towards your carry-on limit, and you can check one stroller and one car seat free of charge. If you book a separate seat for your baby, you’ll pay the full price for a ticket.

Still have more questions? Keep reading to unpack the ins and outs of flying Southwest with a baby, including navigating the airport with a baby, what you can and can’t check, and your in-flight experience.

Table of Contents

Booking a ticket on Southwest Airlines for your baby

To book a ticket with Southwest Airlines, your baby needs to be at least 14 days old on the day of travel. Kids under two years old can fly free of charge as a lap infant with Southwest Airlines. If it’s an international flight, you won’t have to pay for an extra ticket, but you might need to pay some additional fees and taxes.

After you’ve booked your ticket, you’ll need to contact Southwest Airlines by phone or email to let them know you plan on traveling with a lap infant. They will add your baby’s information to the reservation to be verified at check-in.

Boarding passes for babies flying on Southwest Airlines

Lap infants under two years old don’t need a boarding pass. But you will need to obtain a Boarding Verification Document. You’ll need to get this at the airport check-in desk by providing age verification such as a birth certificate. If you have bought an extra seat for your child, they will need their own boarding pass.

What you can bring when flying with a baby on Southwest Airlines

If you’re flying with a lap infant, they aren’t entitled to any complimentary checked or carry-on luggage. Once your child is over two years old or if they have their own seat, they can bring on the standard luggage allowance for the flight.

What can you bring as a carry-on for your baby?

Getting through security.

You’ll be allowed to bring a breast pump as an extra carry-on free of charge. According to TSA guidelines, you can bring up to 3.4 ounces of breast milk in your carry-on through security. If your powdered formula exceeds 12oz (350ml) it may require extra screening. Baby food is allowed through TSA in reasonable amounts.

Lining up for security can be even more stressful with bored and disgruntled little ones. If you have A-List status, you can get fast-tracked through security and your kids can come with you for free. You could also apply for TSA Pre-check to cut down your waiting time.

Traveling with a stroller on Southwest Airlines

You can bring your stroller with Southwest Airlines for free, but it won’t be allowed inside the cabin. You can check your stroller at the curb, at the check-in desk, or at the gate.

Many parents like the convenience of having a stroller while they navigate the airport. You can check the stroller at check-in and use an airport stroller if they’re available. Or, if you’d rather keep your own stroller, you can check it at the gate. For more information on traveling with a stroller, check out this article on Southwest airline’s stroller policy .

Traveling with a car seat on Southwest Airlines

A car seat doesn’t count towards your checked luggage on Southwest and you can bring it free of charge. You can only bring the car seat onto the plane if you have purchased the middle or window seat next to you. You can’t put a baby in a car seat on an exit row.

If you plan on using the car seat on the flight, it must meet safety regulations which you can find in this blog about Southwest’s car seat policy . This also applies to any kind of child restraint system you choose to use instead.

Your flying experience with a baby on Southwest

The “A” boarding group gets on the plane first when flying with Southwest. If you didn’t get access to the “A” boarding group, Family Boarding is right after this. Family Boarding is classed as up to two adults and one child aged six or under. Southwest doesn’t provide assigned seats, so the earlier you board, the better.

There’s free entertainment with family-friendly options on most Southwest flights, so you should find something to keep your little one quiet. When your baby needs changing, all front lavatories on Southwest have changing stations.

Frequently asked questions

Where should i sit on a plane with a baby.

There’s lots of debate about where you should sit on a plane with a baby. Close to the toilet is always a good option. The back of the plane is a good choice as you have more freedom to move around when your baby doesn’t settle. You could also try to get seats in the bulkhead to allow you all some extra space.

How do you hold a baby on a plane?

If you have a lap infant, you’ll need to hold them as you normally would on your lap for the entire duration of the flight. Once you have a toddler who wants to move around more, it may be more comfortable for both of you to have your own seats. Southwest Airlines don’t offer bassinets, so you’ll need to bring a car seat or restraint for your baby if they have their own seat.

How do I protect my baby’s ears when flying?

The changes in air pressure can be painful for babies when flying. There are a few tips to help them through it. Giving them something to suck or chew on, like a pacifier, will help them to equalize. It’s not certain whether earmuffs will help with air pressure, but it will block out loud noises which could help them to sleep through it.

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Author:  Ashlie Went

Ashlie is a writer and digital nomad. An expert solo traveler, she spends her free time exploring new cities and finding the best street food. Find out more about her work at www.ashlie-went.com

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The Guide to Southwest Airlines’ Infant Policy

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Flying Southwest with an infant: Age restrictions

Southwest baby policy: fees and boarding passes, flying with an infant on southwest: how to book, flying with an infant on southwest while breastfeeding, boarding tips for flying southwest with an infant, bottom line.

Flying with small children, especially babies, can be extra stressful. There’s often more to bring with you when you fly and more preparations to make beforehand, and many airlines have different policies when it comes to traveling with an infant.

Here’s everything you need to know about the Southwest Airlines infant policy so you can travel prepared.

If you’re traveling with Southwest Airlines with a baby, a lap child or lap infant is at least 14 days old, but under 2 years old. They will not be occupying their own seat, but spending the duration of the flight on an adult’s lap. A child 2 years or older will need their own ticket and their own seat.

Because there’s an age restriction, you may have to prove how old your child is, so bring along an original or photocopy of either a birth certificate, passport, or government-issued ID card. A screenshot or digital copy won’t be accepted.

If you’re asked to prove the baby’s age at any point in the trip and you can’t, you may be forced to purchase a full-price ticket. However, after you return home, you can submit valid proof of age to Southwest via email and request a refund.

The Southwest infant policy doesn’t require babies to have their own boarding pass, but they will need a boarding verification document, which can be printed out at a check-in kiosk or check-in counter on the day of travel. It's definitely not a bad idea to arrive a few minutes early to the airport to make sure you have everything you need in hand before you head through security.

