Sure you can bring more than 3.4 ounces of formula, expressed breast milk, baby food, and medicines for your infant or toddler in your carry-on bag (see specifics here). But I recommend keeping a ready-to-go cabin-friendly baby travel kit in your diaper bag. It helps streamline your travels every time you leave the house together–especially when you’re airport bound and have enough other things to remember.
Remember, the 3-1-1 allowance is per passenger, so you can keep your own air travel kit in its own zip-top bag as well, or combine for simplicity if it all fits in one.
Here is a sample modified “travel kit” for your diaper bag, with some items you may like to have on board, especially for longer flights. (Thanks for supporting this site with your click-throughs to Amazon!)
A cabin-friendly baby travel kit is helpful at home and abroad.
Sample baby travel kit for carry-on with 3.4 oz. liquid restrictions:
Infant’s Tylenol or pain/fever reducer, 1 fl. oz.
Infant’s gas relief drops, 1 fl. oz.
Small tube of diaper crème, 2 oz.
Small tube of teething gel, .33 oz.
Tube of healing crème, 3 oz. (or sample from doctor’s office, .25 oz.)
Saline nasal spray (nonmedicated), 1.5 fl. oz.
Be sure to present your quart size clear zip-top bags at security, placing them in clear view in your bins. You’ll also need to present any bottles or additional liquids for your child (I recommend keeping them in a gallon size zip-top bag for easy presentation and to contain any leaks).
For any questions about the TSA guidelines and the latest on what you’re allowed to pack in carry-on bags, see the “What can I bring?” section at TSA.gov.
For more tips on preparing for you flight with baby, including Carry-on Considerations, Checking Baby Gear, Installing Car Seats on Airplanes, Lap Child Safety, and more, see Part 5 of Travels with Baby.
You might also like:
How to Plan Your Best Vacation with Baby
Flying American Airlines with a Baby or Toddler
Checking in Safety Checklist (with Printable)
Flying Southwest Airlines with a Baby or Toddler
Review of CARES flight safety harness for air travel
Flying Virgin Atlantic with a Baby or Toddler
Worldwide Directory of Baby Gear Rentals
Safe journeys,
Shelly Rivoli, author of the award-winning Travels with Baby guidebooks
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This post first appeared November 16, 2007 as the “Travels with Baby Tip #12”! It’s since been updated.
Curious about this content? See my editorial content disclosure.
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