Families

 The section offers tips on how to pack items for babies and young children, what to do at the screening checkpoint, and if needed, how to travel with the family pet.

Travelling with Children

Packing for Your Trip:

  • If you are travelling with an infant younger than two years of age (0-24 months), you can bring baby food, milk, liquid formula, water, juice and other baby items in your carry-on baggage in quantities greater than 100 ml.
  • Certain powders and granular materials (e.g. baby powder, inorganic baby formula) in your carry-on are limited to a total quantity of 350 ml or less. CATSA recommends avoiding metal-lined containers when travelling with powdered formula in your carry-on.
  • Gel and ice packs can be brought on board, if they are being used to refrigerate baby food, milk, breast milk, liquid formula, water or juice for infants younger than two years of age.
  • Passengers flying with or without their child can bring breast milk in quantities greater than 100 ml provided it is presented to the screening officer for inspection prior to screening.
  • Any exempted liquids, such as medications, baby formula or breast milk, should be packed so that they can easily be removed from carry-on baggage for inspection. However, we recommend that these items be properly labeled (manufacturer's name or pharmaceutical label identifying the medication).
  • You can pack toys in your child’s carry-on baggage, but leave toys that look like weapons (e.g. water guns, toy grenades, etc.) at home.

Did you know? 

Solid foods such as apples, granola bars or sandwiches can be packed in your carry-on as a snack on the plane. See Travelling with Food Items for more detail.

At the Screening Checkpoint:

  • When you arrive at the checkpoint, check if the Family/Special Needs lane is available. This lane features screening equipment that can accommodate larger items, and screening officers who offer additional assistance to passengers needing more time or help with their belongings to get through security.
  • Screening officers will need to inspect strollers, infant carriers and car seats.
  •  All baby food or drinks, including formula, must be presented to the screening officer for inspection.
  • Children’s carry-ons, including diaper bags, should be placed on the conveyor belt for security screening.
  • Keep any MP3 players (e.g. iPods), portable handheld game consoles, tablets and smartphones in your carry-on.
  • Let your child walk through the metal detector if they are able to do so on their own.
  • Please don’t hand your child to a screening officer while you go through security. 

Travelling with Animals

  • Contact your airline in advance to find out about their policy for passengers travelling with pets.
  • Let the screening officer know that you are travelling with your pet. 
  • All passengers travelling with animals must undergo explosive trace detection (ETD) testing.
  • A screening officer will offer to conduct the screening of your animal in a private search room.
  • Whether you stay at the checkpoint or go to a private search room, you will need to remove your pet from its carrying case and remove any items attached to your pet (except collars and harnesses).
  • You will need to keep your pet under control during screening.
  • After the screening of your pet, its carrying case and any other items is complete, you will need to put your pet back in its carrying case.

Travelling with children


Going through security with children