What's Allowed in the Airplane(domestic Flight) for My Toddler to Eat and Drink?

I just traveled with my 2 1/2 year old son from Philadelphia to New Orleans about 3 weeks ago, and I didn't have any problem with the small snack packs of graham crackers, little goldfish crackers, or whole unpeeled bananas I brought in my carry on. I also brought an empty sippy cup and several juice boxes, the juice boxes are fine as long as they are unopened. Hope yo have a good trip.

You can look at the TSA's website for a list of what's allowed and how much of it.

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/prohibited/permitt...

first bring lot and lots of snacks... and sippy cups but after you go through security you can purchase drinks and take them on the plane snd then fill the sippy... Also take things to draw and my secret is I always bring a wrapped brand new present, keep it till the get restless and then give it to them. it keeps them busy for a while longer....

R. --- have fun

Hi Jin, it sounds like everyone has given you great advice - I travel a lot for work and with my daughter (who is now 3) so thought I'd pitch in as well.

First, snacks and drinks: If you are able to take liquid through security (which I doubt but have never tried), I would guess it would be more of a hassle than just buying after you get through security. Always buy at least one bottle of water after going through security - one for you too, as it also can help with the ears and it helps prevent sickness as well. I've been known to get both juice and water and mix it up so that my daughter will drink enough without getting too much sugar (she never notices unless she catches me doing it! :)). Also be sure to take either zip lock bags or some kind of reclosable container for snacks - I usually mix up a few favorite snacks so we don't spend all the time negotiating which ones to open.

Second, if you are taking diaper cream or anything like that, you will want to put it in a zip lock bag (a quart or less) because they sometimes consider this liquid. AND you'll need to take it out of any other bags and put it in a container directly. They'll let you get away with more than 3 oz for diaper cream (or at least I have), but they definitely like it if you put it in the bag first. Don't forget the 3-1-1 rule for everything else (3 oz in one bag that is one quart or less - can you tell I've heard that too many times!?) I have gotten caught on more than one occasion where I've left lip gloss or something in a side pocket and they have to search my bag. This includes ANY liquids or liquid-type things, even toothpaste.

Last but not least, if you are taking a stroller, you will need to empty it and fold it up to put it through the security cams (along with jackets, shoes, etc... ), so try to have everything already in a bag with your camera or camcorder on top so that if you need to take those out, it's an easy grab.

Sorry for the length but I wanted to cover everything!! Good luck!

S.

Hi Jin!

We fly a lot! You can bring whatever food you want. NO LIQUID. Bring an empty sippy - even if you have to dump it in the sink right before you go thru security - and buy a bottle of juice after you are through the checkpoint. You will not be able to bring juice or water or milk through security. If you do bring a cup with liquid they will make you throw the whole thing away. (I had to learn that lesson the hard way!!!).
Also, ALL shoes have to come off to go through security, so if possible, take them off way ahead of time (or don't put them on at all).
A thought for you - I hope you don't hate me for this - consider investing in a harness. You know, those things that wrap around the baby and have a lead attached. That way when you are juggling your stuff after you go through secutiry, putting back on your shoes and belt and whatever else, you are not worried about her running off!

Good luck!
-C.

Hi! I fly with my 16 month old about every 3/4 weeks. I know it is insane but all of our family lives in Michigan. I am usually traveling alone so it used to be stressful but now I've got it down to a system, haha. You can bring any snacks that you want...whatever will keep them occupied and happy. I have had no problem bringing milk, juice, and baby food through. They say as long as you have the baby with you that they allow it. I usually have a little ice pack for the milk (formula when he was younger) and I've been told you can only have an ice pack if you have milk. I don't know how old of toddlers they let the "baby" excuse slide for though so I guess it may just be safer to buy it once you get through. I just know my little guy gets extremely squirmy in the security screening line so I like to have something for him to drink but a toy, book, or snack could work too.

If you do bring any liquids (toothpaste, baby cream, chapstick) through security it has to fit in a small ziploc bag. I would say leave whatever you can leave in your checked luggage so you have less to worry about. THey have you pull out any liquids (what's in your baggie) and any sippies with milk/juice so if you do take it have it all in a place that is easy to grab and put back in once you are through. Long story short....it will be easier on you the less you bring. You can always buy drinks at the airport if you are nervous about it.

Have fun on your trip! I think you'll find it will go a lot smoother than you imagined!

I travel quite often. Don't bring liquids over 3 oz (not much for a sippy cup). Bring the cup and once you get thru security you can fill it with whatever you want. Snacks are fine as long as they are in sealed packages. Again your total liquid permitted is 3 oz. I have a medical condition that requires I drink plenty of water. I was coming thru security in a wheel chair with my water and they threw it out along with additional bottles I had. I even provided a doctors note, but that didn't matter. Good luck and safe traveling to you and your family.

You are limited to 3 oz or less of liquids through the security checkpoint. I usually bring it in bubble form for entertainment of my kids...but there are now juice boxes that have exactly 3 oz of liquid.

One thing I always buy once I'm through the checkpoint is a bottle of water. It's expensive on the other side, but in a pinch, I know I can always put water in their cups once we are seated on the plane. It can also help with mini meltdowns that can happen as you are boarding the plane.

