The short answer
Start with each child's passport, which usually lasts five years and is often the one that's too close to expiry, and add a consent letter if a child is travelling without both parents. Then sort children's medicines and insurance, seats together on the flight, car seats at the other end, and a packing list per child. Plan the first day lightly: arrival days with children always take longer than you think.
Travelling with children doesn't need a different holiday, but it does need a different checklist. The jobs are mostly the same as for any trip (see things to do before going on holiday); this list is the extra layer that comes with kids. Tick things off as you go.
Documents for every child
- Check each child's passport. Children's passports are usually valid for five years, so they run out sooner than yours. Check them against your destination's rules: some want six months left after you arrive. When you book
- Apply for each child's travel authorisation. If the destination needs an ESTA, eTA or similar, every child needs their own, including babies. When you book
- A consent letter if one parent isn't travelling. If a child travels with one parent, grandparents or friends, carry a signed letter of consent from the absent parent with their contact details. Some countries require it; border staff anywhere may ask. 2 weeks
- Proof of relationship if surnames differ. A copy of the birth certificate (or adoption papers) saves an awkward conversation at passport control. 2 weeks
- Children on the insurance policy. Check they're named or covered, and that pre-existing conditions are declared. When you book
Health and medicines
- Children's pain and fever relief, in the doses for their age, plus an oral syringe.
- A small first-aid kit: plasters, antiseptic wipes, a thermometer, rehydration sachets, antihistamine suitable for children.
- High-factor sun cream, hats and swim tops. Children burn quickly, especially near water.
- Prescriptions and inhalers in hand luggage, with a few days spare.
- Travel sickness remedies if anyone gets queasy in cars, boats or planes.
- Health cover cards, such as a GHIC for UK residents in Europe, one per child.
The journey
- Seats together. Check your seats as soon as check-in opens, or pay to choose them, so a small child isn't rows away from you. At check-in
- Pushchair plan. Most airlines let you take a pushchair to the aircraft door. Check your airline's size rules. 1 week
- Baby food and milk. Many airports allow baby milk and food over the usual liquids limit in reasonable quantities, but expect it to be checked separately at security.
- Snacks, water bottles (empty for security), and a change of clothes for every child in hand luggage.
- Downloaded films, games and audiobooks, plus headphones that fit small heads and a charged power bank.
- Something new. A small, wrapped activity book or toy handed over at the hardest moment of the flight is worth its weight.
At the other end
- Car seats. Book them with the hire car or transfer, or bring your own. Rules on child seats vary by country; don't assume a taxi will have one. 4 weeks
- A cot or extra bed, requested in writing from the hotel or apartment. 4 weeks
- The first evening's food. Arriving hungry somewhere unfamiliar is hard with tired children. Know where supper is coming from before you land.
- A wristband or card with your phone number for children old enough to wander, especially at theme parks and beaches.
- Pool and balcony safety. Check the accommodation's pool fencing and balcony railings on arrival.
A packing list per child
Packing by person, rather than by item, stops the "whose are these?" problem at the other end. For each child:
- Clothes for half the days, plus washing powder or access to a machine
- Swimwear, sun hat, a warm layer for evenings and the plane
- Sleep things: the comforter, the nightlight, the familiar blanket
- Shoes that are already broken in
- Their own small bag: book, toy, headphones, snack
Planning the days
The checklist gets you there. What makes the holiday work is pacing. Plan one big thing a day, in the morning, and keep the afternoons loose. Children are at their best early, queues are shorter, and a rest after lunch saves the evening. For more on building the days themselves, see how to plan a family holiday, or start from a ready-made week like the Orlando itinerary with kids.
Split the list. One person owns documents, money and the journey; the other owns packing, health and the first evening. Two half-lists get done; one shared list gets each assuming the other did it.
Questions people ask
What documents do children need to travel abroad?
Their own valid passport, any visa or electronic travel authorisation the destination requires, and, if they're not travelling with both parents, a signed consent letter from the absent parent. A birth certificate copy helps if surnames differ.
Do children need six months on their passport?
If the destination has a six-month rule, yes: children must meet the same passport validity rules as adults. Their passports usually last only five years, so check them first.
What should I pack for a family holiday?
Pack by person. For each child: clothes for half the days, swimwear and a sun hat, a warm layer, familiar sleep things, broken-in shoes and a small bag of their own for the journey. Add a family first-aid kit and children's medicines.
Can I take baby milk through airport security?
Usually yes. Most airports allow baby milk, formula and baby food above the normal liquids limit in reasonable quantities for the journey, screened separately. Check your departure airport's rules before you fly.
Do I need a consent letter to travel with my child?
If you're travelling without the child's other parent, carrying a signed consent letter with their contact details is strongly recommended, and some countries require it. Grandparents and friends travelling with children should carry one from both parents.
