Guide

Top 10 Most Affordable Budget Airlines in the UAE For Your Next Trip

Dubai Expat Resident Receives Commemorate Passport Stamp After 60 Years

UAE Breaks Heat Record With 51.6°C - Here’s How to Stay Safe and Sane This Summer

Dubai Just Launched a Travel Influencer Academy

List of UAE Public Holidays in 2025: Announced and Expected Dates

Pictured: His Highness Sheikh Mohammed at a UAE Cabinet meeting.

H.H Sheikh Mohammed Ranks 3 Best & Worst UAE Government Departments

There's a 10-Year UAE Residency Visa for Dubai Content Creators and Influencers

You Can Now Enjoy Breakfast With Penguins in Dubai

Confirmed: 2025 Will Be The 'Year of Community' in The UAE

View All

Flying with formula fed baby-advise us please!

Big blue

548

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 24 September 2012 - 10:32

I'm a new mom and planning our trip back to Dubai when our little one will be almost 5 weeks old. I would be grateful for some tips from more experienced moms as to how to navigate the trip while feeding her formula. The flights themselves are not long (one of 40 mins and one of 4,5 hours) but with airport waits before the flights am a bit concerned as to how we'll manage.
And what to bring with me, as I'm assuming I won't be allowed to carry water or pre-prepared formula with me past security. In your experience is it generally feasible finding hot water at airports? And do you carry the formula (dry) in your sterilized bottle? We're flying Emirates business so I assume we won't have a problem getting water on the flight.
Any tips and hints would be greatly appreciated, just the thought of it all stresses me out!!! many thanks in advance

Big blue

548

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 26 September 2012 - 15:27

Thank you very much uniquename, you're a brave lady for managing such a long flight:-)

RATE IT

uniquename55374

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 25 September 2012 - 21:03

I flew with a five week old from Australia. I brought sterilised bottles filled with boiled water. I must have had about ten as I was paranoid about running out on a fourteen hour flight and also in case there were delays. I also brought the formula in pre measured quantities. I was never asked to empty or taste any of the bottles. I just declared them at security. We also recently flew return to Copenhagen. At CPH, they put the bottles through the X-ray machine (??) but again no tasting or emptying. I also had jars of baby food but had no issues.

RATE IT

Big blue

548

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 25 September 2012 - 09:29

Thank you all so much, unfortunately I wasn't able to find ready made formula where I am (not in Dubai) but will keep checking. I'll also try to ask airport security in advance whether they would let me through with water in the bottles so that I can plan accordingly. Fingers crossed it'll go well!

RATE IT

sourskittleashnut

984

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 24 September 2012 - 23:09

Aptamil has ready-to-use formula cartons in 200ml sizes, just cut the carton and pour into the bottle. Very useful for travelling, and you can get them from Waitrose and Spinneys. I plan on travelling in a couple of months so will def be taking those with me.

RATE IT

Feefmick56943

1370

Posts

EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 24 September 2012 - 21:41

Easiest way is to buy a formula dispenser. Fill with correct amount of powder (each dispenser allows for 3 bottles). Fill bottles with boiled water and when ready for feed simply tip in powder. Mine used to take it what every temp it came at but if need it hot put in less water than required, then when ready to make up request boiled water and top up to required level. Def clothes for you and baby. I still wonder what happened to the poor bloke who my daughter projectile vomited all over on the Edinburgh to Heathrow shuttle. He was on his way to a job interview.

RATE IT

wankoon51639

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 24 September 2012 - 21:32

Hi Big Blue, I have two DDs and both are formula-fed and I had the chance to travel with them fairly often over the past few years. Regarding bringing water through customs, it's really dependent on the airport screening from the country you're traveling from. Never had problems from UAE airports ever, far east as well. When I traveled from Geneva airport first two years of my DD1's life, never had problems too. This year from Geneva airport, screening of bottles containing liquids for baby we done separately but didn't have to empty any bottle or drink it in front of customs officials. Last year when departing from Amsterdam airport, they made me empty all bottles containing liquid and not a single drop was allowed. And if you're traveling with a 5-weeks old baby, it should be fairly easy (fingers crossed). Younger babies tend to sleep more with the background aircraft noise and the motion/vibration during take off and landings was quite soothing when my girl was a baby. I always try to give them bottle during take off and landings as sucking helps equalise the pressure in their ears. If it's not time to feed, then the soother works too. I always fill each bottle with appropriate amount of cooled boiled water, then I just bring a thermos flask of hot water and top it up when I need to prepare the feed. Formula are portioned into those small formula containers. You did mention a transit flight. I will prepare in my suitcase more feed than required for the unlikely event of a flight delay or a diversion. Pack change of clothes for yourself and baby in case baby soiled on you or vomits on you. That's about all the tips I have. Happy landings :)

RATE IT

SEY83

943

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 24 September 2012 - 11:25

To be honest I wouldn't pre-prepare formula unless i absolutely had to - I think it can only keep for an hour outside of the fridge once you have prepared it. What I would do is sterilize all of your bottles, then when you're about to leave the house put boiling water in one of the bottles and then put it in one of the insulated bottle warmer things. It wont take long for it to get cold, but you could probably use it a couple of hours later and it would be a good temperature for your baby. Then buy bottled water from duty free. Honestly I never sterilized bottled water. I know some people do, but my midwife and health visitor in the UK always said it was fine, I would only sterilize it at home. Then on the flight or during the stop over ask the flight attendant or coffee shop person (depending on where you are) to heat your bottled water for you. Have them do it a good while before you actually plan to feed so that it can cool to room temperature. You need to have a few sterilized bottles on hand as once you have used one you can't sterilize it during the flight.

RATE IT

Big blue

548

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 24 September 2012 - 10:41

Thank you both, this may be a daft question, but wouldn't pre-prepared formula need to be refrigerated? I keep reading all this scary "sterilize everything all the time" advice and unsure as to how to go about it...

RATE IT

SEY83

943

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 24 September 2012 - 10:38

Hi Big Blue, I think you can carry through pre-prepared formula onto flights, or even hot water if you tell them that it's for your baby. What airport security do to check it is make you taste it in front of them and then they let it through. I would also carry dry formula with you as well. You can usually find hot water at one of the coffee places. Just sit and order a coffee and if you have a bottle of water (bought from duty free) then they can heat it up for you in the microwave, or they can give you boiled water straight from their machines if you are happy with that (depends on the country that you're coming from and if tap water is safe). Remember to feed your baby upon take off and landing. Babies don't know how to deal with the air pressure and can't unblock their ears. So, if they are feeding (i.e. sucking) then they can unblock their ears which means they won't suffer any pain.

RATE IT

louisedvs49280

3863

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 24 September 2012 - 10:34

I'm a new mom and planning our trip back to Dubai when our little one will be almost 5 weeks old. I would be grateful for some tips from more experienced moms as to how to navigate the trip while feeding her formula. The flights themselves are not long (one of 40 mins and one of 4,5 hours) but with airport waits before the flights am a bit concerned as to how we'll manage. And what to bring with me, as I'm assuming I won't be allowed to carry water or pre-prepared formula with me past security. In your experience is it generally feasible finding hot water at airports? And do you carry the formula (dry) in your sterilized bottle? We're flying Emirates business so I assume we won't have a problem getting water on the flight. Any tips and hints would be greatly appreciated, just the thought of it all stresses me out!!! many thanks in advance I would ring Emirates CS and ask, my understanding is that you can bring it through in certain quantities however will be made to taste it and you wouldn't have any problems getting water in economy either <em>edited by louisedvs on 24/09/2012</em>

RATE IT