The good news is that lap infants travel free on domestic flights, which make up the bulk of Southwest routes. On international flights, taxes and fees will likely be imposed and a more official ticket issued for your child.

» Learn more: Which airlines let kids fly free?

First, you’ll need to let the airline know you’ll be carrying an infant. To do so, search for flights as usual on Southwest.com, but when you select how many passengers will be traveling, make sure to select the number of lap infants traveling in addition to adults.

After you select your flights, when you get to the “who’s traveling” section, type in all the adults’ info as well as the child’s.

If you plan to book a flight for you and a lap infant with Rapid Rewards points, you’ll have to call the airline to do so. You'll also need to call or visit a Southwest agent at the airport to make changes to a reservation that includes a lap child after you’ve completed the booking.

As long as you're flying domestically, you can add a lap child to an existing reservation at a self-service kiosk at the airport. You can also update the baby’s date of birth, gender and name, as well as print a boarding document at a kiosk.

» Learn more : How to fly with your baby

Nursing mothers will be pleased to know that in addition to the typical carry-on allowance (one carry-on and one personal item), those who are breastfeeding may carry an extra bag for a breast pump and breast milk.

Do keep in mind, though, that there aren’t typically outlets on board Southwest planes, so you may not be able to use electric breast pumps.

As for how much breast milk or liquid formula you can carry onboard, TSA considers the liquids medically necessary, so you can travel with more than the typical 3.4 ounces per container. Just let the TSA agents know you’re traveling with nursing liquid and they may have you remove them from your bag to be screened separately.

Since there are no assigned seats on Southwest flights, those with young children or lap children will want to be at the gate a few minutes before the start of boarding so they can board the plane together during family boarding.

This happens after boarding group A is called and allows up to two adults to board with small children — at least one has to be 6 or younger. This provides families with a few more precious seconds to get situated and a better chance at securing seats together if you’re in boarding group B or C.

» Learn more: The best airline credit cards right now

The Southwest Airlines infant policy is straightforward from booking to boarding. You’ll just need to ensure your lap child is included on your reservation, bring all the proper documentation, take advantage of the airline’s unique boarding system and then enjoy the journey .

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How to fly with breast milk in the US

Between judgmental stares and extra luggage, flying with a baby is no easy feat. Add on the stresses of breastfeeding and pumping milk while traveling and it's no surprise that some new moms may be a bit anxious about the process. The rules and regulations of packing breast milk — and the equipment that comes along with it — can be confusing.

Unfortunately, stories surface on a fairly regular basis about breastfeeding moms being subjected to unnecessary hardships and embarrassment while flying – due both to the confusing rules and a lack of knowledge on the part of some Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officials and airline staff members.

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Recently, a breastfeeding mom at LAX was leaving her 10-week-old infant for the first time to go on a trip. She had planned to pump at the airport so her breasts wouldn't feel uncomfortably engorged, and had brought along ice packs to keep the precious breast milk fresh. She was told by three male TSA agents that she couldn't bring the packs on the plane because the ice had started to melt. They also informed her she wouldn't have a problem if she was traveling with her baby or containers of breast milk, and denied her request to speak with a female agent. She ended up with the packs in her checked luggage and didn't pump as planned.

Many moms responded to the woman's Tweet about the incident, saying they've faced similar situations of dealing with ill-informed TSA agents, even after the Friendly Airports for Mothers (FAM) Act was signed into law in 2020. According to the law, all large- and medium-sized airports in the United States have to provide private, lockable, non-bathroom places to pump or nurse in every terminal.

As a nursing mom you may have questions about traveling. I certainly did when traveling with my newborn a couple of years ago (even now, I have to manage ice packs, milk and water for my 3-year-old).

Here is TPG's guide on how to safely and confidently carry breast milk and pumping equipment onboard your next U.S. flight.

TSA liquid restrictions don't apply

Since 2006, the TSA's 3-1-1 liquid restriction has been in place, which, among other things, forces people to down any bottles of water they are carrying before heading through security. You're also supposed to pack any small containers of liquids in a quart-sized plastic bag.

An exception, according to the TSA : is that breast milk "in quantities greater than 3.4 ounces" is allowed in carry-on baggage.

When it comes to how much you can bring, the TSA says "reasonable quantities," which leaves some discretion to the individual officer. If you plan to travel with a large quantity of breast milk, you might want to contact your airline before your trip to ensure you're in the clear.

Since the breast milk will likely have to be screened separately, you may want to allow extra time on the day of travel so you aren't left scrambling to get through security quickly. It's best to inform the TSA officer at the start of the screening process that you are carrying breast milk, so they can prepare for additional screening. This might include putting it through an x-ray (you're allowed to deny this), testing it for explosives or even pouring a little out for testing.

Everything mentioned above is also applicable to formula and juice. When traveling with formula-fed babies and toddlers, you also have the right to bring more liquid than the general allowance.

Related: Everything you need to know about TSA's liquid rules

Consider shipping breast milk

If you're really nervous about dealing with TSA, consider shipping the milk using a company such as Milk Stork. With Milk Stork and other similar breast milk delivery companies, you first order a custom-designed cooler from the company and it's shipped to your desired location. You can pump and store breast milk at your convenience and then ship it via the pre-labeled and post-paid box you received with the cooler.

Milk Stork offers several shipping options. The Pump & Ship combo works when you want to overnight your refrigerated breast milk to any location (starting at $199 plus shipping and handling). The Freeze & Ship option is great if you want to send frozen breast milk overnight (from $219 plus shipping and handling). If you are planning to be at one location for a while, you can move or ship large quantities of frozen breast milk (up to 180 ounces) with The Stash (from $229 plus shipping and handling). Milk Stork also sells coolers for those who want to carry refrigerated or frozen milk to the airport.

Another option for shipping is FedEx's cold shipping package, which promises to maintain a constant 2- to 8-degree Celsius environment for up to 96 hours. You can preorder FedEx's cold shipping box .

