--- title: "Best Luggage for Kids: 14 Picks by Age, From Toddlers to Teens" url: https://33travels.com/best-luggage-for-kids/ author: "Lena Marchetti" published: 2026-11-10 updated: 2026-11-10 place: "Buying Guides" --- # Best Luggage for Kids: 14 Picks by Age, From Toddlers to Teens The best luggage for kids depends on age more than brand. A 3-year-old needs a bag they can ride or a backpack with a snack in it. A 5- to 10-year-old can pull a small spinner but cannot lift a packed one. A teenager can handle a full adult carry-on of 22 x 14 x 9 inches. The weight that matters most is the bag’s own empty weight, because for a 40-pound child even an empty 19-inch hardside case is already more than the load pediatric groups recommend. Below are 14 picks sorted by age: ride-on cases, kids carry-on luggage, travel backpacks, teen carry-ons and the small add-ons that keep a child’s bag from getting lost. [We may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page.](https://33travels.com/affiliate-disclosure/) ## Best luggage for kids by age: the quick picks - **Ages 3 to 6, airport rides:** [Trunki Ride-On Suitcase](#tpg-trunki-ride-on-suitcase), 18 liters, carries a rider up to 110 lb. - **Ages 3 to 7, long-haul sleep:** [Stokke JetKids BedBox](#tpg-stokke-jetkids-bedbox), a ride-on case whose lid extends the seat into a bed. - **Ages 3 to 4, first backpack:** [Skip Hop Zoo](#tpg-skip-hop-zoo-toddler-backpack), small enough that it can’t be overfilled. - **Ages 5 to 8, first rolling case:** [American Tourister Disney Frozen 18-inch](#tpg-american-tourister-disney-frozen-18), 4 lb empty. - **Ages 6 to 10, four wheels:** [Rockland Jr. 19-inch spinner](#tpg-rockland-jr-my-first-hardside-19) or the [Travelers Club 5-piece set](#tpg-travelers-club-kids-5-piece-set). - **Ages 12 and up:** [BAGSMART expandable carry-on](#tpg-bagsmart-expandable-carry-on), a full adult size at 6.8 lb. - **Personal item for any school-age child:** [Osprey Daylite Jr.](#tpg-osprey-daylite-jr-kids-backpack), 11 oz empty. - [![Trunki Ride-On Suitcase](https://33travels.com/wp-content/uploads/packing-guides/_products/B01M2C5K21.webp)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M2C5K21?tag=33travels-20&ascsubtag=best-luggage-for-kids)Trunki Ride-On SuitcaseMid-range[Check price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M2C5K21?tag=33travels-20&ascsubtag=best-luggage-for-kids) - [![American Tourister Disney Frozen 18-Inch](https://33travels.com/wp-content/uploads/packing-guides/_products/B093Y47X6L.webp)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B093Y47X6L?tag=33travels-20&ascsubtag=best-luggage-for-kids)American Tourister Disney Frozen 18-InchMid-range[Check price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B093Y47X6L?tag=33travels-20&ascsubtag=best-luggage-for-kids) - [![Osprey Daylite Jr. Backpack](https://33travels.com/wp-content/uploads/packing-guides/_products/B0BLHPM671.webp)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BLHPM671?tag=33travels-20&ascsubtag=best-luggage-for-kids)Osprey Daylite Jr. BackpackBudget[Check price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BLHPM671?tag=33travels-20&ascsubtag=best-luggage-for-kids) ## How much weight a child can carry, by age The American Academy of Pediatrics says a child’s backpack should weigh no more than 15% of body weight. The American Occupational Therapy Association sets the limit lower, at 10%. Both figures include the bag itself, which is why a light empty bag matters more for a child than for an adult. The table uses the CDC’s median (50th percentile) weight at each age, averaged for boys and girls. | Age | Median weight | 10% (AOTA) | 15% (AAP) | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 3 | 31 lb | 3.1 lb | 4.7 lb | | 5 | 40 lb | 4.0 lb | 6.0 lb | | 8 | 56.5 lb | 5.7 lb | 8.5 lb | | 10 | 71.5 lb | 7.2 lb | 10.7 lb | | 12 | 90.5 lb | 9.1 lb | 13.6 lb | | 14 | 110.6 lb | 11.1 lb | 16.6 lb | Children vary a lot around the median. A small 8-year-old at the 5th percentile weighs about 45 lb, which puts the 10% limit at 4.5 lb. Source: [CDC weight-for-age data](https://www.cdc.gov/growthcharts/cdc-data-files.htm), [AAP backpack safety](https://healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/at-play/Pages/Backpack-Safety.aspx). ### What the limit means for a rolling case The 10 and 15% figures were written for backpacks worn on the body. A rolling case on a smooth airport floor is pulled, so a child can move more than the table