Family Travel Gear by Age: What You Actually Need

<p>What your family needs to bring changes fast. At six months the challenge is a safe place to sleep and something to carry them in; at four it is a bag they can manage; at nine it may be headphones and a charged tablet. Use this page to see what matters at each age.</p>

Last reviewed: November 2026. Safety advice comes from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), GOV.UK, The Lullaby Trust, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the NHS. Age ranges are a guide: your child’s size and development matter more. We haven’t tested any products mentioned here.

What your family needs to bring changes fast. At six months, the challenge is a safe place to sleep and something to carry them in. At four, it’s a bag they can manage and a way to keep them occupied in a queue. At nine, it might simply be a pair of headphones and a charged tablet. This page is our starting point for gear decisions: it helps you see what matters at each age, then points you to a more detailed guide for each category.

Decision table by age

Babies under 1

The FAA says the safest place for a child under two on a plane is an approved child restraint, not a lap. The AAP says a bassinet is typically for babies under about six months or 20 lb who can’t sit up, though each airline sets its own limits. For sleep at your destination, The Lullaby Trust says a cot, travel cot or Moses basket is ideal. Mattresses should be firm, flat and in good condition, without folded blankets underneath.

A carrier gets a lot of use at this age, but remember that the FAA bans carriers during taxi, take-off and landing. The NHS says to keep babies under six months out of direct sun, so pack a sun hat, light clothes and a clip-on shade. Start with our baby travel gear buy-or-skip guide and baby travel packing list.

Toddlers aged 1 to 2

A compact stroller starts to matter now that your child is heavier in your arms. The folded size has to match your airline’s limit, not simply the “cabin-size” label, which is why it’s worth reading best travel strollers by trip type. For the car, the AAP recommends staying rear-facing as long as possible, until your child reaches the seat’s height or weight limit. In the UK, a height-based seat must be rear-facing until your child is over 15 months.

The biggest upgrade at this age is usually a good supply of snacks and a few new toys, rather than more equipment. See quiet airplane toys for 2-year-olds, travel shoes for toddlers and our leakproof water bottle guide.

Children aged 3 to 5

This is when kids can start to carry their own things, with limits. The AAP says a child’s backpack should weigh no more than 15% of their body weight, with two wide padded straps. Most of the time, the bag will end up on your shoulder at some point, so keep it small. Read kids’ travel backpacks by age and kids’ luggage: carry-on, ride-on or backpack.

The AAP advises keeping a child in a harness seat as long as possible, at least to four years. In the UK, children must normally use a car seat until they are 12 or 135 cm tall, whichever comes first. See travel car seats for flying, taxis and rentals, and remember that the FAA doesn’t allow boosters during taxi, take-off and landing. For wider tips, read travelling with a 3 or 4-year-old.

School-age children, 6 to 8

Children at this age can do much more for themselves, and can usually manage their own bag on a short walk through an airport. Good kit includes:

• Headphones with a volume limit. The WHO suggests keeping volume below 60% of maximum where possible, and that adults choose devices with safe-listening features.
• A booster that travels. The AAP says to use a booster until the vehicle belt fits properly, typically at about 4 ft 9 in tall and between 8 and 12 years of age. Bring a light booster if you’ll be in cars or taxis often.
• Activity kit. A book, a travel journal, pencils and a card game go a long way when the tablet battery runs out.
• Their own water bottle. Empty it before security and refill afterwards.

Ages 9 to 12

Many older children no longer need specific travel gear, but they still benefit from a list and a defined responsibility. The AAP says most children won’t fit an adult belt without a booster until 10 to 12. Let them handle their own carry-on, documents in a folder you keep the passports for, and their own charger. A power bank can be useful too, but the FAA says spare lithium batteries and power banks must travel in the cabin and be removed from any bag that gets gate-checked.

Gear by trip type

For detailed lists, see theme park day bag, camping with toddlers and ski trips: rent or bring the gear.

Print this checklist

Shopping by category

These Amazon searches cover key categories across ages: baby carriers, compact travel strollers, kids’ travel backpacks, travel booster seats and volume-limited headphones. We haven’t tested these products and don’t rank them.

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