Travelling with a baby takes some preparation, especially when it comes to feeding. How do you keep breast milk cool in the car? Can formula go through security? And how do you warm a bottle when there is no kitchen nearby? Here is everything in one place.
In the car
- Keep milk cool. A car can heat up quickly in the sun. Carry expressed breast milk in a cool bag with an ice pack: that way it keeps for up to 24 hours (guidance from Kind en Gezin, the Flemish child and family agency).
- Do not make up formula in advance. Kind en Gezin advises against taking ready-made bottles with you. Bring formula powder in a dispenser and the water separately, and only make up the bottle just before the feed.
- Feed your baby during a stop, not while the car is moving. On long journeys, plan a break every two to three hours.
- Warming in the car park: with a portable bottle warmer you do not need a plug socket or a kettle. Charge it fully beforehand.
On the plane
For liquids in hand luggage, the rule is usually a maximum of 100 ml per container. For baby food and breast milk, airports make an exception: you may take the amount you need during the journey. Do expect it to be checked separately at security. The exact rules differ by airport and airline, so check them in advance (for example on the website of Brussels Airport).
- Devices with a lithium battery, such as a rechargeable bottle warmer, belong in your hand luggage. If in doubt, check your airline's rules.
- Keep the feeds within reach, not in your suitcase: delays happen.
- During take-off and landing, many parents find that drinking or sucking helps their baby with the pressure change in the ears. Have a bottle ready, but do not force anything.
At your destination
- For formula, use water that is suitable for infant feeding. If you are not sure whether the tap water is safe, choose still, low-mineral bottled water.
- Clean bottles and teats thoroughly every day. Bring a small brush and washing-up liquid.
- In a hot country your baby dehydrates more quickly: offer drinks more often.
Checklist: feeding on the go
- Cool bag with ice pack (for breast milk)
- Formula powder in a dispenser + water separately (for formula)
- Enough clean bottles and teats, plus a spare
- Charged portable bottle warmer and USB-C cable
- Bibs, wipes and a damp cloth to wipe the warmer
- An extra portion in case the journey takes longer than planned
A tip about the bottle warmer
On the go, things happen fast: in the car, on a bench, in the lounge. After charging, always close the charging flap fully and clean the warmer with a damp cloth, never under the tap. That way you keep moisture out of the electronics and your warmer will last for years.
This article is general information. Hand luggage rules can change: always check the current rules of your airport and airline.
Sources: Kind en Gezin – Making, storing and carrying formula · Kind en Gezin – Storing and warming breast milk · Brussels Airport – Hand luggage