Flying while breastfeeding can be stressful, especially if you’ve never done it before. The first time I traveled with my baby as an exclusive pumper, I was so nervous about how I would manage pumping breast milk on a plane. Where should I pump, and would anyone notice? Is there anything special that you need to do when flying with a breast pump?
Here’s what I learned, and what you need to know about flying with your pump, traveling with breast milk, and pumping breast milk on a plane.
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Flying with a breast pump
TSA breast pump policy is that breast pumps can be carried on or checked. However, I would recommend that no matter how short your flight is, if you are flying with a breast pump, carry your pump on.
Some airlines will consider it a medical device and not count it as a carry-on.
You can google “<your airline> breastfeeding policy” – here’s United’s as an example – and see if you can confirm the guidelines for your airline. If you find a written policy, screenshot it or print it out and bring it with you just in case there is any confusion at the airport.
Even if your flight is only an hour long, or if you have a serious aversion to pumping in an airport, or if you don’t have room for it with all of your other stuff, it’s still a good idea. You never know when your flight will be delayed or if your bags will be lost.
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How to fly with breast milk
Breast milk is considered a medical liquid that is not subject to other restrictions on quantities of liquids, and you’re allowed to carry on a “reasonable amount.”
TSA security
When you go through the security checkpoint, take the cooler out and send it through the conveyor on its own. Tell the TSA screener that you are traveling with breast milk.
It’s common for TSA to open the bottles and test the milk; if you don’t want them to do that, you can ask them to use “alternate screening procedures.”
Make sure to screenshot or print out the TSA guidelines and bring them with you in case there is any confusion with your screener about the rules.
If you’re really nervous about bringing breast milk on the flight, consider using TSA Cares.
Keeping your milk cold
The easiest way to keep your milk chilled is usually with a breast milk cooler and an ice pack.
Breast Milk Coolers
If you’re keeping your breast milk cold with an ice pack, make sure that the ice pack is frozen solid when you leave for the airport. I have had TSA screeners want to treat a thawed ice pack like a liquid, which is a hassle.
Another option is to bring a baggie to put ice in (you can ask for it at restaurants inside the terminal or from the flight attendant).
Much more on how to travel with breast milk here.
How to pump breast milk on a plane
If you decide to pump on the plane, in most cases, you can pump in either the restroom or your seat. Again, if your airline has a policy on their website that explicitly states this, print it out and bring it with you.
Pumping in your seat
To pump in your airplane seat, pull everything that you need (for example, pump parts, caps for your bottles, wet/dry bag, your pump, hands-free bra, and your nursing cover) out of your pump bag.
Note: If your pump doesn’t have a rechargeable battery, you will probably need a portable battery pack.
Breast Pump Battery Packs
Then, put on your cover, set up the bottles and pump parts (it’s good if you pack your pump parts already put together and attached to the bottles ahead of time in your bag, so that all you need to do is attach the breast shields to the pump parts and start pumping), and start the pump.
Fortunately, it’s unlikely that anyone will be able to hear the pump due to the noise of the plane. Just act like you know what you’re doing (fake it until you make it, if necessary)!
Pumping in the plan restroom
The other option is the plane restroom.
You may want to wait until there isn’t much demand for it, and have everything ready to go ahead of time so that you can be as quick as possible. You may also want to let a flight attendant know what you’re doing.
If you’re nervous, you can also check the the breastfeeding policy for your airline to make sure it’s permitted (for example, United’s policy explicitly states that it is).
Feeding your baby on the trip
In most cases, if you’re exclusively pumping, it will make sense to feed your baby freshly pumped breast milk so that you don’t have to warm bottles.
If you do need to warm milk, you can ask the flight attendant for a half full cup of hot water and put the bottle in that for a minute or two to warm. (Be careful not to burn yourself!) You can also use a mobile bottle warmer like Baby’s Brew.
Portable Bottle Warmers
Pumping breast milk on a plane with your baby
If you’re flying with your baby and will need to pump, here are a few scenarios and some options for handling them.
