Travelling with a baby - what's allowed through airport security?

biothac

We'll be travelling with our 7 month old for the first time in 3 weeks.
I have a couple of questions regarding what we're allowed bring through security.

Firstly - we've been given this travel bottle warmer to bring -

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Polar-Gear-Anywhere-Bottle-Warmer/dp/B0009PRKEK

- however the warming part of it is a gel pack (like one of those pocket hand-warmers). Will that stop us bringing it on board the plane?

Secondly, will we have to bring pre-made formula milk in a carton with us as opposed to having boiled water in a bottle (to mix with the powder)?

Any help (or other tips!) would be very much appreciated!

mikedragon32

My experience is that you can bring pre made bottles or cartons of ready made formula without much trouble. So far we've travelled out of Dublin, Nice and Frankfurt without any issues as far as baby food and formula are concerned. I wouldn't worry about bringing along a bottle warmer, most airlines and even the food outlets at the airport will happily provide some boiling water to reheat a bottle.

The only other tip I could offer is to be super organised at security. If you have everything of the baby's separated from your own stuff, paticularly the liquids, it will
make things much easier for you. Stay calm too! You'll encounter at least one ingoramus who has no idea of the stresses involved for you and is convinced you're slowing him/her down intentionally. Smiling at them will frustrate them more!

Have a great trip:

kravmaga

All the security information is on the DAA website but might be no harm also checking with your airline as they have their own internal security procedures

http://www.dublinairport.com/at-airport/airport-security/

C.O.Y.B.I.B

In my experience , we have brought bottles of boiled water and the small tub of formula separately. We were made taste the bottled water , both in the US and here , although on another occasion they barely looked at it . Try and bring the sachets of Calpol (20mins b4 take off , works wonders:) ) as they are only 5mls each and as such below the limit. Other than that we were allowed nappies,wipes etc.... Just make sure as previous poster said to have all baby stuff out and on show (not in the bottom of a rucksack) . They are pretty understanding in any airport i've ever been to .

Tabnabs

We flew with our (then) 10 month old earlier this year. Luckily I managed to have a chat with a security guy in Heathrow in January and he put my mind at ease on a lot of issues.

For junior, put all their stuff, bottles, formula, food, nappies and changing gear in a rucksack on your back, you will need two hands at all times! Pack as much of your stuff away as possible, you won't be reading glossy magazines or the IT on the plane

If you have a buggy, this needs to go through the scanner and so one parent will have to hold junior while it's folded and sent through the machine. The other parent will produce the bottles and food to show security and point to junior to prove how ickle he/she is.

Only in Dublin does the buggy at the door of the plane on arrival seem to be a reasonable request, two Scandinavian airports we visited treated it like baggage and we didn't see it until our final destination. But have a look to see if the airport you're in has trolleys with a kids seat as that's what we used.

Finally, if you encounter any problems, smile, point to the helpless little child and appeal to their better nature that the things you have are reasonable and necessary.

biothac

Thanks a million for all your help and advice. Am quite apprehensive about the whole thing, but will spend time practising my best "pity me" smile between now and then

Thanks again!