shows. The limit still applies every time the case has to be lifted: up a curb, onto the security belt, up the steps of a bus or a train. JetBlue and easyJet both say passengers must be able to lift their own cabin bag, and on a flight with a 9-year-old that lift into the overhead bin falls to the parent. In April this year I took the train from Lisbon’s Oriente station to Porto with a friend and her 7-year-old son. He had packed his own 19-inch hardside case with library books. He pulled it the length of the platform without trouble, then stopped at the three steps into the carriage, and his mother carried it from there. The books made the case heavier than anything he could lift alone. ### The rule of thumb for kids’ luggage - **Backpack:** stay under 10% of the child’s weight, packed. - **Rolling case:** the child should be able to lift it, packed, to knee height. If they can’t, keep the case for the parent and give the child a backpack. - **Empty weight:** under 4.5 lb for an 18-inch case, under 7 lb for a teen’s full-size carry-on. ## Best ride-on suitcase for kids A ride-on suitcase is a hard case with a saddle and a tow strap. A child aged 3 to 6 sits on it and a parent pulls them through the terminal, so the child’s legs last until the gate. It doubles as a carry-on with room for a change of clothes, snacks and a few toys. Two limits apply to every ride-on case. Both makers say riding starts at age 3, when a child’s feet reach the floor. And they ride only on smooth, flat floors: airport terminals and station concourses, not sidewalks, ramps or cobblestones. ### Trunki Ride-On Suitcase: the classic toddler suitcase The Trunki holds 18 liters and weighs about 3.5 lb empty, light enough for a 4-year-old to pick up and push. Trunki rates it for a rider up to 50 kg (110 lb), so a parent can tow an older sibling on it as well. It measures 18.5 x 8.2 x 12.6 inches, well inside every US airline’s carry-on size. Most airlines accept it as the child’s cabin bag. Ryanair lets children aged 2 to 11 bring one Trunki on board even though it is larger than Ryanair’s free small bag. easyJet allows the standard size but requires it under the seat in front. Trunki’s own airline checklist marks Icelandair and TAP Air Portugal as not accepting it. On a TAP flight from Lisbon to Bologna in August 2025, I watched a gate agent tag a family’s ride-on case for the hold while the child held onto the strap. Trunki does not design its cases for checked luggage, so a family flying TAP should pack a backpack for the cabin instead. [![Trunki Ride-On Suitcase](https://33travels.com/wp-content/uploads/packing-guides/_products/B01M2C5K21.webp)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M2C5K21?tag=33travels-20&ascsubtag=best-luggage-for-kids) Trunki Ride-On SuitcaseMid-range Listed at 3.5 lb, 18 L, 18.5 x 8.2 x 12.6 in; Trunki says it carries a rider up to 50 kg. Icelandair and TAP Air Portugal do not accept it. - 18 L hard shell with 4 in-line skate wheels; listed for kids 3 and up - Strap lets a parent tow the child; Trunki says use on smooth, flat floors only [Check price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M2C5K21?tag=33travels-20&ascsubtag=best-luggage-for-kids) ### Stokke JetKids BedBox: ride-on case and airplane bed The BedBox is a ride-on suitcase whose lid flips forward to fill the gap between the child’s seat and the seat in front. On a night flight a child aged 2 to 7 can lie flat with their legs extended. Stokke tests it for riders up to 77 lb and lists it at 22 liters. The bed works only with these conditions: - The child needs their own paid seat. A lap infant can’t use it. - It goes in a window or middle seat, never the aisle, so it doesn’t block the way out. - It folds away for taxi, takeoff, landing and turbulence, and the crew has the final say. - Qantas allows only inflatable cubes as comfort devices and bans hard-shell bed boxes. Virgin Australia allows the BedBox but counts it as the child’s carry-on. Stokke’s own airline list includes American, Delta, Alaska, JetBlue, Southwest, British Airways, easyJet and Ryanair. A bed box earns its place on flights of eight hours or more. On a two-hour flight it is a heavier ride-on case. [![Stokke JetKids BedBox](https://33travels.com/wp-content/uploads/packing-guides/_products/B0DGJ3CXS1.webp)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DGJ3CXS1?tag=33travels-20&ascsubtag=best-luggage-for-kids) Stokke JetKids BedBoxPremium Listed at 47 x 39 x 20 cm and 22 