Scenario #1: You are flying with another caregiver
If you have another caregiver, like your partner or another caregiver, this is the easiest scenario, as you have someone else to hold the baby while you pump.
You may want to pump in the airport before your flight (in addition to or instead of pumping on the plane). If so, check to see if your airport has any Mamava pods that you can use.
On the plane, you can pump in your seat or the restroom while the other caregiver holds your baby.
Scenario #2: You are flying by yourself, and your flight time is less than you would usually go between pumping sessions
If you’re alone and have a shorter flight, you may be able to just pump in the airport before your flight and then after you land.
Again, you can check for a Mamava pod. If one isn’t available, you could find an empty gate and pump there with your baby.
It’s a good idea to be ready to pump on the plane in case of a delay, but hopefully it won’t be necessary.
If your baby is a lap baby, it may be easier to pump while holding her with a manual pump vs an electric one.
Scenario #3: You are flying by yourself, and your flight time is more than you would usually go between pumping sessions
In this scenario, I would strongly recommend buying a seat for your baby.
In most cases, the best way to handle this is to get your baby to sleep in her car seat and then immediately pump in case she wakes up before you would expect.
If it’s a really long flight, it might be a good idea to pump every single time she falls asleep in case she gets fussy later and you don’t get another chance to pump. If your baby won’t go to sleep or you aren’t able to get a seat for your baby and you get desperate, see if you can find another mom or grandmotherly type to hold the baby while you pump. It might not be ideal, but it’s not like they can run off with your little one.
Planning to travel? Make your trip so much easier – grab the Pumping Travel Planner for $9!
Have you had to pump on a plane or fly with a breast pump? Share your experience in the comments!
References
- Transportation Security Administration. “Traveling with Children.” https://www.tsa.gov/travel/special-procedures/traveling-children#quickset-traveling_with_children_1
- Ewen, Nick. “What You Need to Know Before Carrying on a Medical Device.” https://thepointsguy.com/2017/09/tips-carrying-on-medical-devices/
Comments & Chitchat
Hii. I have a quick question. I will be traveling to India from USA, which is around 21 hours journey. Not sure how can I clean the parts and re-use them. It would be really great if you can suggest me anything.
Hi Nym! Check out Medela wipes – that’s what I would do when washing isn’t any option. Good luck!
Hello how did you manage on your long flight? I mean did you carry frozen breast milk, did it stay frozen for your entire flight, prefer to carry frozen in bags/ medela bottles and also how did you pump on flight ? I have an S2 spectra and wondering if I can use it on plane economy class
So I pump every 4 hours or so, and I’m on this 6.5hr flight. I planned to pump before I get on, and again during flight. Before my flight there was one Mamava pod near my gate. I walked up to it and almost immediately another mom went to it and unlocked it. I waited outside because my flight wasn’t going to close the gate for one hour, and the app says an average use of the pod is 23 min. I waited outside for 40min and decided I had to go find another pod. I quickly walked to another Mamava pod at the other end of the terminal. Took me 12min. Pumped only for 5min and quickly scrambled to pack up. In the process, I dropped my pump because I was in such a hurry. Ran all the way back to my gate and barely made it onto my plane. Three hours into the flight, I whipped out my pump, and it did not work….! I tried different seats and had the flight attendant reset all the outlets on the entire plane, still didn’t work. It’s a very bad situation I want to cry. I got mastitis multiple times because I tend to get clogged ducts. I’m sure I will be walking away with one today.
You poor thing! I’m so sorry that happened!!!
This post and these comments were so helpful. Specifically using a cover while pumping in your airplane seat, the link to United’s policy and using zip lock bags for ice. Thank you, all.
My LO is 3 months and I am back traveling for work. I bring ziplock bags and fill them up with ice at the airport and/or while on the plane with longer trips. Hotels will store your milk in the freezer for you. They knew me by name and face by the time I left after a 48 hour trip. It is really easy to get frozen BM thru TSA and get ice for the zip lock baggies when you get across!
