How to Get Through Airport Security With Breast Milk
It’s perfectly legal to go through airport security with breast milk, even without a baby in tow, but the rules don’t always work in real life when you’re just a parent standing in front of a TSA agent asking him to let you board a plane with your ice packs of human food.
Last week, a Colorado mom revealed how milk she pumped for her 3-month-old son was dumped by TSA after it was tested for explosives and set off an alarm. While stories like these seem to have become less common, it is possible that hiccups and delays have been occurring since President Obama signed the Training-focused Bottle and Breastfeeding Equipment Testing Act (BABES) last year. Friends told me their stories from the checkpoint – they cringed as their containers of liquid gold were opened, fiddled and sniffed by bewildered security agents. One mother was asked to take a sip to prove it was not dangerous. Another watched in horror as her breast milk spilled over the entire X-ray machine. (“It was disgusting and smelled,” she recalls.)
The possibility of this valuable breast nectar not ending up in babies’ mouths – whether due to confiscation, spoilage, or a thumbs-up by a random TSA dude – can make air travel incredibly stressful. Here are some ways to reduce your anxiety and reduce the likelihood of crying over spilled milk.
Know your rights (and print them)
A quick Google search for “TSA of Breast Milk” will take you to the TSA’s official website , which clearly states that yes, you can go through the checkpoint with more breast milk or formula than the standard carry-on 3 ,4 oz. It may be helpful to print the page and highlight key lines, such as “You don’t have to travel with your baby to bring breast milk,” if you are on a business trip or, you know, on vacation without children in Molokini. Show the printout to any TSA agent who looks skeptical. Security may not ask you to sample breast milk, but agents may ask you to open bottles . They can wipe the outside of the container.
Declare what it is right away. Jessica Shortall, author of Work. Pump. Review : The Breastfeeding and Returning to Work Survival Guide for Young Mothers asks the agent to say , “I am a breastfeeding mother and I travel with a breast pump and breast milk.” She also recommends using the word “medical” often.
Keep this milk cold
Freezing breast milk makes it easier to transport, but transporting it in liquid form is also possible if you have a cooler bag and an ice pack (TSA approved item). The ubiquitous black Medela bag is perfect for fast travel, but for lugging more milk with you, the waterproof Yeti Hopper is the top choice for frequent travelers .
If you’ve forgotten your ice pack, a Ziploc bag full of ice will do. Don’t worry if security forces you to throw it away – just click on the ice machine or Starbucks barista to have one more time as soon as you pass the checkpoint. An even better trick from Twitter user Jennifer Strain is to use a frozen veggie bag because it won’t get slushy and therefore subject to further testing.
Note: If you’re testing breast milk – it’s probably a safe and reliable option with the Yeti Hopper – you don’t need to worry too much about temperature changes. The cooler has good insulation and it is very cold inside the aircraft.
Give yourself extra time
TSA checkpoints can be a carry bag. If you carry breast milk, arrive at the airport early, especially if you are traveling abroad.
Do not bring breast milk through airport security
For women who need to express breast milk while on business trips, which moms who have been there say are a headache, there are delivery services like Milk Stork that will safely deliver breast milk directly from your hotel to your baby’s home. Some companies offer services to employees, so check your company’s policies and benefits.