L, for ages 2-7 and riders up to 77 lb. Qantas bans hard-shell bed boxes, so check your airline first. - Hard-shell polycarbonate/ABS case, 4 spinner wheels, mattress stores inside - Extendable lid turns an airplane seat into a resting surface for the child [Check price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DGJ3CXS1?tag=33travels-20&ascsubtag=best-luggage-for-kids) ![Small child's sneakers dangling over a colorful ride-on suitcase at an airport gate, aircraft outside the window](https://33travels.com/wp-content/uploads/packing-guides/best-luggage-for-kids/assets/gate-rideon.webp) *A ride-on case at the gate before boarding* ## Best luggage for toddlers: a backpack first For a 2- or 3-year-old the best luggage is a backpack small enough that it can’t be overfilled. At age 3 the median child weighs 31 lb, so 10% is about 3 lb: a water bottle, a snack box, a small toy and a spare pair of pants. A bigger bag fills up, and the parent ends up carrying it. AAP’s fit rules apply from the first backpack: both straps on, straps even and the bottom of the pack no more than 4 inches below the waist. [![Skip Hop Zoo Toddler Backpack](https://33travels.com/wp-content/uploads/packing-guides/_products/B00H2CRNVI.webp)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00H2CRNVI?tag=33travels-20&ascsubtag=best-luggage-for-kids) Skip Hop Zoo Toddler BackpackBudget At age 3 the median child weighs 31 lb, so a 10% pack limit is about 3 lb. At 11 x 5 x 12 in this bag holds snacks and a toy, not more. - Insulated front pouch, mesh bottle pocket and roomy main compartment - 11 x 5 x 12 in polyester with PVC backing, easy-clean lining, phthalate-free [Check price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00H2CRNVI?tag=33travels-20&ascsubtag=best-luggage-for-kids) Lap infants under 2 have no carry-on allowance of their own on most airlines, but they don’t need one. American, JetBlue and easyJet let a lap infant’s family bring one diaper bag on top of the adult allowance. American, Delta and JetBlue carry strollers and car seats free, so a parent doesn’t need to buy a stroller bag that counts as luggage. For the stroller itself, see our guide to the [best travel stroller](https://33travels.com/best-travel-stroller/). ## Best kids carry-on luggage for ages 5 to 10 At this age a child can pull their own case through an airport. Three things decide whether they will: | Feature | Why it matters for a child | What to look for | | --- | --- | --- | | Empty weight | The case eats into the 10-15% limit before anything is packed | 4 to 5.5 lb for an 18- to 19-inch case | | Wheels | Four spinner wheels roll upright beside the child; two skate wheels need a tilt-and-pull | Spinners for ages 5 to 7; either works from 8 | | Handle height | A handle set for an adult makes a child pull with the arm raised | A telescoping handle with a short setting | All four cases below fit inside the 22 x 14 x 9-inch carry-on size that American, Delta and JetBlue use, with one exception noted on the Disney hardshell. ### American Tourister Disney Frozen 18-inch: the lightest kids carry-on At 4 lb empty this softside case is the lightest rolling bag in this guide. It measures 12 x 7 x 18 inches and holds about 1,600 cubic inches, enough clothes for a long weekend for a 6-year-old. It rolls on two in-line skate wheels, so the child tilts it back and pulls it behind. That suits ages 7 and up better than a 4-year-old. [![American Tourister Disney Frozen 18-Inch](https://33travels.com/wp-content/uploads/packing-guides/_products/B093Y47X6L.webp)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B093Y47X6L?tag=33travels-20&ascsubtag=best-luggage-for-kids) American Tourister Disney Frozen 18-InchMid-range At 4 lb and 12 x 7 x 18 in it sits well inside the 22 x 14 x 9 in airline limit, but two in-line skate wheels mean a tilt-and-pull, not a push. - Adjustable pull handle, cross straps and a mesh pocket inside; printed polyester shell - 2 in-line skate wheels; 1,596 cubic inches of storage [Check price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B093Y47X6L?tag=33travels-20&ascsubtag=best-luggage-for-kids) ### American Tourister Disney Princess Hardshell: four wheels, a hard shell This is the Disney hardside spinner: four wheels, an ABS shell and a push-button handle. It weighs 5.69 lb and is listed at 20.7 x 13.5 x 9.25 inches, a quarter inch deeper than the 9-inch carry-on limit. Pack it flat so the shell doesn’t bulge past that. [![American Tourister