Originally Posted by
medic
Has anyone had TSA test the milk or other liquird you take for your child and know the likelyhood and process? I don't really like them going through my clothes with the same gloves they checked the last bag with, not sure how I feel about them checking my kids milk.
In all our travels we've never had TSA ETD swab our babies' items. The few times we've been held up was with MrsJ's diaper bag (3 small bottles of Nursery Water--we make the formula using room temperature water) yet my diaper bag with the infant & toddler medications and 3 boxes of
shelf-stable milk went through x-ray with nary a peep.
If they
do insist on testing the milk/formula then yes, absolutely insist on fresh gloves and if they want to use pH strips or something, pour the milk from your container into their fresh container...meaning don't let them stick the pH strip into your container of milk (not that they'd so something that boneheaded).
Is there a limit to the number of bottles you can take with you? It's only a 2 hour flight, but I figure with flight delays or other items it's probably better to overpack.
Better to have extras and not need them than to get stuck in an airport with limited baby services. There's no hard and fast rule about the amounts you can take because "reasonable" quantities varies depending on who you talk to.
Are diaper creams and baby lotions above 3oz allowed and do they need to be in ziplock bags or can they just stay in their normal pouches in the diaper bag as its passed through the x-ray?
Baby creams, lotions and potions are still subject to TSA's 3-1-1 silliness but again, we've never been held up once they realize it's a diaper bag. Note that prescription and OTC medical items are excempt from 3-1-1.
How can we keep the carseat from getting dirty when they gate check it.
I'm assuming that you're going to take the stroller+carrier to the gate and gate check both? I wounldn't worry too much about the carrier getting dirty. If you're concerned, there are commercially available travel covers or you can just use a plastic trash bag.
Besides giving baby something to suck on during presurization changes, any other tips to keep baby calm or suggestions about going through the process?
Thanks for the help for a first time dad.
At 5 months, the pressure changes shouldn't be that much of a problem. But if you're concerned try giving a bottle during taxi and takeoff or before landing. Our oldest usually slept for the entire airport/flight experience until he reached 18 months.