Baby Formula & Travelling Abroad

internatwoman · Post by **internatwoman** » Sun Jul 12, 2009 1:43 pm

Hi, I have a one month old baby and we are having problems with his gas issues

Now I know all new borns have problems, but I am worried he has inherited my allergies to dairy and its causing him more problem than he needs to suffer with. He is on formula (and part breastfed as well). We have him on the Tutteli formula at the moment. In the beggining it was fine and he responded well, however over the past week his gas has gotten much worse and he is puking a lot more as well. It is in fact waking him up every time he has to puke or gets a cramp, so he is also very tired. As a baby I had to be put on a non-dairy formula, at the time it was soya milk. I was wondering if anyone out there has any advice...knows a lactose free (preferably dairy free) formula that is made here in Finland. I will keep my boy on this formula for another week, but if it is like my allerigy he is only going to get worse with the more dairy he takes in.

A second question, I know that there have been posts about traveling with newborns, I am in the process of reading them. We will travel to South Africa in August, it is a LONG flight with a 2 month old. As you read he is on formula. We are flying BA, I phoned and they say that you can only bring 100ml of liquid formula through. But this seems crazy. Is there anyone who knows what the restrictions etc are, surely baby formula/food is sort of an exception and we would be allowed to take enough for the whole trip, or do we have to make it from powder for the whole trip. It is a nearly 20 hour trip and well it seems ludicrous to have to make formula for that long a trip, andwell im worried about getting hot water etc etc...
Thanks, any other advice on long haul trips with tiny babies is MOST WELCOME!!

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internatwoman · Post by **internatwoman** » Sun Jul 12, 2009 9:55 pm

Thanks for the reply.....the problem all stems from the fact that I am having issues producing enough milk for my baby, had a breast reduction years ago and well...not much milk coming out!! So it was a choice between a starving kid or using formula.....Sad and its been a hard thing to go with, but he needed to eat

Im still trying, but well..just not happening!! BF would be easiest for the trip I agree.... I wont switch him onto another formula in a hurry as I realise newborns have gas issues anyways...but yea worried he has my dairy intolerance (I dont eat dairy at all....so he would be safe if we could just BF him!)...and this formula has dairy..hence the concern regarding gas& the query!

As fot the BA airline website, my hubby looked and its not so helpfull the info...and I have phoned the Helsinki BA 'hotline' shall we say&they were basically clueless....saying no more than 100ml is allowed, but were unsure as well.....Will try again...but hoping somone can shed some light...I will now ask about the option you mentioned, so THANKS!

As for drugging the kid.....well had'nt thought of it, but totally agree with you about considering it as well its a long haul and dont want to stress him more than he is going to be already,.....will discus with hubby&doc...so once again thanks!

kaisaella · Post by **kaisaella** » Mon Jul 13, 2009 12:10 am

I have flown BA from Helsinki to Montreal on different occasions, with an infant and we were able to take multiple containers provided that none contained more than 100 ml each. Also, they didn't question at all at security in Helsinki nor in London except when we left the airport and had to go through screening once again which was interesting because 4 hours previously the transfer screening section did not care at all about the liquid we brought for the baby!

I would recommend bringing extra dry formula anyways, just in case and bring more clothes, diapers and wipes than you think you will need... mine pooped/peed so much on the plane that we went through all the outfits in the first 5 hours!

Rip · Post by **Rip** » Mon Jul 13, 2009 1:44 pm

If we were talking about a flight from Helsinki, the Finnish civil aviation authority explicitly states on their web page that baby food needed during the flight is not subject to the 100 ml restriction.
http://www.civilaviationauthority.fi/Hand_baggage
http://www.ilmailuhallinto.fi/Mukaan_matkustamoon

The longer Finnish language page advices to bring the food in their original sales packages, packed in plastic bag.

Of course, British are free to invent their own rules to make life more difficult for passengers (yet another reason why I would never want to change a plane at Heathrow...)
(my suggestion, pack powder)

http://www.heathrowairport.com/portal/p ... 20a____/#3

What about a bottle or carton of prepared milk or sterilized water, do they need to be a maximum of 100ml?

No, nor do they have to fit in the resealable bag. However, the amount must be sufficient for your trip only and you will be asked to taste 50 per cent of the contents of the containers. There are no limits for powder formula; bottled water is available in shops after security. Your airline can provide water during the flight.

Can you buy cartons of formula milk from the shops after security?

Yes. Boots sell Cow & Gate ready to drink formula in both 250ml and 500ml sizes after security. Every country which is implementing the new security arrangements has accepted that parents with babies should be able to carry sufficient baby food/milk for the journey, so "reasonable amounts" are exempted although you will be asked to open and taste at least 50per cent of the containers when going through BAA’s UK airports

What happens if the baby can only tolerate non-dairy and needs Soya or rice milk?

We are required to test at least 50 per cent of the containers that you carry with you. The milk should be in bottles

What about jars of baby food?
We are required to test at least 50% of the jars of infant or baby food that you bring with you. Try to only carry what you need for the journey. The jars do not need to go into the re-sealable bag.