Disney Princess Hardshell](https://33travels.com/wp-content/uploads/packing-guides/_products/B0FNBT5VGH.webp)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FNBT5VGH?tag=33travels-20&ascsubtag=best-luggage-for-kids) American Tourister Disney Princess HardshellMid-range Listed at 5.69 lb and 20.7 x 13.5 x 9.25 in. That depth is 0.25 in over the 22 x 14 x 9 in limit, so keep the case from bulging. - ABS hardshell with 4 spinner wheels and a push-button adjustable handle - Lined interior 17.9 x 13.39 x 9.06 in with zippered compartment and cross straps [Check price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FNBT5VGH?tag=33travels-20&ascsubtag=best-luggage-for-kids) ### Rockland Jr. 19-inch: a kids spinner that grows with them The Rockland Jr. is a polycarbonate spinner with four wheels and a handle that adjusts low for a child and high for a parent. It measures 14 x 11 x 19 inches with wheels and expands for the trip home. At 5.5 lb empty it is already above 10% of a 40-lb 5-year-old’s weight, so the child pulls it and the parent lifts it. [![Rockland Jr. My First Hardside 19-Inch](https://33travels.com/wp-content/uploads/packing-guides/_products/B07F3NJM42.webp)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07F3NJM42?tag=33travels-20&ascsubtag=best-luggage-for-kids) Rockland Jr. My First Hardside 19-InchMid-range Listed at 5.5 lb and 14 x 11 x 19 in with wheels. That already tops 10% of a 40 lb 5-year-old's weight, so a parent will carry the packed load. - Polycarbonate shell, 4 spinner wheels, telescoping handle adjusts for child or parent - Expandable; lined interior with clothing strap and zippered compartment [Check price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07F3NJM42?tag=33travels-20&ascsubtag=best-luggage-for-kids) ### Travelers Club Kids 5-Piece Set: the full kit The set includes an 18-inch hardside spinner (12 x 9 x 18 inches, 35 liters), a 15-inch backpack, a lunch bag, a neck pillow and a luggage tag. It is listed for ages 6 and up. The whole set weighs 7.5 lb. Buy it when the child needs a backpack and a case anyway; the matching pieces make them easy to spot on a crowded airport floor. [![Travelers Club Kids 5-Piece Set](https://33travels.com/wp-content/uploads/packing-guides/_products/B0BX9CMXPB.webp)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BX9CMXPB?tag=33travels-20&ascsubtag=best-luggage-for-kids) Travelers Club Kids 5-Piece SetMid-range The set weighs 7.5 lb and holds an 18 in hardside spinner (12 x 9 x 18 in), 15 in backpack, lunch bag, neck pillow and tag; listed for ages 6 and up. - 18 in polycarbonate carry-on, 35 L, 4 spinner wheels and a telescoping handle - Also includes a 15 in backpack, 10 in lunch bag, neck pillow and luggage tag [Check price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BX9CMXPB?tag=33travels-20&ascsubtag=best-luggage-for-kids) ![Child's hands placing a rolled striped T-shirt into a small blue packing cube inside an open kid-size hardside case on a rug](https://33travels.com/wp-content/uploads/packing-guides/best-luggage-for-kids/assets/packing-cubes.webp) *Packing a 19-inch case one outfit at a time* ## Best backpack for kids travel On a plane the backpack matters more than the rolling case. It is the child’s personal item: it stays under the seat in front and holds everything for the flight. American allows a personal item up to 18 x 14 x 8 inches and JetBlue up to 17 x 13 x 8 inches. Both backpacks below fit either. A school-age child also gets a full carry-on allowance once they have their own seat. On American, Delta, JetBlue and British Airways a child with a paid seat gets the same cabin allowance as an adult, so a backpack plus a rolling case costs nothing extra. [![Osprey Daylite Jr. Backpack](https://33travels.com/wp-content/uploads/packing-guides/_products/B0BLHPM671.webp)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BLHPM671?tag=33travels-20&ascsubtag=best-luggage-for-kids) Osprey Daylite Jr. BackpackBudget At 0.69 lb and 13.4 x 8.7 x 7.1 in it uses little of a child's pack allowance (10% is about 5.7 lb at age 8) and fits under American and JetBlue seats. - Mesh harness with die-cut foam back panel; hydration sleeve; internal name tag - Large integrated grab handle for cubbies and overhead bins [Check price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BLHPM671?tag=33travels-20&ascsubtag=best-luggage-for-kids) The Osprey weighs 11 oz empty, a fraction of an 8-year-old’s 5.7-lb pack limit. The Wildkin is the