Travelling with Children 2026
Documents, flights, packing, and practical tips
Travelling with children becomes much easier when the right things are prepared in the right order. Here is a clear guide covering everything from travel documents and security to packing, flying, and arrival.
Children need their own valid travel document. Requirements depend on destination, citizenship, and potential layovers.
Some countries and airlines may require written consent from the other legal guardian.
Baby food and drinks needed during the trip are permitted, but must be presented separately at security.
Check documents first, pack your child's essentials in a dedicated, easy-to-reach bag, and plan for everything they will need from leaving home until arrival—not just during the flight itself.
Children need their own documents.
Children need their own valid travel document. When travelling outside Schengen, a passport is normally required. Within the EU and EEA, Swedish citizens can travel with a passport or national ID card, depending on the destination.
Also check how long the passport must remain valid after your return journey. Requirements are determined by the destination country and may differ from Swedish rules.
If a child travels alone, with an adult who is not a legal guardian, or with only one of two legal guardians, written consent may be required. There is no uniform EU rule, so check with your destination country, any transit countries, and your airline.
Store travel documents, insurance details, booking numbers, guardian contact information, and any consent forms together in one easy-to-reach place.
Check before booking
- Which travel document your child needs
- Passport or ID card expiration dates
- Visas or travel authorizations
- Regulations in layover countries
When travelling with one legal guardian
- Check requirements for written consent
- Bring a copy of the absent guardian's ID if requested
- Include travel route and contact info in the authorization letter
- Check which language the document should be written in
Fewer layovers almost always beat a lower price.
The easiest trip is often the one with the fewest steps. A direct flight or a longer, relaxed layover can be far more valuable than the cheapest ticket.
Check when you need to leave home, how long transfers take, and when you can actually check into your accommodation. A flight time that looks good on paper can be tough if it requires leaving in the middle of the night.
If you are booking a flight, you should also check the rules regarding strollers, infant car seats, seat assignments, and baggage. Rules vary across airlines and ticket types.
Calculate the whole travel day
Base your schedule on total time from your front door until you check into your stay, not just flight time.
Choose extra buffer over stress
With kids - check-in, restroom breaks, snacks, and moving around take longer than planned.
Check what the ticket includes
Review seat selection, cabin luggage, checked baggage, and potential fees for strollers or car seats.
Plan the first meal
Check what food options are open around departure time and pack snacks your child actually eats.
Pack for security screening, not just for the flight.
Baby food, formula, and liquid essentials needed during travel are permitted through airport security. Pack them so they can be pulled out easily and inspected separately.
Keep boarding passes, passports, and paperwork together. Avoid placing documents at the bottom of a bag that has to be unpacked at every check.
Rules for strollers and car seats differ among airlines and airports. Check in advance where they are checked, if they need tagging, and if they can be taken up to the gate.
Keep documents, baby food, medications, and electronics in a spot an adult can reach without unpacking the family's main luggage.
Pack for your immediate needs.
Essential items should be accessible right when you need them. Pack based on when items will be used, rather than strictly by category.
Plan for delays, spills, and temperature changes. A full change of clothes is often much more useful than another toy.
Documents and essentials
- Passport or national ID card
- Boarding passes and booking details
- Parental consent letter (if applicable)
- Travel insurance details
- Contact numbers and important addresses
Food and drink
- Baby food, formula, or snacks
- Empty water bottle to fill after security
- Bib or small towel
- Spoon and feeding essentials your child uses
- Plastic bag for trash and messy wrappers
Change of clothes and hygiene
- A complete change of clothes for your child
- An extra shirt for the adult
- Nappies and wet wipes
- Small plastic bags or a wet bag
- Toothbrush and essential toiletries
Entertainment and rest
- One new small activity or toy
- A familiar favorite item
- Child-friendly headphones
- Downloaded offline content
- Blanket, stuffed animal, or comfort item
Medications
- Medications needed during travel
- Original packaging whenever possible
- Prescription or doctor's note if required
- Keep meds in cabin luggage—never in checked baggage
Upon arrival
- Weather-appropriate clothes for your destination
- Address and directions to your stay
- Plan for airport transfer or rental car
- Essentials needed before accommodation check-in
Also check out our travel packing list and our guide on cabin luggage dimensions.
Keep your child's top essentials within easy reach.
Changes of clothes, wet wipes, nappies, snacks, and a small activity shouldn't require unpacking your whole bag.
Place what you need first at the very top or in an external compartment. This makes security checks, gate waiting, and in-flight moments much smoother.
Take out one item at a time.
Put the immediate items at the top: a snack, an activity, and a change of clothes. That way, you avoid pulling everything out at once.
Introduce activities gradually. A child who gets all options at once will run out of novelties when the flight gets long.
During takeoff and landing, swallowing helps equalize ear pressure. Drinks, dummies, or snacks can be very helpful depending on your child's age.
Start with the familiar
Snacks, a favorite soft toy, or an activity they already love creates a calm start.
Save something new
A new book, coloring set, or toy can be brought out when patience starts to wear thin.
Change scenery when possible
A short walk down the aisle can break up restlessness when the seatbelt sign is off.
Lower expectations on travel day
The goal is simply reaching your destination. Normal routines can resume once you arrive.
