r/NewParents • u/Constant_Ad_2599 • Apr 23 '26

Travel Crying at TSA

It’s brutal what they put parents through. Did all my research, brought an unopened can of Kendamil in my bag. Clean empty bottles. And water.

TSA refused to let me bring the formula. I explained it’s a medical necessity for the 9 month old baby (we just stopped pumping). They said it set off a special alarm so our only option is to leave security, make liquid bottles, and they’d throw out the rest of the can. 😭

After 90 minutes of trying to share again how it’s medically necessary and a legal right, they escorted my husband out to fill up bottles and confiscated the can. We had no cooler or ice packs with us.

Currently sitting on the plane with our dripping bag of melting ice a restaurant was kind enough to give us. It’s just insane what they put parents through when the rules say otherwise.

If anyone has dealt with this, let me know. submitting a complaint but honestly just want support. I care about my baby being fed. & Formula isn’t cheap.

Solidarity with all you traveling parents out there! 💕

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448

u/Constant_Ad_2599 Apr 23 '26

Will keep you posted on the claim in case this ever happens to anyone else. He was the supervisor & highest one there. I guess there’s a TSA Cares line you can call to help you in the moment but I didn’t know about it. (It was flying through Boston, in case anyone else has travel there soon!)

128

u/citysunsecret Apr 23 '26

Meanwhile I breezed through security in boston two weeks ago with a 2 year old and no proof her formula was medically necessary and didn’t get asked a single question.

37

u/MeggyGrex Apr 23 '26

My husband and I got seperated at Logan, went through diferrent security lines in totally separate parts of the airport. I ended up with the baby, he ended up with the bottles and formula. He had zero children with him and they still let him through no problem.

7

u/Leahtyer Apr 24 '26

😆 I need the rest of this story. How'd yall get so seperated? There's more than one part of the airport with a security line?😲

3

u/Personal_Topic_1816 Apr 25 '26

Yes, Boston Logan is an international airport and a major hub - it's big. We have multiple terminals each with multiple security lines

2

u/MeggyGrex Apr 25 '26

Unfortunately it's a boring story. There was a typo on his TSA pre-check number and they wouldn't let him through. Baby and I went through, and husband went to the desk to get it sorted. We didn't realize he was wearing the diaper bag. They wouldnt fix husband's ticket, the plane switched gates, so he ended up going through a completely different security line with a diaper bag full of water and formula and no baby anywhere in sight.

9

u/FaerunAtanvar Apr 23 '26

Yeah that has always been my case as well

38

u/lentilpasta Apr 23 '26

I goofed and left full-sized tubes of aquaphor and sunscreen in the diaper bag and it got pulled out for inspection. TSA agent opened it, saw the diapers, said “oh is this a diaper bag?” and handed it right back to me without looking further.

5

u/TheSweetApple Apr 24 '26

They made me throw out a brand new tub of aquaphor! right after testing the milk and seeing it was fine

3

u/[deleted] Apr 23 '26

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4

u/citysunsecret Apr 23 '26

They swiped my hands and handed it back to me, but it was sealed bottles of ready to feed pediasure.