Packing for kids who can walk, talk, and ask “are we there yet” is a different job than packing for a baby. Here’s what actually helps.
This guide is for traveling with children old enough to sit in their own seat and hold their own snack — roughly toddler age and up. If you’re traveling with an infant, our guide to flying with a baby covers the different set of needs that age range brings.
Pack a Boredom Bag Per Kid, Not Per Trip
One shared bag of activities means one dropped crayon derails everyone. Give each child their own small activity kit — a few small toys, a colouring book, sticker sheets, and one thing that’s brand new and hasn’t been seen before. The novelty buys a disproportionate amount of quiet attention.
For older children, a travel activity book with puzzles and mazes works well on long flights, and a magnetic drawing board is durable, weightless, and doesn’t leave marker stains anywhere.
Snacks: More Than You Think, in Something Spill-Proof
Airport and airline food options for children are limited and expensive, and hungry kids are difficult kids. Pack more snacks than seems necessary. They won’t take up too much space and you will regret not having them. Use spill-proof snack containers rather than open bags. A bag of crackers upended on a plane floor or row of seats is bad news for everyone.
Motion Sickness: Address It Before It Happens
Children are more prone to motion sickness than adults, and the combination of turbulence, tight seating, and reading or watching a screen can trigger it fast. If your child has shown any tendency toward it, talk to your paediatrician about appropriate antihistamine-based medication before you fly. Taken 30 to 60 minutes before the flight, it’s far more effective than trying to manage an already-sick child mid-air.
Acupressure wrist bands are a medication-free alternative worth trying for milder cases.
Either way, a window seat reduces symptoms for susceptible children since it gives them a stable reference point to look at.
Documents and ID Rules for Minors
Domestic flights within the US generally don’t require ID for children under 18, but international travel does — every child needs their own valid passport.
If you’re traveling internationally without the other parent or guardian, some countries and airlines expect a notarised consent letter demonstrating permission for the child to travel. Requirements vary by destination, so check well before you book rather than the week you’re leaving.
Keep a copy of all children’s documents on your phone as a backup.
Pack a Full Change of Clothes — For Everyone
Spills, motion sickness, and unexpected weather all happen more often with children in the mix. Pack a complete spare outfit for each child in your carry-on, including underwear and socks.
Don’t skip packing one for yourself — you’re the one wearing whatever they spill.
A few extra sealable bags for soiled clothing are useful too; wet clothes in a suitcase without containment will affect every other item in the bag.
Entertainment That Doesn’t Need Wi-Fi
Download shows, films, and games to a tablet or phone before you leave rather than counting on in-flight or airport Wi-Fi, which is often too slow or too expensive to rely on for a bored child.
A pair of volume-limited children’s headphones protects hearing during a long stretch of screen time — most standard headphones don’t limit output in a way suitable for children’s developing ears.
Age-appropriate podcasts and audiobooks are also worth downloading for kids who’ve grown out of purely visual entertainment.
Timing, Seat Selection, and Airport Strategy
A few logistics worth thinking through before travel day:
- Book seats together and confirm them — airlines aren’t required to seat families together on all routes, and “we’ll sort it at the gate” is a gamble,
- Window seats keep kids contained on one side and give them something to look at during takeoff and landing,
- Most airports have family security lanes with slightly more space to manage bags, strollers, and shoes — look for signage, or ask at the standard checkpoint,
- Arrive earlier than you would solo — children slow every stage of the airport process by a factor of at least two,
- Overnight or nap-time flights work for some families and genuinely don’t for others. Only you know your child well enough to judge.
✈️ Find Flights
Use Skyscanner to compare fares across airlines and dates. Booking around three months ahead generally gives the best prices on most routes; flexibility on dates can reduce the fare further.
🛡️ Travel Insurance
Considering travel insurance for your trip? World Nomads offers coverage for emergency medical expenses, trip cancellation, lost luggage, and more than 150 adventure activities.
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Keep all medical receipts and contact your insurance provider as soon as any emergency arises.
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Bring a full supply of prescription medicines in their original packaging with prescription labels attached.
The Short Version
Give each child their own activity kit with something new, over-pack snacks in spill-proof containers, address motion sickness before it becomes a problem, confirm ID and passport requirements well in advance, pack a spare outfit for everyone including yourself, and download entertainment before you leave home. Arrive earlier than you think you need to.
