How the heck do you even carry 15 8oz. bottles along with a baby and all their other stuff? Were they in their own rolling suitcase?
It's summer and my husband was with us. So no bulky clothes, I am an efficient packer, and we did laundry at our destination. We fit all the stuff for the 3 of us in 2 roller boards and DD's KS Stevie as our "overhead luggage." I had a backpack, a Skip Hop via Messenger diaper bag, and a small bag of toys as our "under the seat" bags. DD rode in her infant bucket on top of the stroller frame the whole way and once we got to the gate, her stroller frame got gate checked.
Based on the first flight where I had scattered the formula across like 3 bags and it took a long time to get through security since 4 of our bags got flagged, I packed all of DD's formula and food stuff into 1 rollerboard this time so only 1 bag would get flagged. I had even more bottles with me on the way there, maybe 20? (This was more me not wanting to seek out Target the minute we landed versus being afraid of getting stuck at the airport.) But the women agents that day did some random sampling of a few bottles and let us go on our way.
I cannot imagine carrying all of this stuff through security. Where did you put it on the plane?
I understand wanting to feel prepared. I'm often that person. DS had to drink ready-made formula because it was thicker and stayed down better. BUT when we flew, I packed a couple extra bottles, and then sealed packets and/or a sealed (sample sized) can of powder, and an empty bottle. Water is always easy to come by. In the future, that's what I would suggest to you.
We've flown with nearly a week's worth of ready-made, but 90% of that was checked in our luggage. That stuff is heavy!
Excessive amounts of expressed milk when a mom is travelling alone is another story.
I cannot imagine carrying all of this stuff through security. Where did you put it on the plane?
The 2 rollerboards and Stevie bag in the overhead compartments. The backpack, messenger bag, and toy bag under the 3 seats in front of us. DD had a seat and my husband was with us, so 3 passengers and 3 seats.
Post by speckledfrog on Sept 4, 2014 20:46:37 GMT -5
Yes, 120 oz of breastmilk is also excessive for a 2 hour flight.
I won't judge you for not wanting to fly in the winter. The chance of delays is way higher in the cold and snowy weather. We've lived in Boston and Chicago and have had delays numerous times. Not three days worth of delays, though.
Why would a BFing parent carry 120oz of BM with them in addition to carrying their child whom they can just- BF?
It seems to me that someone carrying 120oz of BM would be traveling solo or atleast sans a baby. So that's not food she is carrying for a passenger on the flight, it's food she is simply transporting. When the TSA agent said "excessive" it was on terms of food for the flight time, not as a carry on item in general.
Bit like I said I'm not trying to argue for cases of BM on flights anyway, necessarily. Just thought the comparison was interesting.
Those RTF bottles are nice in a pinch (I always kept two in the diaper bag) but no way would I travel with 15 unless I was going on an actual safari. Way too heavy! Next time bring the powder and you can get stranded for several weeks no problem.
I get that it's a PITA but you don't want terrorists to be like "oh hey, there's no rules for these little plastic bottles."
This whole thread, I've been wondering why bringing powder wasn't an option. Anyone?
DS didn't drink powder, but it was my emergency backup plan when flying. (As was manually pumping the couple ounces I made daily.)
If I don't want to fly in the winter, why does that need to be judged?
It's just...odd. What is the reasoning behind this?
Prior to DD, we flew rain or shine. Having a baby has grounded me, literally. Weather delays can be very real which would stress me traveling with a baby. Flying in the winter means a ton more stuff - winter coats and warm clothes. Since I don't need to actually be anywhere and we mostly fly for pleasure since I got pregnant, I'd rather stay local until the weather is better. We can fly again in the winter when DD is older.
It's just...odd. What is the reasoning behind this?
Prior to DD, we flew rain or shine. Having a baby has grounded me, literally. Weather delays can be very real which would stress me traveling with a baby. Flying in the winter means a ton more stuff - winter coats and warm clothes. Since I don't need to actually be anywhere and we mostly fly for pleasure since I got pregnant, I'd rather stay local until the weather is better. We can fly again in the winter when DD is older.
Interesting. I don't think anyone is judging you for this but it is just not something that would even occur to me.
Why would a BFing parent carry 120oz of BM with them in addition to carrying their child whom they can just- BF?
It seems to me that someone carrying 120oz of BM would be traveling solo or atleast sans a baby. So that's not food she is carrying for a passenger on the flight, it's food she is simply transporting. When the TSA agent said "excessive" it was on terms of food for the flight time, not as a carry on item in general.
Bit like I said I'm not trying to argue for cases of BM on flights anyway, necessarily. Just thought the comparison was interesting.
Because they EP? I did, and I didn't fly for the first 6.5 months as a result of that. My husband flew to a family event without me and DD because lugging a baby, a pump, a bazillion pump parts and always worrying about finding an outlet and pumping on time would've been a nightmare for me. Not that I ever made enough to be bringing home 120 oz, but other EPers make lots. Someone mentioned above that some moms donate locally to avoid traveling with the milk, but I can see a mother trying to bring it home. I probably would.
