Tips for flying with children

For UK airports, you’re allowed to travel with enough baby food, baby milk and sterilised water for the journey. You can also carry breast milk in hand luggage if you’re not travelling with a baby.

The maximum you can carry in each individual container is 2,000ml. Your containers will be screened and security staff may open containers to double check. The government provide helpful information, see table below:

Correct as at February 2023, for up to date information please check the link below.

Source: https://www.gov.uk/hand-luggage-restrictions/baby-food-and-baby-milk

Your child will need their own valid passport to fly outside the UK – no matter what age they are.

A child passport can be applied for online and costs £53.50 (current figure as at 02/2023), but it might cost more if you need the passport urgently. You can pay an extra £5 to get supporting documents sent back to you securely.

It should take around three weeks to get the passport. Bear in mind that it could take longer if you (or the person confirming your child’s identity) need to provide any additional supporting documents.

Children under the age of 16 do not need ID when flying within the UK. Parents can vouch for their child’s identity.

With children, it’s practically impossible to travel light. Think about how much weight you can carry, how many bags you can pack and work back from there. Try to travel smart and pack only what is essential, including:

• Nappies – one for each hour you’ll be travelling, plus extras for delays
• Baby food, expressed milk or formula, and boiled water in a baby bottle – unlike most liquids, these can be over 100ml
• A disposable changing mat, wet wipes and nappy sacks
• Blankets to help comfort your baby or keep them warm if the plane is cold
• Spare clothes for you and your baby in case there’s any sickness or spillages
• A favourite toy for comfort
• Dummies, bottles and teething toys to help ease ear pain
• Child medication such as ibuprofen or paracetamol
• Teething gel or powder
• Thermometer

Okay, so the bags are packed and it’s almost time for the flight. To make sure your child is as happy and comfortable as possible, there’s a few extra considerations:

Nerves

Before leaving for your trip, speak to your child about how exciting the journey is going to be. If they’re nervous, for any reason, talk them through what will happen, from arriving at airport to getting to your destination. Make it sound like the adventure that it is.

Most airlines will share a seating map before boarding so if you can, show them where you’ll be sitting on the plane beforehand. You can also show them how to fasten a seatbelt and explain what will happen during take-off and landing.

Airline staff are great, they will help you deal with any unexpected nerves and hopefully put a smile back on their face.

Motion sickness

You know it. It’s a fact of travel. Many children between the ages of three and 12 experience motion sickness. There are several treatments that could help, including wristbands, tablets and diluting salts.

The NHS has some helpful tips:

• Look straight ahead at a fixed point
• Close your eyes and breathe slowly while focusing on breathing
• Distract your kids by talking, listening to music or singing songs
• Try ginger in the form of a tablet, biscuit or tea

Dehydration

It can become extremely dry within the plane cabin due to low humidity. This can cause children to get dehydrated quicker than usual, so keep lots of bottled water and fruit to hand.

Ear pressure

Babies, toddlers and young children can all experience ear pain during a flight, particularly during take-off or landing.

Young children don’t always understand how to yawn or swallow to reduce pain, so you might want to try these ideas instead:

• Make sure your child has plenty of liquids to drink (especially if they have a cold as dehydration can make the symptoms worse)
• Show older children how to hold and blow their nose to reduce pressure
• If older, they can suck on boiled sweets to help reduce the pressure

This is a tricky one. The good thing? There’s plenty of tricks to keep them entertained whether it’s their first flight or they’re a regular flyer.

Teach them about the destination

Learning new things is a huge part of travelling. And educating your kids on where you’re going can be fun. Here’s some tips on how to teach them about where you’re going, what to expect, the culture and language:

• Get your children exploring before they arrive at their destination by teaching them all about different countries, cities and cultures
• Teach your children the basics of the local language. They’ll love the smiles and reactions they receive when they say ‘ciao’, ‘adios’ or ‘merci’
• Teach them about local foods – and encourage them to try something completely different

Music and books

• Load your phone or MP3 player with your child’s favourite songs
• Take their favourite books in print or eBooks

Electronic apps

Even if you don’t like your child using technology, there’s no denying that apps, tablets and games can be a great distraction when travelling.

Make sure you download their favourite TV show episodes, films and games so that everything can be accessed offline.

On-board entertainment

Some flights, particularly long-haul, will have screens or devices with hundreds of cartoons, TV shows, movies and games to choose from.

That will keep them entertained for 10 minutes or so.