Related: Milk Stork review: Convenient for pumping moms, but for a price

Breast pump rules vary by airline

While the TSA spells out rules for traveling with breast milk, the regulations for packing a pump are a bit more confusing. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers breast pumps to be medical devices, and the TSA says you are allowed to bring a pump in your carry-on. But the specific policies are left up to the airlines .

While a breast pump should not count against your allotted number of included carry-on bags, there are nuances that you need to be aware of. American Airlines, for example, says a pump doesn't count toward your carry-on allowance, but suggests if you are bringing one you should arrive at the gate at least an hour before departure. Virgin Atlantic states that its goal is to make breastfeeding mothers comfortable and will even put milk on ice. Your best bet? Contact your airline to find out the specific rules and try to get what you are told in writing, if you can. Print out the airline's rules and have them with you on the day of travel. You may not need them but it's best to be prepared.

You don't need to travel with your baby to bring breast milk

The TSA clearly says that you do not need to travel with your baby to bring breast milk, a relief for moms who want to continue to pump while on the go. This rule only applies to U.S. travel; international policies vary, so do your homework if you are leaving the U.S.

One mom was forced to dump 4 gallons of breast milk while traveling for work because, at the time, the U.K. stipulated you must fly with a baby to bring the milk along. To avoid this scenario, check the rules of the country you are visiting. And know that, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), you do not need to declare pumped milk at U.S. Customs when returning to the United States.

Related: 12 tips on how to travel internationally with a baby

Frozen ice packs are allowed through security

In addition to breast milk, the TSA allows "ice packs, freezer packs, frozen gel packs and other accessories required to cool breast milk." And, this is "regardless of the presence of breast milk." Anything liquid-filled, partially frozen, or slushy is also allowed, but additional screening might be required. It is best to use ice packs that are frozen solid.

Dry ice is another option when flying with breast milk, but bringing dry ice in your carry-on or checked luggage can add a layer of complexity. Before going that route, check with your airline for the exact requirements. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) limits travelers to 5.5 pounds (2.5 kilograms) of dry ice in a carry-on or checked bag, but the package must be vented and marked as dry ice. The FAA stipulates that you must get airline approval before flying with dry ice, so again, allow extra time at the airport and bring along a printed copy of the FAA, TSA and airline rules.

Flag your milk to a TSA Agent

To help the process of going through security with your breast milk run as smoothly as possible, separate it (along with any other breastfeeding accouterments) from the rest of your belongings, and notify the TSA officer about what you're carrying. This helped me when I traveled. I was screened separately from other passengers whose bags were flagged when going through the X-ray machine, and I didn't have to wait in the long queue. While that might not always happen, being upfront could help speed up the process.

You can request additional screening

The typical procedure for examining breast milk involves it being X-rayed and/or opened and tested. If you don't want to follow that protocol, you can request additional screening procedures, which can "include a pat-down and screening of other carry-on property," according to the TSA.

Follow breast milk storage guidelines

You've gone through all the hassle of getting your breast milk through security. The last thing you'd want to have happen is for the milk to get spoiled by not staying at the appropriate temperature. Follow the CDC's milk storage guidelines which say that "expressed milk should be stored in clean, tightly sealed containers." You can keep that milk at room temperature for up to six to eight hours, 24 hours in an insulated cooler bag with frozen ice packs and five days in a refrigerator — or longer in a freezer. If you're planning a long-haul trip, consider asking the flight attendants to give you more ice for your cooler midway through the flight.

Bring portable pump cleaners

Not only do you have to ensure your milk stays fresh, but the components of your pump will also require cleaning. If you plan to express milk on the go, remember that droplets of milk will remain inside the bottles and suction components. Those can spoil, too, if not kept refrigerated or adequately cleaned. To avoid unintentionally having spoiled milk while pumping, bring along portable pump wipes for quick cleans until you have access to a more thorough wash.

Print out the TSA rules

Just because the TSA lists the rules and you know them by heart doesn't mean that every TSA officer is as familiar as you are with the nitty-gritty. Just like with the airline rules, go the extra step of printing out the guidelines from the TSA to have on hand in case a screener questions you. Or, have the TSA website pulled up on your phone with the information. It clearly states your rights, which include the fact you're allowed to travel with milk, a pump and ice packs, whether your baby is with you or not.

Allow time for additional screening

The screening process doesn't always go off without a hitch. Even if the TSA officer follows the standard procedures, it could take a bit longer to make it through security, especially during busy times. It's good to add 30 minutes to your airport arrival time when traveling with pumped milk. It will help alleviate some anxiety if additional screening is required.

Bottom line

You have rights as a breastfeeding mom that governmental organizations and airlines have acknowledged. The problem is not every person you encounter on your travels is aware of them. So, following these tips should help you feel more confident when traveling and alleviate some unnecessary headaches because having a baby is stressful enough!

Flying with breast milk or formula? Don't worry about liquid limits. Here's what to know.

Actress Keke Palmer called out airport security officers in Houston this month on Twitter , saying they threatened to throw out more than 16 ounces of breast milk as she was going through security.

The officers were unambiguously in the wrong if they did ask her to get rid of her breast milk.

A Transportation Security Administration spokesperson told USA TODAY the agency was not aware of the incident but said travelers are encouraged to submit comments and concerns to the agency directly if they encounter issues during their screening. 

TSA regulations make generous allowances for milk and formula:

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.

Travelers can also notify the TSA if they plan to travel with medically necessary liquids. 

Nikeytha Ramsey, founder and CEO of Junobie, a company that produces sustainable, plastic-free storage containers for breast milk and baby formula, said it’s important for parents to know their rights when they fly with such liquids and to stick up for them if they run into any problems.

“It says it right here on your website that I am allowed to fly. Breast milk does not count against the 3.4-ounce rule. Neither does baby formula,” she said. “So just like what your website says ... I would appreciate if you can honor this right now for us.”

