How to travel with breast milk – top tips for success in any on-the-go situation!
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There are many things to consider when traveling with breast milk. How will you keep it cold? What if there is a delay or canceled flight? Will you make it through airport security with your milk? How will you pump on the go?
Don’t worry mama – we have answers to all these questions and more.
In this post, we will cover:
- tips on traveling with breast milk by car
- how to travel with breast milk by plane
- information on shipping or donating your breast milk
- tips for pumping and feeding on the go
- strategies for maintaining your supply while away from home
- packing list – what to bring when pumping and traveling with breast milk
Click the links to skip to specific sections.
Whether traveling with your baby or without, we will help you keep that liquid gold safe and secure while on the go!
How to Travel with Breast Milk by Car
When traveling with breast milk, you first need to consider whether you want to keep your milk “refrigerated” or if you plan to freeze it.
Consider the length of your travel. If you are only traveling for 3-4 days, you can keep all of your milk in liquid form.
If you will be gone for a week or longer, you will want to freeze your milk so that it does not go bad. Click here to view the CDC milk storage guidelines.
There are a few options for keeping your breast milk cold when you are traveling by car:
- Use a cooler or cooler bag
- Plug-in portable refrigerator
- Dry Ice
Using a Cooler
If you have a large amount of milk to transport, you could load it up in a cooler and pack ice around it.
If you have enough space in your vehicle, a large cooler would be nice because you could pack drinks and snacks in it along with your breast milk.
A more expensive cooler will probably keep everything inside colder for longer. If you will be able to replenish it with ice frequently, a cheaper cooler would work fine as well.
Make sure the cooler is as full as possible so that it stays cold longer. If you don’t want to deal with a bunch of loose ice, you can freeze water in large ziplock bags and tuck them into the cooler.
If you are concerned about whether or not the cooler is keeping your breast milk at a safe temperature, you can use a refrigerator/freezer thermometer to monitor the temperature. The temperature should be below 40°F (4°C) according to CDC guidelines.
Using a Cooler Bag
A small cooler bag is a great option if you are transporting a somewhat small amount of milk and don’t need it to stay cold for longer than 10-12 hours at a time.
Many breast pump bags have cooler compartments built in, which is very efficient.
A cooler bag is much smaller and easier to carry around than a large cooler, so it’s a great option if you have limited space or will be moving it around frequently.
Most cooler bags come with at least one ice pack. I always add in a couple of extra freezer packs or gel packs and get extra ice from hotels, restaurants, or gas stations if needed.
It may be helpful to put the cooler bag in the freezer before you leave just to make it extra cold.
I got this Momcozy cooler bag. It worked pretty well and fit 16 frozen milk bags + 4 bottles. It kept 14 out of 16 of my milk bags frozen for over 12 hours. However, when the ice inside the bag melted, water leaked out of the bottom of the bag.
If you want extra peace of mind, this cooler bag comes with a built-in digital thermometer that displays the temperature inside the cooler.
Portable Mini-Fridge
If you don’t want to worry about warm ice packs or constantly replenishing ice, you may be interested in using a portable refrigerator or an electric cooler.
A portable mini refrigerator can plug into your vehicle’s auxiliary power outlet. It can cool to 32°F. The downside is that you can’t power it when your vehicle’s engine is not on because it can drain your battery.
Another option is an electric cooler. It is more expensive, but it can hold more and can cool down faster.
Dry Ice
Dry ice can keep your breast milk cold for longer periods, but it is more difficult to handle.
Click here to learn more about dry ice, how to handle it and travel with it safely, and how to dispose of it when you are done with it.
A Few More Tips for Traveling with Breast Milk by Car
- If it is hot when you are traveling, avoid leaving your milk in the car when you are not in it. My milk cooler came everywhere with me when we were driving from Utah to the airport in Las Vegas – into restaurants, shops, and gas stations. 🙂 I did not want to leave it in the hot car even for a short time.
- If you are staying at a hotel they usually do not have the best refrigerator/freezers so you could ask the hotel staff if they have a more quality refrigerator/freezer somewhere to store your milk while you stay.
- If you do leave milk in a hotel or rental house refrigerator, make sure to write yourself some kind of reminder so you do not accidentally forget to grab your milk before you leave! Put a sticky note on the door or set a reminder on your phone. I would be so upset if I forgot my hard-earned milk somewhere!
- Make sure your breast milk is always the last thing you pack before you leave (keep it in the refrigerator or freezer as long as possible), and the first thing you unload once you arrive at your destination. If you have a lot of milk that you will need to travel with, consider using milk storage bags rather than bottles because they are more compact and easy to transport.
- Refrain from frequently opening your cooler or cooler bag to check on your breast milk. Each time you open it, the temperature inside increases.