What about pureed food in plastic pots or containers?
The same test applies. We have to test at least half of what you bring with you; the jars do not need to go into the re-sealable bag.

Rip · Post by **Rip** » Mon Jul 13, 2009 1:57 pm

I started to wonder... Do they sell Tutteli inside the secured area in Helsinki-Vantaa airport? If one can get it packed and sealed with or without some of the stuff they sell that actually is flammable) and then only open it during the long haul flight, things should be OK?

Rosamunda · Post by **Rosamunda** » Mon Jul 13, 2009 4:52 pm

Lactose intolerance and an allergy to milk protein are TWO TOTALLY DIFFERENT THINGS.

You should take your baby to see a doctor as soon as possible to find out if he has an allergy or not.
There are several non-dairy formulas available in Finland (casein hydrolysats such as Nutramigen) which are suitable for babies who are allergic to milk. These are provided on subscription only and are expensive but I believe they are partly funded by KELA (depending on the diagnosis).

If your baby is atopic (he has allergies) he should be referred to a specialist who can do a full assessment on the extent of his allergies and give you proper nutritional advice.

I would not recommend switching to a soja formula. This used to be a popular alternative but I don't think paediatricians advise them any more.

Rosamunda · Post by **Rosamunda** » Thu Jul 16, 2009 12:39 pm

tummansininen wrote:. My 1-minute googling tells me it's 1 in 3 people allergic to cow's milk are also allergic to soy milk.

If a baby is having an allergic reaction to cows' milk and then switches suddenly to soja milk then he can acquire the allergy imply because his immune system is in working in hyper reactive mode (or something like that). For atopic (allergic) babies, new foods should always be introduced very slowly and one at a time and some foods should be excluded for a long long time. My allergic baby was on a very strict diet for the first 4-5 years of his life.

There have also been some studies suggesting that soja formula given to girls under 3 mths can have an effect on their reproductive system and I remember reading other reports that said soja milk can give kids a sweet-tooth (it is naturally sweeter tasting than breast milk). But I read those things 15 yrs ago, so they might be out of date now.

Gigi · Post by **Gigi** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 8:12 pm

Rip wrote:What about a bottle or carton of prepared milk or sterilized water, do they need to be a maximum of 100ml?

No, nor do they have to fit in the resealable bag. However, the amount must be sufficient for your trip only and you will be asked to taste 50 per cent of the contents of the containers. There are no limits for powder formula; bottled water is available in shops after security. Your airline can provide water during the flight.

I am just back from travelling for the 1st time with my 7,5 month old son. I breastfeed but I am one of those over-worried-over-prepared moms, so I had everything extra with. For a 3h flight I had with: two pots of potato (for lunch), two pots of fruit-thing + 3times 200ml ready NAN formula in a carton + water in a bottle (tuttipullo). And nobody complained or asked to taste anything in Helsinki airport, neither in Brussels.

tummansininen wrote:This for a start is wrong! I have seen it explicitly stated on some airlines that they CANNOT or WILL NOT supply you with (boiled or even regular potable tapwater) for your child's bottle

If this is the case, I wouldn't fly with that company.

internatwoman · Post by **internatwoman** » Thu Jul 23, 2009 8:38 pm

Thanks everyone....We basically are now on formula, the NAN hypersensitive one. So far its going well, loads of wind, but its coming out now!! He is still too young to determine what is up, but it seems like it is normal for his age...and formula finding is something you do by trial and error...breastfeeding is not looking very peachy at this stage!!

As for the flying and feeding....well the Hypersensitive NAN is powder form, so we are going to have to go with the powder on the flights and then hopefully....they will provide us with water...if not we are truly screwed..and im sure after a few hours of hungry baby screams they will help us! The problem seems to be with heathrow, else the rest of the trip seems to be 'safe'.

Anyways thanks for all the tips....and info on allergies/sensitivities etc..I was on soya before 3 months old and well I have a super sweet tooth, so there MUST be some sort of truth in the statement!!

Patricia · Post by **Patricia** » Sun Jul 26, 2009 12:17 am

Hiya,
Here comes my tupence worth! I have travelled with formula to Ireland at least 4 or 5 times in the last year and just had those cartons of ready made Nan formula (200ml) in one of those plastic bags they hand out at airport. (Sidenote: they charge 1 euro per bag now at Dublin airport so keep your wee bag safe!!!!) Going through security I simply took the bag out containing cartons and there wasn't a comment made on any one of my trips to or from Ireland. I might add I always had 2 or 3 cartons with me and the flight is less than 3 hours.....Neurotic New Mum Syndrome!!
As far as carrying boiled water goes....I also had a baby bottle containing boiled water when my daughter was small and again once it was in those bags, not a dickie bird was mentioned! If you can't get that Nan Hypoallergenic Formula in ready made cartons I would suggest one of these ........

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0006B ... roduct_img

and bringing the water with you in a few bottles and add as needed. From my experience babyfood is definitely an exception as far as airport security goes.

AND as a total sidenote Gold medal for doing your best with the breast feeding...had my own difficulties with that and some is better than none!!

All the very best!!!

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