Ramsey added that it’s usually a good idea to notify TSA agents about any breast milk or formula you may be traveling with before your screening starts.

“You never know what TSA agent you are going to get. You can get a really, really pleasant TSA agent and they're not going to really give you any issues,” she said. “I will inform TSA, ‘Hey, I do have breast milk,’ or if you are a parent that has baby formula or baby food, inform them that you do have these things. That's what I always do. And they will take it over to either the bottle X-ray to screen it, or they will do what we call a vapor test.”

Tell us your story: Mobility device lost or damaged by an airline? USA TODAY wants to hear about it.

Sens. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, and Steve Danes, R-Mont., reintroduced legislation in May that would require the TSA to better educate its officers about its policies, citing reports from constituents of complaints similar to Palmer’s.

“Too often, I hear stories of traveling moms being mistreated and denied access to their breast milk and the breastfeeding equipment that they need to pump and feed their babies,” Duckworth said in a statement . “Many of these incidents are inconsistent with TSA’s screening policies, which is why I’m proud to reintroduce this bipartisan legislation to ensure TSA keeps its employees up to speed on their own policies and updates those policies as necessary. It’s the least we can do to help make sure parents traveling through our airports are given the respect and dignity they deserve.”

The Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening Enhancement (BABES) Act would require the TSA to:

• Issue guidance promoting the hygienic handling of any breast milk, baby formula or other infant nutrition products, as well as accessories traveling through checkpoints.
• Consult with nationally recognized maternal health organizations in establishing and communicating the guidance to officers and travelers.
• Update its guidance every five years to respond to the emerging needs of parents and to account for developments in technology.

For now, the TSA recommends traveling with breast milk or formula in clear, translucent bottles rather than in bags, which can be harder to screen.

Travelers should know their rights when flying with breast milk, formula or related devices, and they can check out the TSA’s full guidelines linked again here .

Contributing: Ariana Triggs, USA TODAY

Zach Wichter is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in New York. You can reach him at [email protected]

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A Guide to Traveling with Breast Milk

Created On: July 9, 2023   |   Updated: April 13, 2024   |   By Amanda   |   57 Comments

If you’re taking a trip while exclusively pumping, you’re going to be traveling with breast milk! Below I’ve laid out everything you need to think about when traveling with breast milk, whether you’re driving or flying to your destination, and whether you’re traveling with frozen breast milk or fresh.

This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click a link and purchase something, I may make a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I love! More information here .

Traveling with breast milk by car

If you’re exclusively pumping, most of what you feed your baby will be the milk you pump on the trip, but it’s not a bad idea to bring a little extra milk as well, in case of a spill or other mishap. Here’s how to pack breast milk for a road trip.

How to pack and transport fresh breast milk

If you just want to bring a few extra bottles, you can pack it in a small  breast milk cooler for travel.

Breast Milk Coolers

Medela Breast Milk Cooler

Sarah Wells Breast Milk Cooler

Ceres Chill

Most breast milk coolers come with an ice pack. Make sure the ice pack is frozen solid when you leave, and make your milk the last thing you pack and the first thing you unpack.

If you need to bring a larger amount of milk, you can pack the breast milk in a larger cooler for the trip with ice or ice packs. If you’d like, you can monitor the temperature of your cooler using a thermometer like this one (it tells you whether the cooler is in the “refrigerator zone” or the “freezer zone”).

Fresh breast milk can be stored in a cooler up to 24 hours – more info here on that here.

How to travel with frozen breast milk

If you are traveling with frozen breast milk, you will also want to pack it in a cooler. Depending on the length of the trip, you may or may not want to use dry ice.

Without dry ice

A few tips for packing your frozen milk in a cooler without dry ice:

• Make sure the cooler is as full as possible. If you don’t have enough milk to fill the cooler and don’t want to use a ton of ice, consider freezing water in plastic zip-top bags and using that to ensure it’s full.
• Keep the freezer closed and refrain from opening it until you get to your destination. Opening it will increase the temperature.
• Consider pre-chilling the cooler in the freezer. (Obviously, this won’t be possible if it’s a big cooler – this is just an option for smaller, soft coolers.)

With dry ice

As mentioned above, dry ice is an option for longer trips – here is an overview of how to pack a cooler with dry ice for trips .

Above is what this might look like – Iyana from our Facebook Group packed 4,000 ounces of milk in 150 quart coolers in dry ice for a 14 hour drive; it arrived frozen solid.

Hopefully, you won’t have any issues with your frozen milk thawing en route. However, if does fully thaw (meaning no ice crystals are present), it will need to be used with 24 hours or discarded.

Frozen milk that still has ice crystals is not considered “thawed.”

Traveling with breast milk by plane

Here’s what to consider when you’re flying with your milk.

Packing fresh breast milk to carry on

The best way to pack breast milk for carry on is in a breast milk cooler. If you have a lot of breast milk, some coolers will hold up to six 8 oz bottles; and if you fill these bottles to the top, you can fit about 60 oz of milk.

For passengers flying in the U.S., while there is no defined limit to how much breast milk you can carry on, the TSA website references a “reasonable amount.”

If you’re traveling with a great deal of breast milk and are nervous about going through security, you could consider utilizing TSA Cares .

During the screening process, be sure to take your milk out when you take out your other liquids, laptop, etc., and make sure you tell the screener that you’re traveling with breast milk and that you have a pump. They will likely examine the milk by x-ray.

If you need ice to keep your milk cool (if it’s a long flight or you experience delays), you may be able to get ice from the flight attendant or a restaurant inside the terminal.

Checking frozen milk

Checking your frozen milk is another option if you have a lot of frozen milk.

Again, follow the same guidelines I mentioned above for packing frozen breast milk: pack the cooler full; don’t open it until you get home and are able to put it away (resist the urge to check on it!); and pre-chill the cooler itself it if possible.