How to Travel with Breast Milk by Airplane
The nice thing about traveling by plane vs. car is that you will likely get to your destination a lot quicker and will not have to try to keep your breast milk cold for as long as you would traveling by car.
Getting Your Breastmilk Through Aiport Security
You are allowed to bring breast milk through security whether or not you are traveling with your baby.
Here are the official Transportation Security Administration (TSA) regulations for the United States regarding traveling with breast milk. I recommend printing this document or having the TSA website handy on your phone so you can pull it up when you are going through security if necessary.
You can bring your breast milk in your carry-on baggage or your checked luggage. The 3.4-ounce liquid rule for carry-on luggage does not apply to breast milk, formula, or baby/toddler food and drinks.
When you get to airport security, tell a TSA officer if you have a breast pump and/or breastmilk.
TSA security can be somewhat inconsistent depending on the TSA agent you encounter. Be prepared in case you get someone who is not aware of the rules for flying with breast milk.
Do not be afraid to pull up the official TSA regulations and advocate for yourself if someone is giving you a hard time. Hopefully, that won’t be necessary. Most of the time TSA personnel are very understanding and helpful!

Give yourself plenty of time to get through airport security because they may need extra time to test your breast milk. The airport security staff will probably run their tool over the outside of your milk bags or bottles.
You have the right to keep your breast milk from being x-rayed or opened if you don’t want it to be. You can calmly and politely ask for a supervisor if needed.
If everything is frozen solid (breast milk, ice packs, etc.) it will be easier to get through security, but you can still make it through even if you have liquid milk and melting ice – there may just be some additional testing done.
A Few More Tips for Traveling with Breast Milk by Plane
- Pack a neck pillow in your carry-on bag. Not only will it make sleeping or resting on the plane more comfortable, but you can prop it against your armrest to provide extra support if you will be nursing or pumping on the plane.
- This breast milk chiller is great for pumping and keeping milk cold on the go. It is basically like a Yeti for breastmilk. It can connect directly to most pumps and can keep milk at a safe temperature for 20+ hours.
- Ask the flight attendants for ice if you are worried about your breast milk not staying cold enough during the flight.
- Bring some antibacterial wipes, hand sanitizer, and Medela quick-clean wipes to help keep everything clean and sterile if you will be handling breast milk, pumping, or feeding on the plane.
- A pump/pump bag is considered a medical device and does not count as a personal item or carry-on. I was able to bring my pump bag and a cooler bag in addition to a personal item and carry-on suitcase, and I had no issues. You can check with your airline beforehand if you want to confirm. I would recommend emailing them so that you have their permission in writing and can pull it up if needed

Shipping or Donating Your Breast Milk
If you feel like traveling with breast milk by car or plane will be too stressful, too much of a hassle, or not feasible, you could consider shipping your breast milk home or finding a place to donate it.
Shipping Your Breast Milk
Shipping your breast milk home is a great option if you don’t want to travel with it. Dry ice is what will be used to keep your milk cold if you decide to ship it.
Here is an excellent guide to shipping your breast milk, either on your own or with a service like Milk Stork or Save the Milk.
If you are traveling for work, contact your employer to see if they would cover the cost of shipping your breast milk home.
Donating Your Breast Milk
If you are just pumping to keep your supply up for when you return home and you don’t need the extra milk, or if you don’t want to deal with traveling with or shipping your breast milk, you can look into donating it in the area where you are staying.
This would be a great way to help a family in need and to put your breast milk to good use rather than pumping and dumping.
Search for a local group on Facebook or type “how to donate breast milk near me” into Google to find local agencies that could help you donate your breast milk.
Click here for more information on donating your breast milk.
Tips for Feeding and Pumping on the Go
- If you want a clean and private space to feed or pump in a public area, you can search for lactation rooms using one of these two apps: Mom’s Pump Here & Mamava
- Don’t be afraid to ask staff (wherever you may be) for a place to pump or feed your baby – you should not have to go into a dirty, cramped bathroom to feed your baby.
- Try to pump or feed before you leave for your destination if possible.
- If you are going to the airport, you could pump in the car before getting to the terminal, and maybe again in the airport before boarding the plane.
- If you want privacy when in public, use a muslin blanket or one of these versatile covers when pumping or feeding your baby. Most people will not even notice you feeding or pumping on a plane or in public places, but if they do who cares? 🙂
Tips for Maintaining Your Milk Supply When You Are Away From Your Baby
- Put alarms on your phone, or have some kind of way to track each time that you pump, so that you make sure you are pumping close to as often as your baby would feed. Time goes fast when you are on vacation so you might find yourself engorged or uncomfortable if you don’t stay on top of your normal feeding schedule.
- Look at pictures or videos of your baby to help with your letdown when pumping. Better yet, Facetime or video chat with your little sweetie while you pump – it will help pass the time and get your milk flowing!
- If you are worried about your supply dipping, you could try power pumping when you have some downtime. Pump 10 minutes on and 10 minutes off for a full hour – this kind of mimics your baby cluster feeding. I would only do this if you are worried that your supply is dipping because it will increase your supply and you don’t want to create an engorgement or oversupply problem for yourself while you are away.