bigger, softer school-style pack for ages 5 to 10. Its listing gives a maximum load of 15 lb, which is more than the 10% guidance allows for any child under about 150 lb; pack it to the table above, not to its capacity. [![Wildkin 15-Inch Kids Backpack](https://33travels.com/wp-content/uploads/packing-guides/_products/B08B2PPYL4.webp)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08B2PPYL4?tag=33travels-20&ascsubtag=best-luggage-for-kids) Wildkin 15-Inch Kids BackpackBudget At 15 x 11 x 7 in it fits under the American (18 x 14 x 8) and JetBlue (17 x 13 x 8) seat limits. Pack to 10% of body weight: about 5.7 lb at age 8. - Ages 5-10; padded straps, large main compartment, front pocket, side mesh bottle pocket - Polyester lining wipes clean; 90-day Wildkin warranty [Check price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08B2PPYL4?tag=33travels-20&ascsubtag=best-luggage-for-kids) ## Kids luggage for teens: a full adult carry-on From about age 12 a child can lift a full-size carry-on into the overhead bin. The table puts the 15% limit at 13.6 lb at age 12 and 16.6 lb at 14, and a teenager’s case is rolled most of the way. Buy the adult size: 22 x 14 x 9 inches including wheels and handles, the limit at American, Delta and JetBlue. A kids-sized 18-inch case wastes a teen’s allowance. The difference between teen carry-ons is weight, since a lighter case leaves more of an airline’s weight limit for clothes. easyJet allows 15 kg in the cabin and many European and Asian airlines allow only 7 to 10 kg. ### BAGSMART Expandable Carry-On The BAGSMART weighs 6.83 lb empty, holds 35 liters and expands to 42 liters with a zipper. It rolls on eight spinner wheels and has a TSA lock. Its listing gives 22 x 14 x 9 inches in the description but 14.6 inches wide in the dimensions row, so keep the expansion zipper closed at the gate. [![BAGSMART Expandable Carry-On](https://33travels.com/wp-content/uploads/packing-guides/_products/B0CT81S9CF.webp)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CT81S9CF?tag=33travels-20&ascsubtag=best-luggage-for-kids) BAGSMART Expandable Carry-OnBudget Listed at 6.83 lb and 22 x 14 x 9 in, 35 L expandable to 42 L. The item-dimension row reads 14.6 in wide, so keep the expansion zipper shut at the gate. - Polycarbonate shell, 8 spinner wheels, TSA lock; 2 in expansion zipper - 5-year manufacturer warranty listed; 35 L closed, 42 L expanded [Check price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CT81S9CF?tag=33travels-20&ascsubtag=best-luggage-for-kids) ### LUGGEX 20-Inch Carry-On The LUGGEX lists its size as 22 x 14 x 9 inches including wheels and handle, with 40 liters inside. It weighs 7.5 lb, 0.7 lb more than the BAGSMART, for a polycarbonate shell with double-layer zippers and reinforced corners. It suits a teen who checks the case into the hold on the way home. [![LUGGEX 20-Inch Carry-On](https://33travels.com/wp-content/uploads/packing-guides/_products/B0BDFZT73G.webp)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BDFZT73G?tag=33travels-20&ascsubtag=best-luggage-for-kids) LUGGEX 20-Inch Carry-OnMid-range The listing gives 22 x 14 x 9 in including wheels and handle, 7.5 lb, 40 L: a full adult size for a teen, but 0.7 lb heavier than the BAGSMART. - 100% PC hard shell, 8 spinner wheels, TSA lock; expandable 40-44 L - Interior 18.5 x 13.5 x 8.8 in; double-layer zippers and reinforced corners [Check price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BDFZT73G?tag=33travels-20&ascsubtag=best-luggage-for-kids) ![Teenager's hands sliding a grey hardside carry-on onto an overhead luggage rack in a bright train carriage](https://33travels.com/wp-content/uploads/packing-guides/best-luggage-for-kids/assets/train-rack.webp) *A full-size carry-on on a train rack* ## Kids luggage for Disney trips Walt Disney World does not allow bags, suitcases or backpacks larger than 24 x 15 x 18 inches into its theme parks or water parks, with or without wheels. Every case in this guide is under that limit, but the park day calls for a backpack, not a rolling case. Wagons and strollers wider than 31 inches or longer than 52 inches are banned in the parks, as are scooters and shoes with wheels. Disney’s Magical Express bus and luggage service ended in January 2022. A family now handles its own bags from the Orlando airport to the hotel, which is where a ride-on case and a kids carry-on that the child can pull pay off. ## Checklist before you buy Before you buy - [Empty weight under 4.5 lb for