Yes, in reasonable quantities, but tell the officer and expect separate screening.
You are flying with a baby and want to carry formula, milk and a few pouches of baby food in your bag without losing any of it at the checkpoint.
Yes. TSA allows breast milk, formula, toddler drinks and baby food in carry-on baggage in reasonable quantities, and they can be more than 3.4 oz (100 ml). They are not subject to the usual 3-1-1 limit, and they do not have to go in the quart-size bag.
What TSA asks you to do
- Tell the officer at the start of screening that you are carrying these items.
- Take them out of your bag so they can be screened separately.
- Expect the officer to ask to open some containers or test them. TSA states that this is part of the process, so allow time.
- Cooling packs and liquid-filled teethers are covered in TSA’s guidance for this category, so you do not need to leave them behind.
How to pack the bag
- Put the feeding items in one pocket or pouch at the top of the bag.
- Seal liquids in a clear bag so you can see them and so a leak stays contained.
- Bring only what you reasonably need for the trip, including some allowance for delays. “Reasonable quantities” is not a number, so bring a sensible amount, not a case.
- Keep powdered formula in its container. You may be asked to open it.
Where this answer stops
This is US TSA guidance and applies to the checkpoint. Airlines may have their own rules on what you can carry on board, and other countries apply different rules to liquids. TSA’s guidance can change, so check the pages above before you travel.
Sources and further reading
Three more perspectives
A bag with an insulated side pocket or a separate soft cooler makes the feeding items easy to find and keeps them apart from everything else. Choose a pocket that opens wide, so you can lift the items out in one go for screening.
Spills from a bottle or pouch are the main risk to the bag. Put each container in a sealed freezer-style bag, and keep that bag in a wipe-clean pocket. If a bag lining is not washable, a leaked bottle can leave a lasting mark.
Keep the feeding items in the same place on every trip so you can reach them without opening the whole bag. Take them out before the belt, and tell the officer at the start that you have formula or milk, instead of waiting to be asked.
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