I am traveling alone internationally for 21 hours with a layover of little over an hr. I produce milk just enough for my 4 mo baby (with about 4 oz formula supplement needed) and I pump 5 times now. I am planning to travel without any storage as I will mostly be feeding everything to the baby in flight as soon as I pump. My biggest concern are about bottle and pump parts. Is it safe to wash them in the plane bathroom and re-use them? I am planning to carry enough for 3 pumping sessions without cleaning. If that’s not safe, I will get extra parts and carry them. But wanted to know if my plan is too risky. I have business class seat and they all have power outlets. So hopefully that will work. I also requested a bassinet for the baby.
Hi Sara, I would go with the extra parts and carry them. Sorry, I know that’s a pain!
How do you airdry the pump parts while travelling? And also how long can you go without pumping at 6 months pp? I m currently almost 5 months pp and pump 6-7 times a day. My flight would be about 34 hours with two lay overs in between. Super nervous.
Hello! I love your blog
I had a question about transporting it all?
I’ll be flying alone with my 3 month old and I have a stroller and car seat at my destination.
How do I go about carrying my spectra pump along with all the baby things and cooler?
I’ll be wearing my son but I’m not sure how to carry everything if I don’t have a stroller 🙈
Can you bring most of the baby stuff in a rolling bag maybe, and carry the pump bag on your shoulder?
i just went and bought a roller suitcase!! thanks!
Good luck!
Hi Jen, I was going to suggest an independent battery back just like Amanda said above, which I got for my Medela (borrowed from friend, took about 8 batteries). Internationally that caused some problems at security because there was no voltage listed on the battery pack so they had to test it (not with me; they just took it to another room). I was sweating because for that domestic leg abroad, there were no outlets on plane so I knew I had to use the battery pack given the length of flight. But I’ve also in a pinch used a hand pump at my seat (under a nursing cover) as well. Then the question is whether you sit in the aisle (to run to bathroom if needed), or by window for more privacy if you are going to hand pump there. I’ve done it all: bathroom, at my seat, with a hand pump & plugged in at seat. At the end of the day though, I had to dump about 60oz from that international trip because it was over a full day of travel and they didn’t allow me to have non-frozen icepacks (my language skills were not up to par to explain and I traveled without baby for work). But I kept up my supply.
Thanks so much for sharing your experience Jackie!
What about when bathroom and seat don’t have an outlet. Is hand pump or hand expression in the bathroom the only option? Do all flights have those emergency outlets?
Hi Jen, I’m not sure if all flights have outlets. Some pumps can use a battery pack like the one I linked below, is that an option?
https://www.amazon.com/Medela-Battery-Style-Advanced-Breast/dp/B000HL2JOC/
The last three times I’ve flown, I’ve been sure to pack storage bags less than 100 ml full (between 3-4 oz). I often give TSA a friendly reminder that they’re packed this way, and each time they’ve cleared my cooler without opening or swabbing the storage bags.
Nothing in your article mentions how to clean the breast pump while pumping during travel. Do you have any recommendations for that?
Hi Nina! I would recommend bringing wipes (you can use the Medela quick clean wipes or just normal baby wipes) and wiping it down between uses. That’s what the CDC recommends that you should do after every pumping session and I think it would work the same during travel. 🙂
I took a 10 hour flight with my 2 month old, 80 oz of frozen milk (long vacation and needed a stash), and my pump. I was a little nervous at first but my baby quickly put me at ease when she slept for 95% of the flight. I was able to use a baby wrap and move her to one side as I pumped on the other…right in my seat. No one paid me any mind.
