I learned a lot during our first flight from California to Illinois. We’re about to take the same trip for Christmas, and I wanted to share some tips and tricks. Flying with an infant AND breastmilk is quite an adventure.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has specific guidelines on its website regarding traveling with breastmilk and formula. I was told by a mom once that she had to dump all of her breastmilk at the security checkpoint because her baby was not traveling with her. According to the TSA guidelines, your child DOES NOT need to be present for you to fly with your milk.
In addition, Sarah Wells shares an article about flying with your breastmilk and how to be more informed regarding your rights. Go check it out! Another great resource with loads of traveling information for moms is @travelboundmom.
Before you get into this, I pack as if my flight will be delayed and I will be puked on. I am currently exclusively pumping to breastfeed my son and every day has challenges. Add going through airport security on top of that, and it can be pretty daunting. One of the best things I did was bring the stroller and the baby carrier to the gate with us. A friend told me she flew once and only had the baby carrier. She felt this was a huge mistake because her back was killing her when their flight was delayed two hours!
Bring the stroller to the gate, if possible. You don’t have to bring it on board; the gate agents will check it for free (usually), and it will be waiting on the jetway when you get to your destination. Plus, it is a good cart for your bags or jackets when the baby isn’t sitting inside.
Cleaning
I pack hand sanitizer and dapple wipes for my parts so I can decently clean without having all my usual products. Having two Ziploc bags can help to keep clean and dirty parts separate. Then when I am at a sink where I can clean my pump parts and bottles, I use my Ceres Chill All-You-Need Wash Basin.
Clothing and Bras
I am always freezing on any airplane, so I wear layers and a bra that is compatible with whichever pump I plan to use. I plan to wear my Sarah Wells Bra and my favorite V-neck Tee by OAO. The Journey Bra from Sarah Wells is convenient because it has Velcro straps as well as slits in the front for flanges. Some bras are only compatible with wearable pumps, and some bras are only compatible with pumps using flanges outside of the bra.
I like to layer with a jacket and pack an extra shirt in case I spill something. In addition, I prefer to pack a spare set of footie pajamas in the diaper bag when traveling because you never know when the next blowout will happen. I am notorious for overpacking, but you can never be too prepared.
Portable Pump
There are several portable pumps, such as Elvie, Pumpables Genie Advanced, BabyBuddha, and the Willow. I think the bathrooms in an airplane are super dirty, and the smell grosses me out. Therefore, I prefer to pump in my seat. I either use my shirt or a blanket to cover myself. I ALWAYS pack a blanket in my carry-on bag. It’s terrible to pump when you’re cold, so this will help with temperature and privacy. It is also important to charge your pumps before you leave for your trip and have your charging cords. In addition, pack a manual breast pump in case of an emergency.
I make sure to pack portable pumps in a waterproof Ziploc bag. It could be damaged if something accidentally spills on it. I used to forget to bring spare parts for my pump. I learned my lesson on our last road trip to Lake Tahoe. One of my duckbill valves had a tear, and I had to pump one breast at a time until I could get to a Target, which was an hour drive one way. With that said, I like to have spare duckbill valves, tubing, and backflow protectors. I also don’t travel with one pump. I bring two or more pumps when we leave for a long trip.
I store my expressed milk in the Ceres Chill Breastmilk Chiller. If you have a Ceres Chill, remember you can always ask restaurants in the airport or flight attendants for ice. I bring extra milk storage bags just in case. A Corksicle backpack cooler is a fantastic option for traveling. It works well to store the milk you have already expressed, flanges, and bottle parts. I use three frozen packs inside the cooler backpack as well.
Side Notes
The last time we stayed in a hotel with our baby, when I requested a refrigerator for my breastmilk, I was told it was then considered a medical necessity, and they removed the fee. We must be our own advocates and find out the resources available.
If you haven’t flown before and your baby’s primary nutrition is your breastmilk, having an emergency backup of formula may be worth it. Of course, consult your pediatrician, and this is not medical advice. One of my girlfriends recommended this to me on our first flight because many factors, like stress, can affect your milk supply when traveling. I never needed the supplementation on our travel, but I was glad I had it, just in case.
The Friendly Airport for Mothers (FAM) Act has required big and medium-sized airports to have lactation areas. Here’s some more information on this: FAQ FAM Act
There is an app by Mamava where you can find lactation spots. How convenient!
