Can You Bring Snacks on a Plane for Your Baby?

Everyone’s favorite season is finally here — no, not winter — but the holidays!!! 

Are you staying home or traveling?

If you’re traveling, let’s be honest… It can add a lot of stress during this time of year. Peak travel season, unpredictable weather, delays, long security lines — all the fun things that test every parent’s patience.

But there’s one thing that can help with all that unpredictability: snacks. 

Any parent's ace-up-the-sleeve, secret weapon of sorts – healthy snacks can help redirect toddlers and calm all those big feelings. 

Especially if you’re flying, snacks save the day during delays, long flights, or even those surprise moments when your little one decides to have a meltdown mid-boarding. 

But unlike road trips, flying comes with rules about what you can and can’t bring on the plane. 

Let’s make sure you’re prepared. We’ve covered how to grocery shop with a baby, now it’s time to attack the skies. 

So buckle your seatbelts and put those chairs to the upright position. Here’s how to fly right with snacks and babies. 

Before you pack your carry-on full of puffs and purées, it’s important to know what’s actually allowed through airport security. 

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has some clear, and surprisingly parent-friendly rules when it comes to baby food and snacks.

According to the TSA, solid foods are fair game. That means items like crackers, dry cereal, sandwiches, sliced fruit, muffins, cheese sticks — all allowed. 

Basically, if it’s not a liquid or gel, you can pack it in your carry-on without issue.

Baby and toddler food, however, gets special treatment. 

TSA states that formula, breast milk, toddler drinks, and baby food (including purées and pouches) are allowed in reasonable quantities, even if they exceed the usual 3.4-ounce liquid limit. 

You’ll just need to declare them at the security checkpoint.

So yes, your baby’s favorite fruit pouch can come with you, even if it’s bigger than travel-size shampoo.

If you’re flying internationally, things get a little trickier. 

While you can bring the same baby snacks and foods through U.S. security, some countries have strict customs rules for what you can bring in — especially items like fresh fruit, meat, or dairy.

To play it safe:

• Finish perishables before landing.
  

• Stick with sealed baby food pouches or shelf-stable snacks.
  

• Double-check your destination’s customs website before your flight.
  

There are a few snack categories that can cause hiccups at security:

• Yogurts, dips, and peanut butter: These count as gels or liquids. If you’re bringing them for older babies, they need to follow the 3.4-ounce rule — unless it’s baby-specific food, which can be declared under the exception.
  
  

• Ice packs and gel packs: These are fine if they’re completely frozen. If they’re slushy or melted, TSA may treat them as liquids.
  
  

• Purées and pouches: Allowed in “reasonable quantities,” but you must separate and declare them. Keep them in a clear bag to speed things up.
  
  

In short: Solids = easy win. Liquids = declare it.

TSA officers are generally understanding when it comes to baby items — they just need to screen them separately. So prepare time for it. 

Flying with a baby can feel like a juggling act. You’ve got snacks, toys, wipes, and bottles – stuffed in a diaper bag, up at 30,000 feet. 

A few smart packing moves can help make it manageable.

Messes happen. A public setting packed with strangers you’d rather not upset – it’s all leaning towards the inevitable; a big time spill and necessary parent cleanup.

• Bring your Busy Baby Bib – Bigger than most bibs on the market and designed to catch all (or at least most!) of the mess. When you’re done, just roll it up, secure it with the built-in button, and tuck it back in your bag. 
  

• Pack a Busy Baby Mat or Mini Mat – Public countertops? I think not. Busy Baby Mat gives your little one a clean surface anywhere, in the airport lounge or on the plane tray table. Bonus: After snack time, mat and tethers suction right to the window for play time. 
  

• Don’t forget the Busy Baby Bottle Bungee –  Because, babies like to throw stuff on the ground. Keep bottles and cups from rolling down the aisle or landing on the floor mid-flight.
  

Snacks may be a small part of your holiday travel, but they can make a big difference when you’re traveling with a baby. 

Avoid that chaos. Being prepared with the right snacks, and knowing the TSA rules, keeps things smooth and stress-free.

Because let’s be real: if your baby’s favorite purée doesn’t make it through security, that’s a fast track to a mid-air meltdown (for both you and your baby).

Fear not, with these tips, the right Busy Baby gear, and a little pre-planning, your family’s going to enjoy less turbulence on this holiday flight. 

More enjoyable moments, fewer panic attacks — exactly how travel should be.