Becca from our Facebook group checked 276oz of breast milk and checked it in a Yeti cooler on a flight from Israel to the United States. It arrived frozen solid.

Shipping frozen milk ahead to your destination

This is a great tutorial on how to ship breast milk with dry ice.

If you don’t want to deal with packing it yourself, Milk Stork may be able to ship it for you.

Feeding your baby on the trip

In most cases, it will be easiest to keep your most recently pumped breast milk out at room temperature, and then feed that to your baby.

Fresh milk can safely be kept out at room temperature for about 4 hours ; this way, you don’t need to worry about warming breast milk for baby while traveling.

If you do want to use milk from your cooler and your baby prefers warm milk, you have a few options for warming it:

• You can ask the flight attendant (or if you’re in the terminal, in a restaurant) for hot water in a cup and put the bottle in it for a few minutes to warm. Just make sure that when you go to put the bottle in, there’s enough room so the water doesn’t overflow onto your hand.
• You can use a portable bottle warmer.
• Bring a thermos of hot water with you and warm your bottle in that.

Portable Bottle Warmers

URMYWO Portable Bottle Warmer

Tommee Tippee Portable Bottle Warmer

Mamatepe Portable Bottle Warmer

More on warming bottles on the go here.

Pumping on the trip

A few things to think about when it comes to pumping on your trip:

If your pump doesn’t have a rechargeable battery, you will need either a car adapter or battery pack for your pump. Make sure you get one that has the correct voltage for your pump – more on breast pump battery packs here.

Breast Pump Battery Packs

Medela Battery Pack

Car Adapter – 12V

TalentCell – 12V

If you’ll need to pump more than once, you’ll need to think about cleaning your pump parts. You have a few options:

• You can pack enough sets of clean pump parts and bottles to get you through your trip/one day of travel. Pack each set – flanges, valves, connectors, bottles, and caps – in a gallon-sized zip-top bag so you can just pull it out when you’re ready to pump.
• Washing pump parts safely on the road is difficult, because public restrooms are usually the only option. If you do have access to a clean space, you could consider washing them en route. Make sure to bring a collapsible wash basin , dish soap, bottle brush, and clean towels to put your pump parts on after you wash them.
• If neither of these will work, you can consider using Medela Quick-Clean wipes .

If you are flying with your baby, here is a primer that I wrote up on the logistics of how to manage this.

Planning to travel? Make your trip so much easier – grab the Pumping Travel Planner for $9!

Managing your milk at your destination

Pumping at a location where you don’t normally pump, without the comforts of your pumping station  and setup for storing milk and washing pump parts is one of the more stressful things about figuring out how to travel with breast milk.

Here is what you need to think about, whether you’re staying at a hotel or in a home.

Storing your milk

Before you leave, you’ll want to ensure that there is a fridge that you can use at your destination.

Storing milk in a hotel

If you’re staying in a hotel, call and ask ahead of time if a mini-fridge can be provided for your room. Tell them that you need it to store breast milk – it may be provided at no charge as breast milk is sometimes considered a “medical liquid.”

If you end up using the minibar fridge in the hotel, you may want to check the temperature of the fridge, as they are often kept warmer than normal.

If you need a freezer, you could call ahead and ask if there is a hotel freezer you would be able to use during your stay. Make sure to seal your breast milk into a single container and label it.

Storing milk as a guest

If you’re staying as a guest in someone’s home, it might be a good idea to ask ahead of time to make sure there’s some space in their fridge or freezer that you can use.

Dealing with washing everything

In addition to fridge space, you’ll also need room to wash your pumping gear and bottles.

Ideally, there would be a kitchen counter and sink where you could do that, but in a hotel the bathroom will work. You’ll want to have a collapsible wash basin, dish soap, bottle brush and clean towels to put your pump parts on to dry.

Packing for the trip home

Finally, for the trip home, if you’re using an ice pack for the trip, you will want to be able to freeze it solid before you leave, both to keep your milk cold and to avoid extra inspection from the TSA if you’re flying.

Alternatively, you could ask for ice at a restaurant (obviously, after you go through security if you’re flying).

What other tricks do you use when you travel with breast milk? Feel free to add ideas below in the comments.

• Kellymom. “Human Milk Storage.” https://kellymom.com/store/freehandouts/milkstorage01.pdf
• Transportation Security Administration. “Traveling with Children.” https://www.tsa.gov/travel/special-procedures/traveling-children#quickset-traveling_with_children_1
• Only the Breast. “How to Ship Breast Milk.” https://www.onlythebreast.com/buy-sell-donate-breast-milk/bags-and-bottles/

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Comments & Chitchat

February 7, 2024

Hello, so I will be flying with my little one on a 5 hour flight. I plan to bring cold breastmilk with me in a cooler. You said that milk can be in a cooler for 24 hours. When we get to our destination and I put the milk in the fridge does the milk still need to be used within 24 hours or does the shelf life increase back to 3-4 days since I put it in the fridge?

February 11, 2024

It’s 3-4 days as long as the milk in the cooler stays cool the whole time. Personally, I’d probably use it first “in line” when we get there.

September 24, 2023

I’m almost 6 weeks pp, and I just took a 4-day trip with my family! Now, we live in and traveled in Japan, so some things might be different here than in the West.

I used the Kiinde bags and adapter to pump with my main pump (Spectra S1) while in the hotel and overnight. I also used the fridge hack a few times, since our room had a mini fridge. I only brought a few bottles, since I wasn’t actually pumping into them. While we were out, I just used my manual pump for like 10 minutes on each side, which is usually enough to drain me. Luckily, the pods like the Mamaro pods are fairly easy to find in Japan, so I utilized those. We were going to kid-oriented things anyway for my 4-year-old, so I would pump and change baby in those pods. We took a bullet train to our destination and back, and it was about a 3 1/2 hour ride. I pumped at the beginning and at the end of the train ride using my manual pump and a scarf to cover up.