Washing Pump Parts & Keeping Everything Clean On the Go
It can be a challenge keeping pump parts and bottles clean and disinfected when you are away from home. Click here to read the CDC guidelines for keeping your breast pump kit clean.
Here are a few tips for washing & sterilizing on the go:
- Use a portable wash basin if you need to wash pump parts in a gas station, airport, or other public places that may not be the cleanest. Consider using bottled water to wash with if you are somewhere that might not have the cleanest water available.
- One of these travel bottle brush/drying rack sets makes it easy to wash and dry bottles or pump parts when you’re away from home. This travel drying rack/brush set is even smaller and more compact but doesn’t have as much drying space.
- Stick a travel bottle of dish soap in your pump bag so that you have it handy if you need to wash something.
- Use quick clean micro-steam bags to quickly and easily disinfect any bottles, pump parts, pacifiers, toys, etc. Each bag can be used up to 20 times. I always keep one in my pump bag because it hardly takes up any space.
- If you do not have access to soap and water, you can wash pump parts with these Medela Quick Clean Wipes.
- Consider packing enough pump parts to get you through a whole day. That way if you are out and about, you don’t have to worry about getting parts cleaned before pumping each time. I like to bring gallon ziplock bags to keep clean and dirty pump parts separate in my pump bag.
What to Do with Breast Milk Instead of Dumping
We try our very best to keep our valuable breast milk fresh and safe when traveling, but sometimes things happen and our milk might not be fit for our baby to drink.
You may be tempted to just dump it down the drain, but there are quite a few ways to make use of spoiled breast milk:
- give your baby a milk bath – it is nourishing for their skin
- use it as a natural cleansing agent for your own skin or hair
- dab some onto bug bites, sunburns, or cuts
- relieve skin issues – eczema, dry skin, cradle cap, diaper rash, acne
- use it as a makeup remover
- breast milk can help relieve pink eye or ear infection
- fertilize your plants – believe it or not, breast milk is nutritious for humans & plants!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best breast pump for travel?
I would recommend bringing your regular pump (whatever you use at home or work if that applies) if you have space for it and will be somewhere that you can easily access it.
I have the Spectra S1 pump and love it. It is a double electric pump, so you can pump on both sides at the same time. It is effective and efficient.
However, I prefer using a smaller, hands-free pump if I am going to be out and about.
Using this small, wireless, hands-free electric pump has been a lifesaver for me during situations when it would be inconvenient to use my big Spectra pump.
There are more expensive options that probably work better (Elvie and Willow are 2 of the most popular), but this Momcozy model is much more affordable and has worked well for me as a secondary pump. The battery lasts all day for multiple pumping sessions.
Some people like to bring a manual pump for travel because although it requires more effort, it does not rely on batteries to work.

What are the breast milk storage guidelines?
- Freshly pumped milk is good to be left out at room temperature for up to 4 hours.
- Refrigerated milk (40°F/4°C) is good for up to 4 days.
- Frozen milk (0°F/-18°C or colder) is good for 6-12 months.
- Once frozen milk is completely thawed (no ice crystals remain), it must be used within 24 hours.
View the full CDC recommendations for safe breast milk storage here.
Should I freeze my milk to travel?
If you are worried about constantly wondering if your milk is staying cold enough, it may give you more peace of mind to freeze it because you can visibly see when you get home if it’s okay to put it back in the freezer.
If any ice crystals are remaining, then you can put the milk back in the freezer. Once the milk is completely thawed, you must use it within 24 hours.
Frozen milk bags also take up less space than liquid milk in bottles.
You can stack many frozen milk bags together in your cooler or cooler bag. They will help keep each other cold (kind of like built-in ice packs!), especially if they are packed in tightly.

Packing List for Pumping & Feeding on the Go
Many of these things have been mentioned throughout the post, but it always helps me to have a list of everything I need to remember to bring in one place.
- Breast Milk Storage Bags
- Pump + Charger
- Pump Parts (bring multiple sets if possible & don’t forget the little pieces!)
- Pump Bag
- Milk storage bags (for frozen or liquid milk)
- Bottles with lids (for liquid milk storage)
- Cooler or Cooler Bag
- Ice packs
- Portable Wash Basin
- Bottle brush/drying rack set
- Travel-sized dish soap
- Micro-steam sterilizer bags
- Medela Quick Clean Wipes
- Nursing cover (if you want to use one)
- Lanolin (if needed)
- Lactation Massager (helpful if you get dreaded clogged ducts while away from your baby)
I hope these tips leave you feeling confident and prepared to travel with breastmilk and feed or pump on the go. If you have any other tips or things that have worked well for you, please share them in the comments below! Happy travels!