Flying with children during the holiday season brings extra challenges: packed airports, tight connections, and little ones who need comfort and entertainment. With some advance planning, you can reduce stress and keep the trip manageable. This guide covers booking strategies, what to pack in your carry-on, how to navigate security screening with kids, handling car seats and strollers, managing ear pressure during takeoff and landing, keeping children busy in the air, and coping with delays and holiday crowds.
Booking Your Flights: Timing, Seats, and Layovers
When booking holiday flights with children, think about the timing that works best for your family. Early morning flights often have fewer delays and less crowded airports, but they require waking very young children from sleep. Midday flights may align better with nap schedules for toddlers. Red-eye flights can be tempting for long hauls, but many children struggle to sleep upright in a seat.
Consider layover length carefully. A short layover of under an hour may feel tight when you need to wrangle kids, strollers, and carry-ons through a busy terminal. A longer layover of two to three hours gives you time for bathroom breaks, a snack, and letting toddlers stretch their legs. Very long layovers can lead to boredom and meltdowns, so aim for a balanced window.
Seat selection matters. If your child is under two and you plan to hold them on your lap, confirm the airline’s policy — some allow lap infants, but safety experts strongly recommend purchasing a separate seat and using an approved car seat. For older children, try to book seats together. Aisle seats make it easier to get up with a restless child, while window seats give them something to look at and a surface to lean against for sleep.
What to Pack in Your Carry-On
A well-organized carry-on can make or break a flight with kids. Pack the essentials in a bag you can access easily from under the seat. Consider using a kids backpacks for older children so they can carry their own snacks and activities.
Bring extra clothes for each child and a spare shirt for yourself — spills happen. Diapers, wipes, and a changing pad are non-negotiable for babies and toddlers. Pack a few small, quiet toys or activity books that are new or rarely used to hold attention longer. Snacks are critical: choose non-messy options like crackers, dry cereal, fruit pouches, and cheese sticks. Avoid sticky or crumbly foods that are hard to clean up.
For babies, bring formula or breast milk in quantities you’ll need during the flight plus a little extra for delays. Pack bottles, pacifiers, and a small blanket. For older children, headphones that are comfortable and volume-limited can help them enjoy a tablet or the airline’s entertainment system. A tablet loaded with shows, games, and audiobooks is a lifesaver, but don’t forget a charging cable and a portable power bank.
Hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes, and a small first-aid kit with children’s pain reliever are smart additions. If your child uses a pacifier, bring a spare — they are easy to drop on the floor.
Security Screening With Kids
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has specific procedures for families traveling with children. You can find the official guidance at TSA’s page for traveling with children. Children 12 and under can leave their shoes, light jackets and headwear on during screening. You may carry breast milk, formula, juice, and medically necessary liquids in reasonable quantities — declare them to the officer at the start of the screening process.
Strollers and car seats must go through the X-ray machine. If your stroller is too large to fit, you may request a physical inspection. You can keep your child in a stroller or carrier until you reach the screening area, then collapse the stroller and send it through. Many airports offer family lanes with more space and patience for families — look for signs or ask a TSA officer.
Take your child out of the stroller, carrier or car seat before it goes on the X-ray belt; children never go through the X-ray machine. Keep your child with you at all times — hold their hand and have them step through the metal detector after you. If you carry a baby in a sling or carrier, ask the officer what to do; you may be allowed to keep the baby in it, with extra screening such as a hand swab.
Car Seats and Strollers at the Airport
Car seats are bulky but essential for ground transportation at your destination. Many airlines let you check a car seat without a bag fee (check your airline), but you can also bring it to the gate and gate-check it. Gate-checking means you use the car seat or stroller through the terminal, then leave it at the aircraft door before boarding. It will be returned to you at the gate upon arrival. This is often more convenient than checking it at the ticket counter, because you keep it until the last moment.
If you plan to use the car seat on the aircraft, check the airline’s policy and ensure the seat is approved for air travel — look for a label that says “This restraint is certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft.” It must also fit the airplane seat, so check the width of your car seat against the airline’s guidance. A car seat that meets NHTSA guidelines for road travel may not automatically be airline-approved, so confirm before you fly.