The only things are that I didn’t have the chance to wash the bottles and pump parts like I normally do, and I didn’t quite get my 120 minutes in, but I figured that I could make up for it in the couple of days after we got home. We also supplement with formula, so we brought some “formula cubes” with us that are available in Japan.

It took some pre-planning, but it’s definitely doable, and it wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be!

September 26, 2023

Thank you so much Rebecca! So helpful!

October 19, 2022

October 3, 2022

October 5, 2022

Hi Elizabeth! I would try the cold but not frozen ice pack and also add ice on the way there. TSA will probably make you dump the ice to go through security, but you can get more past security and/or from the flight attendant on the flight. I think that should work – there are a lot of variables but I think that’s what I would do. Good luck!

April 18, 2022

April 20, 2022

Hi Lauren! Bags are fine! If you’re checking the milk I’d freeze, otherwise probably keep it fresh. Good luck!

February 25, 2022

Hi I will be travelling without my LO for 3 days and plan to pump and store my milk to bring back. The hotel I am staying at will have a fridge in the room and can also store my milk in their freezer. I will be bringing a cooler with many DIY ice packs and plan to check the cooler in, however the cooler will be kept at room temperature for 10-12 hours. Would you recommend freezing the milk or keeping it fresh? (I am in Canada so milk delivery systems are too expensive). Thank you in advance!

Hi Kristine! If you have enough room to keep it fresh in the coolers, and you’re driving, I would do that. Then freeze anything you won’t feed within the 4 day window when you get home. If you’re flying, taking that much fresh might be hard (though I am not familiar with the rules in Canada, only in the US).

My thinking is that frozen is more fragile than fresh so I would try to keep it fresh since you’ll be gone less than four days – but honestly, either way is fine. I would just do what is easiest for you. Hope that helps!

October 21, 2021

Hi! I will be moving to another state and the drive is about 5 hours. How can i transport my deep freezer full of breastmilk?

Hi Lexi! Here you go: https://exclusivepumping.com/moving-breast-milk-stash/

July 2, 2021

I think I might be able to provide you all with some good Intel and a solution to storing breastmilk on car road trips, for any distance. My wife has the same concerns as you all spoilage and transport. Just started a 9 day TX road trip. I brought a cooler with ice with 5.5 days worth of milk… Using a cooler because I haven’t tried my solution out prior (suspense is building). The last min I bought the following off Amazon, and came day of the trip, thank goodness, and I am testing out this min with 28oz…. Well what is it, is a electric car cooler/freezer. So far yes it’s keeping the milk frozen and it also froze a 12 oz bottle of water. It plugs into your car cigarette lighter, and also has a cord to go into electricity when not in car. It doesn’t produce and harmful gas when on in car while driving like dry ice. So far I’m convinced and will start moving more stuff into it. Brand is Bougerv 23 qt refrigerator. It’s not too big, there is also a 30 qt. Of Amazon it cost about $250. It will hold and keep frozen ( keep it plugged in car or electricity) your milk. I hope this helps you all. I will report back at end of our trip with final thought.

August 13, 2021

Just a follow-up. The portable car freezer worked perfectly. The only thing I had to sort out was if we were visiting a museum I brought the freezer inside with me and asked them if I could plug it in behind their desk. I did this at two museums and also at the NASA museum… That’s the one took a little bit longer but when I got close to the door I’ll let them know that had to plug it in right away because it was breast milk and they let me bypass the line 🙂 Also during the road trip and we stopped to eat at some fast food places, I would just leave the car on with it plugged in lock the car and take the key with me with the car still on. This portable freezer is excellent and I definitely recommend it for any road trips.

May 4, 2021

I will be traveling by car for about 6 hours with frozen breastmilk. I will be bringing 8 days worth of milk with me. I am reading that it is not safe to travel with dry ice in your car if the ride will be more than 15 minutes. Will milk really stay frozen with just ice for this length of a car ride?

I think it probably will if you don’t open the cooler and have it packed full. People have done 16 hour flights and it was okay. Also – as long as the milk is still (at least) slushly when you get there, it’s fine to refreeze. I think it will be okay. Good luck!

April 23, 2021

Do you know what size yeti bag she used to transport the 276oz? I will be gone for two weeks for work so will need to bring back about 450oz on a 4 hour flight. Trying to determine what size bag I’ll need. The milk will be frozen in breastmilk bags. Thanks!

April 24, 2021

I don’t know but you could maybe ask her on instagram? Sorry I’m not more helpful! ❤️

March 13, 2022

Hey Cara – Curious to hear what you ended up doing? I’m in a similar boat as you but will be gone for a week with a three-hour flight home. Any guidance would be appreciated! Thanks! -Tara

February 20, 2021

More of a question than a comment. I work outdoors in the summer. In the woods and on the river in up to 32•C heat. Do we think the Ceres chill will work in that setting? Additionally.. I read you shouldn’t mix fresh and chilled milk, so can you not add a fresh pump to the container? It holds quite a bit oz wise so I’d assume it must be from multiple pumps.

February 24, 2021

Hi Ash! I think it would work but I agree that adding a fresh pump isn’t ideal and I’m not sure whether it’s a good idea.

January 10, 2021

Hello im working as a nurse and have 24 hours duty. I’m pumping my milk and keep it in the freezer, then bring it home after my shift using my insulator bag.. im traveling for around 4-5 hours. Can i put back my slightly defrost milk in the freezer or just in the fridge? And how long can i still use it? Thanks

January 11, 2021

Hi Kristel, as long as it has ice crystals, you can put it back in the freezer. If it’s still frozen, normal guidelines for frozen milk would apply. Otherwise, you have 24 hours. You might be better off just keeping it in the insulator bag with an ice pack and putting it in the fridge as soon as you get home?

