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Liquid Limits

Flying with baby milk, formula and baby food: the full rules

Last updated Updated 4 weeks ago· Reviewed against current airport security guidance

Short answer

Baby milk (formula, expressed breast milk, ready-to-feed cartons), sterilised water for making up feeds, and baby food (jars, pouches, purées) are exempt from the 100ml hand luggage rule in the US, UK, EU, Canada, Australia and most of the world. Bring a reasonable amount for the flight plus a buffer, declare it at the start of screening, and expect officers to open or test some containers.

General guidance

Rule basis: General airport security guidance — rules can vary between airports and change over time. Confirm with your departure airport before you fly.

What to do: Pack to 100ml per container in a single 1-litre clear bag unless you've confirmed a larger allowance at both your departure airports.

Liquid Limits is a travel planning tool, not an official aviation source. Always confirm with the airport before you travel.

Quick answer

Yes — in reasonable quantities for the journey. Baby milk, formula and baby food are exempt from the 100ml liquid rule. Take them out of your hand luggage before screening and tell the security officer you have baby milk to declare before your bag goes on the belt.

UK, US (TSA), EU, Canada, Australia and NZ all exempt baby milk, formula and baby food from the 100ml rule when you're travelling with the infant. The US and UK also allow it when flying without the baby.

100ml, 2L and baby milk — how the rules fit together

The baby-milk exemption is separate from the 100ml hand-luggage rule and from the newer 2-litre allowance at UK airports with CT scanners. Whether an airport is on the old 100ml rule or the new 2L rule, baby milk, formula, sterilised water and baby food are exempt either way and do not have to fit in the 1-litre clear bag. You still need to declare them.

What counts as 'baby milk' at security

ItemCabinCheckedNotes
Expressed breast milkYes, exempt from 100mlYesFrozen is easier — treated as a solid
Ready-made formula (cartons or bottles)Yes, exemptYesSealed cartons cause fewer questions
Powdered formulaYes, unlimitedYesPowder isn't a liquid — bring as much as you like
Sterilised water for making feedsYes, exemptYesBuy after security if you can — it's faster
Cow's milk for an infantYes, exemptYesSame exemption as formula if it's for the baby
Baby food jars and pouchesYes, exemptYesPurées, yogurts, fruit pots — all fine
Ice packs / gel packs for milkYes if fully frozen solidYesPartly melted ones may be refused
Sterilising tablets / Milton fluidPowder/tablet: yes. Liquid: 100ml ruleYesTablets are the safer choice

How much can I bring?

Most authorities (UK CAA, TSA, EU, CATSA) use the wording 'a reasonable amount for the journey' rather than a fixed numerical limit. In practice that means enough feeds for the flight plus a buffer for delays and diversions. Officers rarely question one or two extra feeds beyond the scheduled journey time.

How to declare it and what screening looks like

  • Take all baby milk, formula, water and baby food out of your bag before the belt (even at airports where general liquids can stay in the bag)
  • Tell the officer at the start of screening: 'I have baby milk to declare'
  • Place items in a separate tray — build in 10 extra minutes for the slower lane
  • Officers may ask to open a container and run a vapour or test-strip check (they should not ask you or the baby to taste it)
  • You can refuse to have a container opened; they'll do extra screening of you and the bag instead
  • Cabin X-ray does not damage breast milk, formula or baby food

What to pack: a practical kit

  • Pre-measured powder in individual formula dispensers (one per feed)
  • Empty sterilised bottles — fill with water bought airside or asked from cabin crew
  • 1–2 ready-made formula cartons as backup if you can't get water
  • Frozen breast-milk bags or ice packs in a small cool bag
  • Pouches over jars — lighter, less likely to break, easier to screen
  • A printed copy of the airport's baby-food policy if you're flying somewhere strict

International travel: where it gets trickier

The exemption is near-universal, but a few regions are stricter on quantity or require you to be travelling with the baby.

RegionRuleWatch out for
UKExempt; allowed even without the babyOfficers may ask to open a container for testing
US (TSA)Exempt; allowed without the baby; 'reasonable quantities'Declare at the start of screening, not at the X-ray
EUExempt with the baby; varies country-by-country withoutSpain and Italy stricter without infant present
Canada (CATSA)Exempt with the baby; reasonable quantitiesFrozen accepted if fully solid
Australia / NZExempt with the baby; declare on arrival tooBiosecurity checks fresh food on landing
UAE / Qatar / SaudiExempt but inspected closely; bring baby's documentsPack a backup in checked baggage
Japan / KoreaExempt with the baby; small quantities preferredBuy formula on arrival if staying long

Common reasons it still gets refused

  • Ice packs that have started melting — refrozen solid only
  • Glass jars without a clear baby-food label, in a strict airport
  • Adult-sized water bottles claimed as 'for making formula' — bring an actual baby bottle
  • Sterilising fluid over 100ml when bringing the bottle of fluid instead of tablets
  • Travelling without the baby in a country that requires the baby be present

FAQs

Is baby milk really exempt from the 100ml rule?

Yes — in the US, UK, EU, Canada, Australia and most of the world. Formula, expressed breast milk, ready-made cartons, sterilised water and baby food are all exempt when carried for an infant.

Do I have to be travelling with my baby?

In the US and UK, no — you can bring breast milk and formula without the baby. In most EU countries officers prefer the baby to be present. Check your departure airport before you fly.

How much baby milk can I take through security?

A reasonable amount for the journey plus a buffer for delays. UK CAA, TSA, EU and CATSA all use the 'reasonable quantities' wording rather than a fixed millilitre limit. Pack one or two extra feeds beyond the scheduled journey time.

Can I bring powdered formula in hand luggage?

Yes, in unlimited quantities — powder isn't a liquid. Pre-measure into individual feed dispensers and fill bottles with water bought airside or from cabin crew.

Can I bring water for making up formula?

Yes, in any quantity needed for the baby — it's exempt. Many parents prefer to buy sealed bottled water after security to save time at screening.

Will airport X-ray damage breast milk or formula?

No. Standard cabin X-ray scanners do not damage breast milk, formula or baby food. You can ask for visual inspection instead if you'd prefer.

Can I bring frozen breast milk?

Yes — and it's the easiest option. Fully frozen milk is treated as a solid and goes through with no fuss. Partly melted ice packs may be refused at strict airports.

What about sterilising fluid like Milton?

Tablets and powder are unrestricted. Liquid sterilising fluid is treated as a normal liquid — 100ml in hand luggage, any size in checked baggage.

Sources & references

Primary references behind this guide. We link directly to authorities so you can verify anything we say.

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