For strollers, umbrella-style strollers are easiest to maneuver through security and on the plane. Larger jogging strollers may need to be checked at the ticket counter. Consider a car seat travel bags to protect your car seat when gate-checking or checking it as luggage. A bag with backpack straps makes carrying the seat through the airport much easier.
Takeoff, Landing, and Ear Pressure
Changes in cabin pressure during takeoff and landing can cause discomfort for children, especially infants and toddlers whose ears are more sensitive. The most effective remedy is to encourage swallowing. For babies, nursing or bottle-feeding during ascent and descent helps equalize ear pressure. A pacifier can also work. For older children, drinking from a sippy cup, chewing gum, or sucking on a hard candy can provide relief.
If your child has a cold or ear infection, the pain may be worse. Consult your pediatrician before flying if your child is congested or has an ear infection. Over-the-counter pain relievers given before the flight may help, but follow dosage instructions carefully. Yawning and gentle massage behind the ears can also encourage pressure release.
A sleeping baby usually does not need to be woken for landing. If your child wakes up uncomfortable, offer a feed, a pacifier or a drink to encourage swallowing.
Keeping Kids Busy in the Air
Boredom is the biggest challenge on a long flight. A mix of activities works best. For screen time, load a tablet with age-appropriate shows, movies, and educational games. Bring child-safe headphones — many airlines now offer entertainment systems, but the headphones provided may not fit small ears. Many families relax their usual screen rules on a long flight; the American Academy of Pediatrics media guidance is a good reference for your everyday limits.
Non-screen activities include sticker books, coloring pads with mess-free markers, magnetic puzzles, and small figurines that encourage imaginative play. Wrap a few inexpensive toys in tissue paper and let your child unwrap them as a surprise during the flight. Audiobooks and kid-friendly podcasts are great for winding down.
Plan breaks to walk the aisle (when the seatbelt sign is off) and do simple stretches. A short walk to the lavatory and back can reset a child’s mood. For toddlers, consider a lap-sitting rotation if you have two adults — trade off to give each parent a break.
Delays and Holiday Crowds
Holiday travel means crowded airports and a higher chance of delays. Build extra time into your schedule. Arrive at the airport earlier than you normally would — two hours for domestic flights, three for international. Use that time to let children burn off energy in a play area if the airport has one, or simply walk the terminal.
Prepare for delays by packing extra snacks, a full water bottle (fill after security), and a spare change of clothes. A delay that stretches into mealtime can be handled with shelf-stable snacks and pouches. If you face a long delay, many airports now have nursing rooms or family restrooms that offer a quiet space.
Keep your cool. Children pick up on parental stress. If you feel overwhelmed, take a deep breath and focus on the next small step. For more tips on managing holiday travel logistics, see our guide to holiday road trips with kids — many of the same principles apply to flying. And don’t forget to review the holiday season checklist for families to stay organized before you leave.
FAQ
Can I bring breast milk or formula through security?
Yes. Breast milk, formula, and juice in quantities greater than the usual liquid limit are allowed for infants and toddlers. Declare these items to the TSA officer at the screening checkpoint. They may be subject to additional screening, such as a swab test, but you are not required to taste them.
Do I need to buy a seat for my lap infant?
Most airlines allow children under two to sit on a parent’s lap for free on domestic flights. However, the Federal Aviation Administration recommends using an approved car seat in a separate seat for safety. If you choose the lap option, be aware that during turbulence the child is not secured. Check the airline’s policy before booking.
What should I do if my child has an ear infection before the flight?
Consult your pediatrician. Flying with a severe ear infection can be very painful and may worsen the condition. The doctor may advise delaying travel or prescribe medication. If you must fly, give pain reliever before takeoff and landing, and encourage swallowing frequently.
How can I avoid losing my child in a busy airport?
Dress your child in bright, distinctive clothing so you can spot them quickly. Use a wristband or temporary tattoo with your phone number. Teach older children to stay close and to find a uniformed employee if they get separated. For toddlers, a child leash or harness can prevent wandering in crowded terminals.
Flying with kids during the holidays requires extra preparation, but it is entirely doable. Focus on the essentials — comfortable seating, smart packing, and a calm attitude — and you will arrive at your destination ready to enjoy the season. Safe travels.