September 17, 2020

The lady who traveled between the Us and Israel with a checked yeti cooler of breast milk… did she use dry ice? Or was it just packed in? I have a long flight coming up and want to be able to take my milk stash with me!

September 18, 2020

She didn’t use dry ice, it was just all packed in!

August 3, 2023

Did she limit bags to a number of ounces? Like did it need to be under 3 or 3.4? Or did she fill them to any ounce?

February 25, 2020

Thanks for the info! Do you have any tips for exclusive pumper when going on a cruise and baby is not going with you?

I’ve never done that! Excellent question. I would find out if its possible to get a fridge of some kind in your room – I would tell them it’s for a medical liquid (which it is). If you’ll be on the cruise for more than a few days you might have to dump some milk unless you can get access to a freezer. For traveling home you may be able to bring a cooler and fill it with ice on the trip. Good luck!

January 29, 2020

How big of a cooler with frozen breast milk and baby food can you bring on the plane?

I would call your airline and ask, and see if you can get it in writing. Then print it out and bring it with you. The TSA just says “reasonable amounts” – they don’t give you an actual amount.

March 20, 2020

A great option is Milk Stork (milkstork.com). They can help you transport milk safely, ship milk home for you, and even transport frozen milk stashes! It’s run by a mom of 3 who understands our needs! Check them out!

January 23, 2020

I will be away from my 7 month old for the next month due to family emergency back home. Should I store breast milk in fridge or freezer? And how to travel back with it? My trip is 19 hours to go back. Thanks a lot

January 24, 2020

Hi Martina! I think you’ll want to freeze it because Of the length of time you’ll be gone. I would get a cooler. Ask your airline if you can check a cooler with dry ice. Good luck!

January 14, 2020

Hello! This article has helped ease my travel anxiety. I will be gone from my LO for 4 days. Do you recommend freezing breast milk and transporting back frozen? How long does fresh milk stay good in fridge? Thank you.

Hi Leah! Breastmilk will be okay for 3-8 days in the fridge, with less than 3 being ideal. I think you could do it either way. Will you have access to a freezer?

January 2, 2020

I have a different situation. I’m hoping to be done exclusively pumping very soon. Baby is almost 7 months old and I have quite the freezer stash. I think I’ll have enough to make it to a year within the next month. Problem is, we are planning a vacation (by plane) in April or May. Any tips on how to successfully navigate this with frozen breast milk? I’m wondering if I shouldn’t just switch him for the week but then I’d feel guilty and probably just continue to pump until after our vacation.

January 3, 2020

Hi Amber! It can be done, but may be a challenge. Are you staying with family or in a hotel? If with family, it may be easiest to ship it rather than travel with it. A hotel might be tricky because you obviously need access to a freezer.

December 15, 2019

Hi, uhm. I need to bring my baby in the party, that will last about 10 bec. 1 in the morning and 1 in the afternoon. Is it okay to put the breast milk On the cooler?? And bring 1-3 bags? will it still be good for 24 hrs? Or only 2 hours still for 3 bags? Thanks

Hi Ahya, maybe bring a plastic ziplock bag, put the breastmilk in it, and put it in the cooler? If the cooler is less than 59 degrees F, it should be good for 24 hours. Hope that helps!

August 11, 2022

Hi! Do you have any experiences in traveling Internationally with breastmilk? I will be traveling to Germany in a few weeks for 5 days for work. I’m not concerned about the travel from US to Germany as the TSA guidelines are pretty clear. The confusion is with the EU equivalent- transporting all the milk back to the US. I will have access to a fridge but not sure on the freezer. Will liquid be allowed on that international flight? I don’t want to invest in a bunch of special supplies… Thanks!

November 22, 2019

hi. can i put my brestmilk in a small cooler jug with actual ice cubes? how long will it take?

November 23, 2019

Hi Marian! Do you mean putting ice in the breastmilk? I would not do that. Putting ice around a breastmilk bottle is fine. Hope that helps!

October 16, 2019

I will be out of town for 3.5 days and my son will not be with me- is it best to keep the pumped milk in a fridge & transport back home in sealed bags in my cooler OR should I freeze it? (Will be flying and our flight is about 4.5 hours- so I am thinking 7 hours total in cooler bag with ice packs)

I would keep it fresh. Make sure to label it, and then I would feed the oldest when you get home and maybe freeze the rest (or evaluate how long you can keep it in the fridge.)

August 22, 2019

In the TSA regulations it states that you do not have to be traveling with your child to carry on breastmilk.

From the TSA website: “3-1-1 Liquids Rule Exemption

Formula, breast milk, juice 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. Remove these items from your carry-on bag to be screened separately from the rest of your belongings. You do not need to travel with your child to bring breast milk.

Ice packs, freezer packs, frozen gel packs and other accessories required to cool formula, breast milk and juice are allowed in carry-on. If these accessories are partially frozen or slushy, they are subject to the same screening as described above. You may also bring gel or liquid-filled teethers, canned, jarred and processed baby food in carry-on baggage. These items may be subject to additional screening.”

May 14, 2019

Thank you so much! My husband planned a week-long road trip and I had a lot of anxiety about how I was going to handle pumping until I read this. One question: is it better to use actual ice cubes in a cooler or do ice packs do the job just as well?

Ice packs will work too!

February 1, 2019

Hi! If Input refrigerated breast milk in a small cooler with ice packs and put it in a refrigerator when we arrive at our destination (about 6 hours later), will it still be good for a few days? Or only 24 hours still? Thanks!

February 2, 2019

Hi! If it stays as cool as it would be in a fridge (which seems reasonable for 6 hours), I think it still will be fine for a few days in the refrigerator. You could get a thermometer and check the temp when you leave and when you get there, and if it hasn’t changed, you should be good to go. 🙂

January 23, 2019

Hi! Do you know how I could transport 800 oz of frozen milk in a deep freezer from Californian to Georgia ? Moving truck will be taking our things, but we will be flying? Not sure how to do this! Could you please email me! Much appreciated!

