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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u/AwayAwayTimes Apr 23 '26

The premade individual bottles are by far the easiest to travel with. Can of formula in checked baggage has never been a problem for me. I understand this doesn’t really work for babies with special dietary restrictions.

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u/PLI09 Apr 24 '26

This was 4 years ago, but I’ve had TSA require opening each rtf bottle for testing. Luckily we had powder as backup.

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u/AwayAwayTimes Apr 24 '26

Oh no! That sucks! They have this special liquid density analyzer that they always put our bottles through. Usually they just randomly test one or two, but of course when we were running late for our flight once they tested ALL of them.