I am due to travel direct to New Zealand via LA from Heathrow in a couple of weeks with my partner and two children aged 21 months and 4 months. I am unsure how to manage the amount of formula milk we need to take for our 4 month old baby. Can you offer any advice?

Our initial plan was to take sterile bottles and take ready prepared formula milk in cartons but is true that we have to taste in front of the security staff?

Or would it be feasible to take a tin of powder and bottles full of sterile water and prepare as we go along? It would be really helpful if you could enlighten me! Yours Sincerely. Tracy Surplice.

Family travel editor Jane Owen replies. I think I have the perfect answer but I'll start by going through the options and rules. If you take cartons with you security may ask you to ‘verify the contents’, of the cartons by tasting them.

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This may make it difficult to carry the open cartons on board. Security will let formula powder through – although, once again, you may have to taste it. The airline should then agree to make up the formula for you on board although it’s worth checking with them.

The third option is that Boots, in the airside shopping area of any BAA airport, should stock plenty of formula. Just to be on the safe side you could ring ahead to the store to ask them to keep a supply for you. Ring this number: 0845 070 8090 and customer care will give you the number of the store in question.

A spokesman for Boots assured me there would be no problem with pre-ordering the formula. That way you won’t have to ‘verify the contents’, you won’t have to carry the cartons until the last minute – and the duty-free prices will probably be lower than the price you normally pay. I hope you have a great flight.

Got a question about family travel? Email our experts Emma Mahony and Jane Owen at yoursay@timesonline.co.uk

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