There are mothers out there that exclusively pump. So, their babies may only eat BM and yet, won't nurse or eat formula. Because of that, I don't think 15 bottles of BM is out of the question, and it shouldn't be lumped together with formula. However, due to the fact that formula can be purchased, it's not reasonable in the OPs case.
It must be exhausting to be so concerned about things.
I mean, seriously, I pack a lot of stuff for flights. And is did get stranded once when my connecting flight was cancelled and I had to stay the night in the hotel, but if didn't have enough diapers in my carry on. But guess what? Airports tend to be in major cities. I passed at least 10 stores that sold diapers (and formula) in the two miles between the airport and the hotel we crashed at. The cabbie was happy to wait for me for 3 minutes while I ran into Walgreens and bought a pack of diapers.
It must be exhausting to be so concerned about things.
I mean, seriously, I pack a lot of stuff for flights. And is did get stranded once when my connecting flight was cancelled and I had to stay the night in the hotel, but if didn't have enough diapers in my carry on. But guess what? Airports tend to be in major cities. I passed at least 10 stores that sold diapers (and formula) in the two miles between the airport and the hotel we crashed at. The cabbie was happy to wait for me for 3 minutes while I ran into Walgreens and bought a pack of diapers.
Last week I let DD go on an airplane without me or DH. She was with my mom and stepfather. It was her first time on a plane and the first time she spent the night away from home without us.
It would never have occurred to me that it might be okay to fly with that much formula in a carry on. But we are ridiculous overpackers and always have checked bags if we are traveling as a family, so I would have just stuck it in a suitcase.
We have been stranded over night in snow storms due to canceled flights twice while traveling with kids. Both times we have just gone to an airport hotel, purchased what we needed to from the little hotel shop or a nearby convenience store, and coped. No one was ever the worse for the wear. I would prefer not to be stuck in an airport for hours, but if my choice is risking a flight delay or missing spending the holidays with family or enjoying ski season, then I will risk the delay.
I need to know if any bags were checked. Because yes, I am that person who avoids checking baggage at all costs.
No bags checked. We also avoid checking bags. The ticketing agents tried to give us grief of "all those bags" but we were exactly within what is allowed and everything fit like its supposed to.
Team you then. Although i don't think it's worth getting upset about for your own sanity. I am actually kind of impressed that you met the requirements with all that to carry. For your ease though I like the idea of shipping RTF to the hotel. Amazon FTW!
There are mothers out there that exclusively pump. So, their babies may only eat BM and yet, won't nurse or eat formula. Because of that, I don't think 15 bottles of BM is out of the question, and it shouldn't be lumped together with formula. However, due to the fact that formula can be purchased, it's not reasonable in the OPs case.
Sure...but if mom and baby are traveling together, mom doesn't have to pack all of the BM in bottles that will be needed that trip. Pump and give that at the next feeding. If mom needs frozen milk to supplement, that's one thing, but then it wouldn't be 120 oz, either.
I guess the .1% in my mind are the women who rely exclusively on donor BM and don't nurse, pump, or use formula.
Alaska Air rearranged our seating, placing my one and a half year old elsewhere on the plane than between his father and I. My response? FINE BY ME!!!! (Unfortunately strangers on the plane were more than happy to switch seats.)
This reminds me of when I flew to Spain with DD1 when she was 11 months old. We brought RTF bottles, powdered packets, and jars of baby food. The security guy in Heathrow made us open up 1/2 of our jars and DH had to taste all of it, in order for us to proceed onto our next flight. So he had to taste ready to feed formula, and chunky baby food. So disgusting. But the worst part was that once it's opened, you have to use it within an hour, so we had to throw away a ton of food and formula because it wouldn't be good after an hour.
On the way HOME, fucking British Airways was in the middle of a strike. So we arrived in Heathrow for our 90 minute layover, they checked all of our food, including making us open and taste it, and then we were stuck there for SIX HOURS while they tried to get a flight crew together. So again we had to throw away several bottles of formula and baby food. Then we flew ~12 hours to Seattle. We finished the last jar of food on the plane and then had to give DD pudding for her dinner lol...
Anyway, I'm on team OP. If a mom wants to bring a case of formula, that doesn't affect me in any way.
Thus entire thread is ridiculous. I hope y'all are proud because now the terrorists have won.
lol. That was my exact thought.
I think the problem here is inconsistency. If she had been told it was excessive tthe first time it would be more understandable. Security theatre indeed. Having said that it's for sure excessive.
Post by Balki.Bartokomous on Sept 4, 2014 23:36:04 GMT -5
72 hours' worth of food for a 2 hour flight is ridiculous. Even if you assume you'd spend 12 hours without access to a Target, that is SIX times the amount of food you'd need.
I'm glad you at least consolidated this all to ensure that only one bag gets flagged.