an 18-inch kids case](#tpg-american-tourister-disney-frozen-18) - Four spinner wheels for children under 7 - Size with wheels within 22 x 14 x 9 in - A handle with a low setting for the child's height - [Ride-on case accepted by your airline](#tpg-trunki-ride-on-suitcase) For the flight - [Backpack that fits under the seat in front](#tpg-osprey-daylite-jr-kids-backpack) - Packed backpack under 10% of the child's weight - Formula or toddler drinks in an outside pocket for screening - [Name tag with a parent's phone number](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CCPBGC52?tag=33travels-20&ascsubtag=best-luggage-for-kids) - [Tracker inside the rolling case](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09468VZ5W?tag=33travels-20&ascsubtag=best-luggage-for-kids) [Build a printable list for your trip](https://33travels.com/packing-list/) ## Add-ons that keep kids’ bags from getting lost A child’s bag is easy to leave behind at a gate, in a taxi or in a hotel lobby. Three small things help. Packing cubes, one per day, let a child find tomorrow’s outfit without emptying the case. A luggage tag with the child’s first name and a parent’s phone number gets a bag back from a lost-and-found desk; leave the home address off. A tracker holder clipped inside the case shows where it is if it does go to the hold. - [![Vandel Kids Packing Cubes (4-Pack)](https://33travels.com/wp-content/uploads/packing-guides/_products/B0FLZV3CFQ.webp)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FLZV3CFQ?tag=33travels-20&ascsubtag=best-luggage-for-kids)Vandel Kids Packing Cubes (4-Pack)Budget[Check price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FLZV3CFQ?tag=33travels-20&ascsubtag=best-luggage-for-kids) - [![Sodsay 10-Pack Luggage Tags](https://33travels.com/wp-content/uploads/packing-guides/_products/B0CCPBGC52.webp)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CCPBGC52?tag=33travels-20&ascsubtag=best-luggage-for-kids)Sodsay 10-Pack Luggage TagsBudget[Check price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CCPBGC52?tag=33travels-20&ascsubtag=best-luggage-for-kids) - [![HATALKIN AirTag Holder (4-Pack)](https://33travels.com/wp-content/uploads/packing-guides/_products/B09468VZ5W.webp)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09468VZ5W?tag=33travels-20&ascsubtag=best-luggage-for-kids)HATALKIN AirTag Holder (4-Pack)Budget[Check price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09468VZ5W?tag=33travels-20&ascsubtag=best-luggage-for-kids) At security, TSA lets children 12 and under keep shoes, light jackets and hats on. Formula, breast milk and toddler drinks over 3.4 oz are allowed in a carry-on: tell the officer at the start of screening and keep them in an outside pocket so they come out fast. For a full list of what to pack, build one with our [printable packing list](https://33travels.com/packing-list/), and for older relatives traveling with the kids, see the [best luggage for seniors](https://33travels.com/best-luggage-for-seniors/). ## Kids luggage FAQ What size suitcase does a child need? A child aged 5 to 10 needs an 18- or 19-inch case, which holds clothes for four to seven days and still fits the 22 x 14 x 9-inch carry-on size of US airlines. A toddler needs a backpack or a ride-on case. From about age 12 a teenager can use a full 22-inch adult carry-on, and a 24-inch checked case only on trips of a week or more. Hardside or softside luggage for kids? Softside for ages 5 to 7, hardside from about 8. A softside kids case is usually the lighter of the two at the same size, and its fabric gives a little when it is stuffed into a bin or a car trunk. A hardside shell protects toys and electronics better and survives being sat on, kicked and dropped down stairs, which happens more with older children who handle their own bags. Is a luggage set worth it for kids? Only when the child needs every piece. A set pays off for a first big trip where the child needs both a rolling case and a backpack. Neck pillows and lunch bags in sets often go unused. For siblings, two single cases in different colors are easier to tell apart at the gate than two matching sets. Can a child pull their own suitcase through the airport? Most children can from about age 5 with a four-wheel spinner on smooth floors, and from about 7 with a two-wheel case. Set the handle to its lowest stop so the child pulls with the arm at their side. Expect a parent to take over on escalators, curbs and the steps of an airport bus.