I’m flying international with 3 legs, the long one being 13 hrs and I won’t have my baby with me since it’s for work and expensive to fly with rest of family so worry about customs abroad searching through my pump and stored milk. 1) Since it’ll be 30hrs from start of flight in US til I reach hotel in China, should I just dump (!) milk I pump on the way there? I’m also in the middle seat in coach so people next to me will likely know my business if I tried in my seat, which I think only has usb ports. Thanks to above poster about her experience just keeping pumping bra on. I wasn’t going to, but it’ll likely be easier even if not comfy, since I need to pump every 3hrs to avoid plugged ducts (very prone – will be taking lecithin pills to hopefully prevent). I did a shorter work flight without my firstborn in the US and pumped in the bathrooms at Atlanta (both family and regular ladies one – no nursing cover – another thing to remember to bring). This time, I’ll also bring a manual, haakaa, and battery pack just in case, though it’s a drainer. So stressed and wondering what to do with milk pumped while abroad. 2) I have a fridge in hotel, but should I check I pumped milk in luggage in cooler lunch bag with freeze packs, or try to bring in carry on with me? I’ve tried calling international airline to figure out customs rules (because it’s not TSA there) and they say ask when I’m there. I think checking it in would avoid that issue, but I worry it’ll just sit in tarmac for hours, even if kept cold once in the airplane; 3) I’m not even sure if bathroom water in the airplane is clean for repeated pumping sessions, even if bring the quick clean wipes from Medela – anyone have experience using those?
1) I would maybe bring empty coolers on board and ask the flight attendants for ice? 2) Can you bring it ready to check, and but try to carry it on? That’s what I would try. 3) I would bring the quick clean wipes and extra sets of pump parts, if possible. Good luck!! You got this!
Thanks Amanda, for the recommendations. Just a follow up, on the flight going abroad, I had no issues with explaining icepacks to TSA and getting ice from the flight attendants, and just pumped in my seat under a nursing hood since the bathrooms had no outlets (they were at each seat) and over 200 passengers in economy had to make use of the the 4 bathrooms in our section. It was security abroad that didn’t allow milk over 100ml (about 3oz) to be brought in carry on; they took ~ 20min just to approve my medela battery pack (for use in the bathroom) since it didn’t label the output or voltage on it. So when coming back, I had the frozen ice packs with milk bags in cooler and checked it in, but by the time I arrived at my first port of entry back in the US like 18hrs later, it was all lukewarm. So I had to toss over 80oz that I had saved from non-flight portion back; I even dropped the last bottle I pumped in the bathroom in my rush. So frustrated and sad about this, but at the end of the day, I kept up my supply, narrowly missed having terrible mastitis (I had to take hot baths to massage the heck out of both sides), and baby still had some leftover milk from my pumping before trip. I think it would’ve been easier 1) with baby to explain why I had milk and 2) traveling domestically since TSA rules are on their website.
I’m so sorry that happened to you!
I’ve pumped traveling internationally both traveling by myself with an infant and then again traveling with my husband and our infant. Traveling by myself with my baby and pumping was a challenge. It was an emergency flight for medical reasons for my daughter and there were no extra seats available. I called the airline, let them know my situation, and was given several suggestions. Because I was at the time needing a hospital grade pump, there was no power back to run it on. While some flight attendants were understanding, one who was a man was not. Thankfully the female flight attendants on board were super helpful! They found an empty seat for me that had a power outlet because my assigned seat did not. Only some bulkhead seats have power outlets and while they are typically reserved for disabled and moms with infants, one section of bulkheads was not and that’s the one with power supply. The airline was unwilling to ask either of the 4 men sitting there if they would switch seats with me to the other bulkhead so one flight attendant can easily up with the next best thing. One empty seat with power supply I could use when I needed to pump. I would play musical chairs from my bulkhead seat with bassinet for my daughter and move WITH her to the other seat where I stored my pump bag so I didn’t have to carry it back and forth. Three pump sessions I did in that seat at 4 hour intervals. I normally do 3 but 4 hours would mean I just needed to pump once I got off the plane before customs and I knew the airport had family restrooms because I checked the map ahead of time on their website. So basically I had a lap infant while I pumped because I had to move back and forth from our seat with the bassinet to a cramped seat so I could move milk! It was a pain but I was so grateful to the female attendants on the flight for helping me to make it work. I used my nursing pillow, mybrestfriend, and after clipping it around my waste propped it on the tray table and placed my 4 m old in the pocket of space left between the cushion and my body leaving the strap loose. I then propped my pump onto of the nursing pillow to keep it steady and pumped one side at a time so that I had enough room to pump and not smother my daughter in flanges and tubing that she would probably try grabbing when awake. It wasn’t the best scenario but it worked and thankfully since it was international flight the lights were dimmed so I felt slightly better with my cover and all else. I wore my pump bra under my clothes so it would be easy to pump and I wouldn’t need to mess with taking it on and off each time. Oh and for storing my milk, because it was longer than 5 hours flight and I was traveling with a cooler of frozen milk the attendants on board gave me some dry ice for the cooler!
