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Flying with Formula, Breast Milk, and Baby Food
Baby-feeding exemptions exist across the US, UK, Canada, and Australia, but they are not identical: the biggest trap is frozen breast milk, which TSA accepts with screening but UK airport security prohibits in hand luggage.
Updated July 2026
Quick answer
In the US, formula, breast milk, toddler drinks, baby food, and cooling packs may exceed 3.4oz / 100ml in reasonable quantities; declare and remove them for separate TSA screening. Clear bottles move faster than pouches, and breast milk may travel without the child. UK security allows breast milk in containers up to 2,000ml but bans frozen breast milk from hand luggage. Rules differ in Canada and Australia, so pack by departure airport, not airline nationality.
At a glance
- US TSA:
- Reasonable quantities over 3.4oz / 100ml allowed; declare and screen separately
- US child presence:
- Not required for breast milk, formula, or related cooling supplies
- UK breast milk:
- Liquid containers up to 2,000ml; frozen breast milk barred from hand luggage
- Canada CATSA:
- With infant under 2, baby food, milk, formula, water, and juice may exceed 100ml
- Australia:
- Reasonable in-flight baby products exempt; powdered formula is unrestricted organic powder
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Baby-feeding security rules that actually matter
- •At US TSA, declare formula, breast milk, toddler drinks, and baby food over 3.4oz / 100ml and remove them for separate screening; they do not need to fit in the quart bag.
- •Use clear translucent bottles in the US when practical: TSA says pouches and bags may not work with bottle scanners and can require opening or alternate explosive-trace screening.
- •Pack frozen, slushy, or partially melted ice, freezer, and gel packs with baby feeds in US carry-on; TSA permits all 3 states but may screen them separately.
- •Do not put frozen breast milk in UK hand luggage: GOV.UK allows liquid breast milk in individual containers up to 2,000ml, but frozen milk must go in checked baggage.
- •Carry only “sufficient quantities for the journey” of UK formula, baby food, milk, and sterilized water; unlike breast milk, the baby must be present for those exemptions.
- •Order airline baby meals at least 24–48 hours before departure when offered; a “child meal” is not automatically an infant puree or formula supply.
- •Keep powdered formula in its labeled container and place it separately for US X-ray when asked; powder is unrestricted, but additional screening can add 10–15 minutes.
- •Carry the feeding cooler onboard rather than gate-checking it: temperature-sensitive milk may sit outside for 30+ minutes in a checked-baggage transfer.
Common baby-food flying mistakes
- •Applying the ordinary 3.4oz / 100ml limit to US baby feeds; TSA permits reasonable larger quantities when declared and screened separately.
- •Taking 4 frozen breast-milk bags through a UK checkpoint; frozen breast milk is prohibited in hand luggage regardless of container size.
- •Using opaque pouches for every US feed; TSA recommends clear translucent bottles because pouches can trigger slower alternate screening.
- •Assuming the baby must accompany breast milk in the US or UK; both permit expressed milk without the child, though other baby-food exemptions can require presence.
- •Gate-checking a cooler with 12 hours of milk; checked items can face uncontrolled temperatures and delays, while exempt feeds belong in carry-on.
- •Expecting cabin crew to sterilize bottles or guarantee 40°C water; carry a measured plan and request hot water from an airside cafe before boarding.
Notes by where you're traveling from
From the US
- •TSA exempts formula, breast milk, toddler drinks, and baby food from 3-1-1 in reasonable quantities over 3.4oz / 100ml.
- •Declare feeds at the checkpoint and remove them for separate screening; clear translucent bottles are faster than pouches.
- •Ice, freezer, and gel packs are allowed even slushy or partially melted, and the child does not need to accompany breast milk or formula.
From the UK
- •Frozen breast milk is not allowed in hand luggage; liquid breast-milk containers may hold up to 2,000ml each.
- •Breast milk may travel without the baby, but the baby must be present for formula, sterilized water, cow’s milk, soya milk, and baby-food exemptions.
- •There is no stated total legal cap beyond sufficient journey quantities, but each container is screened and airport staff may open it.
From Canada
- •CATSA permits baby food, breast milk, liquid formula, water, and juice over 100ml when traveling with an infant under 2.
- •Present larger liquids separately and allow time for screening; gel and ice packs used to keep baby items cool are permitted.
- •Powdered formula may travel in carry-on, but border food-import rules still apply on international arrival.
From Australia
- •Reasonable amounts of baby products needed in flight are exempt from international 100ml limits and should be presented at screening.
- •Powdered baby formula is an unrestricted organic powder but may need separate X-ray presentation.
- •Australia’s biosecurity arrival rules are separate from airport security; declare remaining dairy or baby food when required.
Venue and attraction rules
- US TSA checkpoint
- Declare exempt feeds over 3.4oz / 100ml, remove them for separate screening, and request alternate screening if you do not want milk X-rayed or opened.
- UK airport security
- No frozen breast milk in hand luggage; liquid breast milk permitted in containers up to 2,000ml, including when the baby is not traveling.
- Canadian CATSA checkpoint
- When traveling with an infant under 2, baby food, breast milk, formula, water, and juice may exceed 100ml and should be presented for inspection.
- Australian airport security
- Reasonable baby products needed during the flight are exempt; organic powdered formula has no quantity restriction but should be presented separately if requested.
FAQ
Can I bring water for formula through airport security?
Yes in reasonable baby-feeding quantities. TSA exempts water needed for formula from 3-1-1 when declared; UK security permits sufficient sterilized water when the baby is present. Alternatively, take an empty bottle and ask an airside cafe for hot water.
How much breast milk can I fly with?
US TSA uses a “reasonable quantities” standard rather than a numeric cap. The UK sets no stated total cap but limits each breast-milk container to 2,000ml. Carry the journey amount, declare it, and expect separate screening.
Can I bring frozen breast milk on a plane?
From a US checkpoint, yes: frozen milk and cooling packs are allowed with screening. From a UK checkpoint, no frozen breast milk is permitted in hand luggage; place it in checked baggage or travel with chilled liquid milk in containers up to 2,000ml.
Does my baby need to be with me to carry breast milk?
No in the US or UK. TSA permits breast milk, formula, and related supplies without the child; GOV.UK permits breast milk without the baby. UK formula, sterilized water, other milk, and baby-food exemptions do require the baby’s presence.
Can I take powdered formula through security?
Yes. TSA allows powdered formula but may ask for separate X-ray or additional testing. Australia treats it as unrestricted organic powder. Keep it in the original labeled container and budget an extra 10–15 minutes for screening.
Can I order baby food from the airline?
Some long-haul airlines offer infant jars or baby meals when requested 24–48 hours ahead, but availability and texture vary. Confirm in Manage Booking and still carry enough familiar food and formula for the flight plus a 4–6 hour delay.
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