Managing Kids At Airports: A Stress-Free Guide For Parents

Travelling with children can be a stressful experience, especially when you have a lot of luggage to manage. However, there are several ways to make the process easier. For example, you can ask someone to drop you off outside departures and get a trolley to load your luggage onto. You can also ask your children to help with the luggage, as long as they are old enough to manage their own hand luggage.

Getting to the airport: ask someone to drop you off outside departures and get a trolley for your luggage

When getting to the airport, it's a good idea to ask someone to drop you off outside departures. This way, you can avoid the stress of parking and lugging your luggage and kids to the terminal. Once you're dropped off, get a trolley for your luggage. Airport trolleys are big and can hold a lot of suitcases if you stack them properly. You can put two suitcases on a trolley either on top of each other or side by side. If you have a lot of luggage, consider having one of the larger suitcases be a 4-wheel roller so that it's upright when rolling and easier to manage.

If you have young children, you can also get them involved in the process by giving them their own hand luggage to be responsible for. Kids as young as 2 or 3 can manage their own hand luggage with a LittleLife wheeled suitcase or a full-size wheelie cabin bag. Avoid using Trunkies, as they can be difficult to deal with. Having their own luggage will make them feel important and helpful, and it will also lighten your load.

If you have a baby or infant, you can carry them through in a baby sling, but be prepared for additional screening by TSA. Children will never be separated from their parents, but the security process can still be unnerving for them. Prepare your child before arriving at the airport by explaining what will happen. You can call the scanners "magic portals to the airport" to make it more fun for them. Children 12 and younger can leave their shoes, jackets, and hats on during the security screening, which can speed up the process.

If you need additional assistance, you can phone the airport and ask what they can offer. Someone may be able to help meet you at the car or taxi rank, or provide other forms of assistance. Don't hesitate to ask for help if you need it, as it can make your airport experience much smoother and less stressful.

Luggage: make sure you have the right type of suitcase to make moving around the airport easier

When travelling with children, it's important to have the right type of suitcase to make moving around the airport easier. Here are some tips to help you manage your luggage and kids effectively:

Firstly, consider getting dropped off right outside departures and using a trolley to load all your luggage. Airport trolleys are big and can hold multiple suitcases if stacked properly. This way, you won't have to carry all the luggage by yourself.

Secondly, ensure your kids have their own hand luggage that they can manage. Children as young as 2 or 3 can handle their own wheeled suitcases or cabin bags. This will teach them responsibility and lighten your load.

Additionally, consider investing in a 4-wheel roller suitcase, which stays upright when rolling. This type of suitcase is easier to manoeuvre, especially if you have older kids who can help push or pull it.

If you have multiple suitcases, you can also stack them on top of each other or side by side on a trolley. This way, you can transport all your luggage in one go without struggling to carry everything.

Lastly, don't be afraid to ask for assistance. Many airports offer helpful services, such as providing trollies or porters to assist with luggage. You can also call the airport ahead of time to inquire about any available support.

Check-in: it's a short walk from departures, so you won't have far to go

Check-in is a short walk from departures, so you won't have far to go. It's a good idea to get dropped off outside departures and get a trolley to load your luggage onto. Airport trolleys are big and can hold up to five big suitcases if you stack them properly. You can also put backpacks on top or hang them off the back. If you have a lot of luggage, consider asking the driver to drop one parent with the luggage and kids at the curb. That way, you won't have to worry about managing everything at once.

Kids as young as 2 or 3 can be responsible for their own hand luggage. They can use LittleLife wheeled suitcases or full-size wheelie cabin bags. Avoid Trunkies, as they can be difficult to manage. If your child is 9 or older, they can help push a 4-wheel roller suitcase.

If you have a lot of luggage, you can also call the airport and ask for assistance. Someone may be able to help meet you at the car or taxi rank. You can also ask about any trollies or porters that might be available.

Once you're inside, it's a short walk to check-in. Some airports even have little trollies to help with multiple items of cabin baggage. Remember to prepare your child before arriving at the airport by explaining what will happen. This can help make the experience less overwhelming for them.

Security: prepare your child by explaining what will happen, and consider wearing a jacket with pockets to store items

When it comes to security, it's a good idea to prepare your child by explaining what will happen. You could call the scanners "magic portals to the airport" to make the experience more enjoyable for them. Children 12 and younger can leave their shoes, jackets and hats on. It's also a good idea to wear a jacket with pockets so you can quickly store any items and send them through the x-ray machine without fumbling and leaving your kids waiting on the other side.

At the airport, you can ask for phone assistance and someone may be able to help meet you at the car/taxi rank. You could also ask what other assistance they can offer. If you have a lot of luggage, it's a good idea to get someone to drop you off outside departures and get a trolley to load everything on. You can also put luggage on top or hang it off the back. If you have a 9-year-old, they can help move a 4-wheel roller suitcase. Kids can also manage their own hand luggage from the age of 2 or 3.

When you arrive, long-haul destinations usually have good trollies or even porters freely available. For short-haul flights, you might need a Euro for the trollies. You should be able to load everything onto one trolley and someone else can manage the buggy.

Boarding: consider getting someone to meet you at the car/taxi rank to help with your luggage

When you're travelling with kids, it's a good idea to get someone to meet you at the car/taxi rank to help with your luggage. This will make the process of getting to the check-in desk much easier.

If you're travelling with a partner, consider asking them to drop you off at the airport with the kids and luggage. They can then park the car and meet you inside. This way, you won't have to worry about finding a parking space and unloading all your luggage by yourself.

If you're travelling alone, ask a friend or family member to give you a lift to the airport and help you with your luggage. This will make the process much less stressful.

When you arrive at the airport, get a trolley and load all your luggage onto it. Stack your suitcases properly, and you should be able to fit around five big suitcases on one trolley. If you have a lot of luggage, consider using a 4-wheel roller suitcase, which will be easier to manoeuvre, especially if one of your older children can help push it.

If you have a buggy, someone else can manage that separately. You can also ask the kids to carry their own hand luggage – children as young as two or three can manage this if they have a wheeled suitcase.

Frequently asked questions