Two other things I always have with me are: Gum and dum-dum (sp?) suckers. If you let your 22 month old chew gum, it helps with the ears. I use the gum for my older kid and the suckers for the younger kid. I have one for take off and one for landing on each leg of the trip. It's two-fold, it helps with the ear problems and the kids now think it's sort of a "plane tradition". They don't know it helps with their ears, it's just a cool treat. You can get the sugar free kind of sucker if you're worried about too much sugar.

I frequently travel alone with my kids (now there's three, so more planning will need to take place before the next major trip).

Just think about the fact that if you were to drive with you and your kids, you'd be in a car for a lot longer than in an airport and plane. I figure it's worth the hassle of not taking a 2 day driving trip when I can fly and be there in less than 1/2 a day.

good luck and enjoy your trip!
LoriB

I fly a lot with my now 22 month old. Any type and amount of food is fine. As far as liquids, no water (you have to buy it on the other side of the security) and it has to be in a sippy cup, not in any other type of container. You can only have a limited amount of liquid though. I usually bring, two sippy cups, one for water on the other side, and the other already has milk in it. What I have been told is that juice or milk is fine. I don't understand the water policy, but some airports don't have a problem and some do. And bring books, toys, cards, anything you think would be a distraction! Good luck!

We just traveled to Hawaii and we had to toss all water, in the sippy cup or in sealed bottles. We just bought some when we got to the terminal, and they give you plenty of water or juice or whatever on the plane. We brought lots of snacks with us and they didn't have a problem with that at all through security. (We went through Dulles... and heavens, if they were ok with the food we brought I can't see another airport stricter then them! They are very strict!!)

For fun things to do... Someone recommended rubber bands and a bunch of post it notes... and it really did the trick! I also heard a box of fun band aides is a great distraction for the little ones...

Best of luck! :-) M.

Jin,

You can bring junk food, chips, cookies, chocolate, ect.. Nothing in a liquid form, I would keep everything in the original bag. They have juice on the planes.. You CAN NOT BRING LIQUIDS THROUGH THE BAGGAGE CHECK!!!!…. After you go though the check points and are waiting for the plane you can buy anything you want and take on the plane… make sure there is no juice in the sipper cup.. You can bring a empty cup to use on the plane….

Some airline’s serve food too just depends were you are going and who you are flying with

Hi Jin,
I just got back from traveling with my 18-month old to North Carolina. You can bring whatever snacks you want as long as they are all solids. As for drinks, you will need to bring an empty sippy cup and then once you get through security you can buy juice/water and fill it up for the plane. You still can't bring any liquids through security. Hope that helps. Have a good trip! :)

My daughter flys often with my two year old grandson. You can take small containers of snacks for her, and you can take the sippy cup, but it cannot have the juice or milk. You have to purchase that inside the airport after you go through inspection. Security do not seem to be very understanding on how difficult it is to travel with a little one. The only thing that my daughter has had problems with is the liquids. Like I said, take the cup empty through security, and buy the liquids inside the terminal after security.
HOpe that helps you.

Hello,

I am a seasoned traveler with two children, we used to live in Alaska so we traveled...alot!
Snacks are fine but I'd keep the sippy cup empty. You can bring the cup but you'll have to buy juice on the other side of security, unless you only need to bring 4 oz. When I travel with my infant I bring her powdered formula and buy water on the other side of security. You can not bring any liquids with you unless it's smaller than 4 onces. Good Luck and Happy traveling:)

Yes, you can bring any snacks you wish on the plane. As far as the juice goes, you can bring her empty sippy cup, and you can purchase juice at the airport AFTER the security checkpoint. They will not allow you to bring your own through security, but you can buy it after security and take it on the plane.

Have fun!

I know that the airlines have all sort of restrictions on planes nowdays. Pretty much none of them refer to a mother and her child. I fly a lot with my two children and I have never had a problem bringing anything I wanted on the plane for the kids. I bring drink boxes, all sorts of snacks, ect. Now they won't let you carry on say, a full unopened drink, but juiceboxes or drinks in sippy cups are completely OK. They don't even look twice at any of it. Remember that she won't be used to the pressure changes so try to have her drinking and swallowing while you take off and land. Also bring lots of distractions that are quiet and fun for her. We always have some sort of suprise, a new little toy or book to keep them entertained. I know some moms who even bring portable dvd players to keep thier kids quiet and happy. Be prepared that when they come around with drinks she will want something. They usually have apple juice and orange juice, so as long as you have a sippy cup to put it in, it's a treat for her, and no mess for you. We have also found that if you go to the bathroom after you go through security and change diapers or go potty, it helps to not have to do it in the cramped airplane bathrooms. Some of which literally have nowhere to lay a child to change them.
One other thing. You can take your stroller with you(as long as it is not a huge double) and "gate-check" it. That means that you can have it in the airport, past security and all the way up to the gate. You just board, and right before you get onto the plane you fold it up and leave it. They put it on the plane for you and will have it waiting when you get off. This is espically nice if you have a connection. You just walk off the plane, put her in her stroller and go to the next gate. It's also great for huge airports. Not having to carry or try to have a toddler keep up with you is a great stress reliever. Good luck! Traveling isn't that bade. Getting past security is kind of hard, her stuff and yours all going through. But once you get past that it's pretty ok.