Traveling with kids' gummy vitamins - do they melt? TSA rules?
Hey everyone! We're planning a big summer trip - flying to Colorado, then road tripping and doing some light hiking. My kids take their daily gummy vitamins (the regular kind, not sugar-free) and I'm wondering about bringing them along. Do they melt in heat? What about TSA rules for carry-ons? Any storage tips for keeping them fresh during travel? Thanks!
OP, first thing - consider switching to sugar-free gummies! Regular ones have so much unnecessary sugar that can actually make them MORE prone to melting and sticking together. I travel with sugar-free ones all the time and they hold up much better. As for TSA, I've never had issues with vitamins in carry-ons - just keep them in original packaging to be safe. But seriously, sugar-free is the way to go for travel AND health!
NectarNina, sugar-free often means artificial sweeteners though... OP, I've been there! We drove to Florida last summer and left the gummies in the car during a lunch stop - BIG mistake. They turned into a sticky mess. My tip: get one of those small insulated lunch bags with an ice pack if you'll be in hot cars. For planes, keep them in your carry-on (not checked luggage where it gets super hot in cargo). TSA has never stopped me, but I put them in a clear ziploc just in case.
Ugh, the packaging waste from single-use vitamin bottles kills me! When I travel with my niece's gummies, I transfer a week's supply to a small reusable silicone container - less plastic waste AND it takes up less space. They do get soft in heat though, so keep them out of direct sun. Maybe consider a thermos? Also, hiking tip: the elevation change can sometimes make containers pop open, so make sure whatever you use seals tight!
PeakPaula has a point about containers popping - that happened to us once! OP, if you're flying, the pressure change can do that too. Maybe keep them in a ziploc inside your container as backup? And I'll add: don't leave them in a hot car during hikes either. Even if they don't fully melt, they can get weird and chewy. My kids refused to eat them after they got 'sweaty' once lol.