Hello. May I ask which airline? I was surprised they gave you dry ice, but that’s awesome. I would love to get dry ice for my cooler on board as I’m flying international soon and worried about keeping things cold.
Please be sure to check for lactation rooms or “mother’s rooms” at airports. Chair, sink, changing table, and plenty of room for spouse to hang out too!
This is a great post! I also am nervous traveling 5.5hrs on plane as this is my 1st time traveling. I found out there is a nursing pod at airport where I depart from but what concerns me is on flight. As a traveler would you recommend pumping im the restroom on the plane? I usually pump 20min and staying that long in tiny restroom sounds too long for other passengers and doing it in tiny restroom sounds dreadful… Appreciate any tips here,, thanks!
I’m having anxiety because I have to travel alone with my two month old. I’m exclusively pumping. I have travel before with my husband and it was overwhelming,. I don’t know how I’m going to do this. My flight is 5 hours long.
That sounds super stressful, but you can do it! How long do you usually go between sessions now?
I’ve pumped at the airport; just found a quiet table with banquet seating and used a cover. Also, I put one of our carry-on bags on the table to shield the view and it worked fine. My husband was there to hold the baby. When I’m out, I just wipe off my pump parts and put them into the cool bag along with the EBM, ready to use next time.
Thank you! This is my first time traveling without my little one and I need to pump. I was worried about pumping on the plane. Glad it’s safe.
We are going on our first road trip as an exclusive pumper in September. Stopping overnight on the way to our destination. I’m quite nervous, as so far, I’ve always made sure to stay close to the house to get back and pump!
We want to do day trips during the two weeks; I’m not sure I have the confidence to pump in public.
Any tips and tricks? I’m taking the ziploc and wipes advice!
You will do great! I would say just pump while your partner is driving. Either use a nursing cover or a big T-shirt to cover yourself – no one will know what you’re doing. 🙂 Maybe bring some ice packs and cooler to keep your pump parts cold so they don’t need to be washed on every break? Good luck! It will be great!
Hi! I just found this website and its great! Ive pumped on the plane. Ive pumped in a public bathroom in New York City ;-(. I exclusively pumped for 4 months in 2010. I have a newborn now, born 7/24/14 and plan to exclusively pump for as long as I can. Pumping on the plan was actually not bad at all. The little bathrooms do give you some privacy.
Good to know – I have never tried it in the bathroom! Good for you. 🙂
Wow! I have never flown with my baby as an exclusive pumper. We do live far away from family and friends and have done two big road trips. So I have pumped cross-country and that was plenty of work. But I do not think I am brave enough to fly. I may fly in November with my baby, but by then I will be done pumping. I salute you and any others who pump on a plane or in an airport! I am nervous enough just to travel with my baby without having to deal with pumping as well! Thanks for the article! I would say that zip-loc bags…gallon size are of utmost importance when traveling as an EPer, regardless of if travelling by air or road. You can have one for clean parts and bottles, one for dirty, etc. And Medela cleansing wipes to clean any parts on the go!
Ha! Thanks Stephanie. 🙂 I totally hear you on being nervous about travelling with babies…