Hi Meena! So I think that if you’re flying there, your two options are to ship it or try to check it. Both are going to be pricey. Maybe look into Milk Stork for shipping? If you want to check it, I would get a bunch of the coolers I linked to in this post and pack as much milk as you can, and pay $25 to check each bag. Maybe ship some, check some, and donate the rest? Sorry you have to deal with this!

February 3, 2019

Ship it with milk stork

January 15, 2019

Thank you so much for this amazing article! Returning to work and all of the travel needed for my job has been pretty rough on my breastfeeding goals but I am determined. It has been great to get the tips in your article and the advice of the other moms. I love this site!

I was really surprised at the limited options available for moms without a mini fridge under their desks at work or tons of extra space in their carry-on. So I decided to do something about it! Ceres Chill (www.cereschill.com) is a waste-saving breastmilk thermos system. I would greatly appreciate thoughts and feedback from you and your readers.

Ceres Chill Kickstarter April 2, 2019!!

November 23, 2018

You can also request a microwave in advance at a hotel and bring a microwave sterilizer bag with you to sterilize your parts. I like the Medela bags. Additionally there are now breast milk shipping companies like MilkStork that make traveling with and shipping breast milk very easy.

Great points!

March 15, 2018

Also make sure if the hotel is giving you a mini fridge with a freezer that isn’t normally part of the room that you ask them to put it in the room ahead of time. Otherwise if it doesn’t get turned on until you get to the room the freezer part won’t be cold at all!

You can ask the TSA to skip x-ray on the breast milk but be prepared that most will require you to get a pat down and if the milk doesn’t pass their laser scan for some reason they’ll make you open the top and they’ll hold a little paper above it that they’ll need to scan instead. They are never allowed to actually touch the breast milk itself though.

When traveling internationally though all bets are off and it’s generally going to be the option of x-ray it or dump it.

Pumping 101

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How Much Breast Milk Can I Fly With? What Are the Security Rules?

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Traveling with Children

All passengers are required to undergo screening. However, TSA has developed modified screening procedures for children who appear to be 12 years old and younger. TSA officers will consult parents or the traveling guardian about the child’s screening.

TSA standard screening procedures apply for children 13 years and older. Carry-on property of all passengers, regardless of age, must be screened. All passengers who alarm will undergo additional screening.

Children with Medical Conditions, Disabilities, or Mobility Aids

Inform the TSA officer if the child has a disability, medical condition or medical device.

Let the TSA officer know if your child is able to walk through the metal detector or needs to be carried through the metal detector by a parent/guardian. You may carry your child through the WTMD. The TSA officer will not remove your child from their mobility aid, wheelchair or scooter.

Request Assistance

TSA Cares provides information to passengers with disabilities, medical conditions and those that need additional assistance to better prepare for the security screening process. Call  TSA Cares 72 hours prior  to traveling with questions about screening policies, procedures and what to expect at the security checkpoint. You may also call to request assistance at the checkpoint.

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.

It’s helpful to the officers when formula and breast milk are in clear, translucent bottles and not plastic bags or pouches. Liquids in plastic bags or pouches may not be able to be screened by Bottle Liquid Scanners, and you may be asked to open them (if feasible) for alternate screening such as Explosive Trace Detection and Vapor Analysis for the presence of liquid explosives. Screening will never include placing anything into the medically necessary liquid.

TSA X-ray machines are not harmful to food or medicines. However, if you do not want the formula, breast milk, toddler drinks, and baby/toddler food (to include puree pouches) to be X-rayed or opened, please inform the TSA officer. Additional steps will be taken to resolve alarms. You or the traveling guardian will undergo additional screening procedures, to include Advanced Imaging Technology screening and additional/enhanced screening of other carry-on property.

Ice packs, freezer packs, frozen gel packs and other accessories required to cool formula, breast milk, toddler drinks and baby/toddler food (to include puree pouches) – regardless of the presence of breast milk – are also allowed in carry-ons, along with liquid-filled teethers. If these items are partially frozen or slushy, they are subject to the same screening as described above.

Passengers requiring special accommodations or concerned about the security screening process at the airport may request assistance by contacting  TSA Cares  or by phone at (855) 787-2227.

Screening of Children’s Items

• Place all carry-on baggage such as children's toys, bags and blankets on the X-ray belt for screening.
• Strollers, umbrella-strollers, baby carriers, car and booster seats and backpacks must be screened by X-ray.
• Place items in the stroller pockets or baskets, in a carry-on bag or on the X-ray belt for screening.
• Equipment that does not fit through the X-ray machine will undergo a visual/physical inspection by TSA officers.

Screening Technology

Walk-Through Metal Detector

Children able to walk through the metal detector without assistance may do so separately from their parent or guardian. If they alarm, children are allowed multiple passes through screening technologies and may undergo other procedures to resolve the alarm to reduce the need for a pat-down. Infants and small children may be carried through the metal detector. Should the alarm sound, additional screening is required.

Advanced Imaging Technology

If your child is able to remain standing in the required position for 5 seconds, he or she may be screened through the advanced imaging technology. If a child 12 and under goes through the machine and alarms, they have an opportunity to go through again or the TSA officer may use other procedures to resolve the alarm to reduce the need for a pat-down.

You may not be screened by this technology when carrying an infant or child.

Screening your Child

• Children 12 and under can leave their shoes, light jackets and headwear on during screening. For AIT screening, light jackets must be removed and placed on the X-ray belt.
• Children will not be separated from their parent/guardian.
• Remove infants and children from strollers and car seats and carry them in arms through the walk-through metal detector.
• Infants may be carried in a sling/carrier (to include lap baby) through the walk-through metal detector or when being screened in a wheelchair, but may be subject to additional screening
• Modified screening procedures are in place to reduce the likelihood of a pat-down.