Written by Sydney Sheridan
So you want to take a trip without your baby but you’re breastfeeding- you can absolutely take that trip! I have done it and it was not nearly as much stress as I thought it would be. I went to Walt Disney World in October 2023 from Cleveland to Orlando by airplane. There is definitely more preparation and organization and here is everything I learned flying to Disney without my son, who I exclusively pump for. I will also give you some links for products I used personally if you would like to purchase them. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Check transportation regulations
Make sure to check with your airline to see their policies about flying with pumping supplies and breastmilk. I flew with Spirit Airlines and was able to have an extra bag for free on the plane that contained all my pumping supplies and any milk I had pumped. The pump bag that I used can be purchased HERE.
Bring a portable or handheld pump
I brought my Spectra Pump that I was able to charge before my flight so I did not need to worry about finding any outlets, but if you do not have a pump you can charge I highly suggest bringing a handheld pump. It is also a good idea to bring these in case you pack your main pump in your checked bag – they can get lost and you do not want to be left with no pump. This main pump that I used can be purchased HERE.
Bring a cooler bag or bottle
When I flew Spirit, my cooler had to be in my extra bag with my pump, I also made sure my ice packs were nice and frozen so it kept any bagged milk cold. I didn’t have it out as another bag. I did purchase a Ceres Chill bottle found HERE and HIGHLY recommend. You can fit it in your bag and the middle insert holds ice, you can then pour your fresh milk in the bottle over the insert –making it so you can mix your milk and it is all the same temperature. The cooler that I used can be found HERE.
Know the rules for storing your milk
Make sure you let the TSA agent know you have a breast pump and milk in your bag before going through. Familiarize yourself with the TSA guidelines of traveling with breast milk.
You are allowed to bag or store your milk in quantities greater than the 3.4 oz. per TSA regulations. This also applies to freezer packs, gel packs and ice packs. These are considered medically necessary liquids/supplies.
When I flew to Florida I kept my milk in my Ceres Chill Bottle and had no issues. If the airline chooses to check your milk they can ask you to open the bottle and they would hold a swab over the top to test for any chemicals potentially coming out of the bottle. They will not touch your milk. When I flew back home I did have frozen bags of milk I kept in my cooler bag and because the milk was frozen I had no issues at all. I was told by TSA if the milk is frozen they will not mess with it or try to test it; but I feel it’s at the airlines or TSA agents discretion.
Bring milk storage containers and cleaning supplies
You can bring milk bags or bottles to store milk. I found using bags was easier because I could label the bags and laid them flat to freeze in my hotel. I then put my frozen bags in my cooler bag and threw it in my checked bag so I would have more room for fresh milk I pumped in the airport. I was also able to take them home and just put them in the freezer. I did bring 4 oz. bottles to store any milk in it that I couldn’t fit in my Ceres Chill. Make sure to take more bags/bottles than you think you will need. It is also recommended to use clear bottles and bags as this will make the process go quicker.
Make sure to take pump bottle brushes, dish soap, and sanitizing wipes (found HERE) for easy cleaning of your pump parts. You can also bring microwave sterilizer bags for quick sanitation. I kept all of this in my extra bag with my pump.
Wear or bring a hands-free pumping bra
I chose to just wear the pumping bra all day when flying so that I didn’t have to worry about changing. This made pumping in public way easier for me. If you choose to bring it and not wear it the whole time then you can store it in the same bag with the pump. I used the MomCozy Pump found HERE and the pumping bra found HERE.
Pumping in Advance
Make sure to pump before you leave for the airport so you know your baby will have more milk for when you are gone. When I was leaving I made sure the days prior I had enough bags of milk for what he would eat. I also pumped the morning of so that he could have some fresh but that I also didn’t need to worry about carrying more milk.
I then planned my pumps based on my itinerary for the day.
I pumped:
- When I woke up
- Before boarding the plane- with my Momcozy pump
- On the plane, roughly 30-40 min. before landing-with my Momcozy
- When I got to the hotel
Flying with breastmilk is not as crazy as it seems as long as you are prepared. Just check on your airlines regulations and you will be good to go!
I am happy to help you plan your next vacation! Contact Me and we can get started planning your next vacation with or without your kiddos.