Travelling with children at Düsseldorf Airport: how to make the day relaxed
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A trip by air with children doesn’t start at your destination, but already at the airport. And that is often where it is decided whether the family sets off on holiday relaxed or stressed. Long walks, waiting times, security and a tired toddler – it can be exhausting. With good preparation, though, the travel day at Düsseldorf Airport becomes part of the adventure. In this guide we have collected practical tips for families: from the right documents to pushchairs and baby food, to the question of how to park most conveniently with children and lots of luggage.
Key facts at a glance
- Every child needs their own travel document; the German Federal Foreign Office lists the destination country’s requirements.
- Baby food for the journey is usually allowed even above 100 ml; with many airlines, the pushchair can go to the gate.
- With children and lots of luggage, valet parking is most convenient: handover at the meeting point near the terminal, no reloading into a shuttle.
- Allow at least 30 minutes more than the airline recommends.
Before the trip: documents and planning
Every child needs their own document
Children need their own travel document for air travel. Depending on the destination, this is an ID card or a passport. You can find the destination country’s entry requirements from the German Federal Foreign Office or your own country’s foreign ministry. Apply early, because in the weeks before the holidays citizens’ offices often have long waiting times. If one parent travels alone with the child, a letter of consent from the other parent with custody is advisable, depending on the destination.
Book seats together
If you travel with small children, reserve seats in advance – for a fee, depending on the airline. Some airlines automatically seat families together, but you shouldn’t rely on it. For babies, many airlines provide bassinets at certain seats, which are only available in limited numbers.
Luggage for children
With many airlines, pushchairs, car seats and travel cots are carried free of charge on top of the baggage allowance. The rules vary greatly, though. Check in advance what your fare includes. More about luggage and check-in in the guide Check-in and baggage drop at Düsseldorf Airport.
Getting there: relaxed to the terminal
With children, the journey to the airport is the first critical point. Public transport means changing with a pushchair, suitcases and a child seat. That is why many families prefer to drive their own car – which is usually also cheaper than train tickets for everyone.
The best type of parking for families
Valet parking at Düsseldorf Airport is particularly convenient: you drive to the meeting point near the terminal, unload children and luggage, hand over the key and go straight to check-in. No reloading into a shuttle bus, no waiting at the stop. When you return, the car is waiting for you at the meeting point again – ideal when the children are tired after the flight.
With shuttle parking you save money but need more time: luggage and children have to go into the bus and out again at the terminal. Ask in advance whether the shuttle has enough room for pushchairs and child seats, and state the number of people when booking. More in the FAQ on the number of people in the shuttle.
Compare the offers with their final price including service fee here: Find family parking at Düsseldorf Airport.
Allow more time
Families need more time at the airport than solo travellers: toilet breaks, a child who needs another drink, a pushchair that has to be folded. So allow at least 30 minutes on top of the airline’s recommendation. How to calculate your schedule is explained in the guide When should I be at Düsseldorf Airport?
Security with children
Security is often exciting for children and sometimes stressful for parents. These tips help:
- Prepare children: explain beforehand that bags and cuddly toys briefly go through a machine and come out again.
- Pushchair: usually has to go through the X-ray machine folded. Babies are carried through security in your arms.
- Baby food: usually allowed for the duration of the journey, even above 100 ml. Declare it at security.
- Drinks for children: juice and water for older children fall under the normal 100 ml rule. Take empty drinking bottles and fill them after security.
- Divide the tasks: one parent looks after the children, the other handles the trays and luggage.
More details on security are in the guide Security check at Düsseldorf Airport, and on liquids in the guide Liquids in hand luggage.
Passing the waiting time at the gate
After security there is often time until boarding. How to keep it from getting boring for children:
- Watch the aircraft: the large windows in the terminal are the highlight for many children. There are departing and landing aircraft, baggage carts and fuel trucks to discover.
- Exercise: let children run around once more before the flight. Those who have moved beforehand sit more calmly on the plane.
- Entertainment in your hand luggage: colouring book, small games, a favourite book, headphones and a charged tablet with downloaded films.
- Snacks: small, non-crumbly snacks help against hunger and boredom.
- Baby-changing rooms and toilets: use them shortly before boarding.
On board: equalising pressure and staying calm
During take-off and landing, many children feel pressure in their ears. Babies are helped by drinking at the breast or from a bottle, older children by chewing, yawning or drinking. Keep a change of clothes for child and parents in your hand luggage – accidents happen. And a cuddly toy or a familiar blanket provides comfort in unfamiliar surroundings.
The return: tired children, lots of luggage
After landing, children are often tired and grumpy. Now a well-planned way home pays off. Contact your parking provider after baggage reclaim. With valet parking your car is waiting at the meeting point; with a shuttle, the bus picks you up. If you left the child seats in the car, everything is ready to go. How the return works is explained in the guide Returning: collecting your car at Düsseldorf Airport.
Travelling with a baby: special tips
With a baby, a few extra rules apply at the airport. Infants under two usually travel on an adult’s lap and get a special infant seat belt attached to the parent’s belt. With some airlines you can also book a separate seat for your baby with an approved child seat. Plan nappy changes before security and shortly before boarding, because the toilets on the plane are cramped.
At the airport a baby carrier is often more practical than a pushchair: your hands are free for your boarding pass and hand luggage, and your baby is close to you. Many parents take both and only hand in the pushchair at the gate.
If something goes wrong: stay calm
With children, a flight delay quickly causes stress. So pack more snacks, nappies and entertainment than you actually need. For longer waiting times, the EU air passenger rights regulation entitles you to care from the airline, such as meals and drinks. What else you can do is explained in the guide Flight delayed or cancelled at Düsseldorf Airport. And if your return is postponed as a result, inform your parking provider.
Another tip: take a photo of each child on the day of travel. If a child gets lost in the terminal, you can immediately show staff what they look like and what they are wearing. Older children get a note with your mobile number in their jacket pocket.
Family trips during the holidays
Most families are tied to the school holidays. That is exactly when Düsseldorf Airport is busiest and good parking spaces are booked up early. So book your parking in good time. Tips for the holiday period are in the guide Parking during the holidays at Düsseldorf Airport.
Checklist for families
- Travel documents for every child, applied for in good time
- Seats reserved, bassinet requested
- Pushchair, car seat and travel cot clarified with the airline
- Baby food, snacks, empty drinking bottles
- Entertainment, headphones, cuddly toy
- Change of clothes in your hand luggage
- Parking booked, ideally valet parking
- At least 30 minutes of extra buffer planned
Conclusion: good planning turns the airport into an experience
Being at Düsseldorf Airport with children doesn’t have to be stressful. If you get the documents in time, pack your hand luggage cleverly, allow enough time and arrive with booked parking, you will start your family holiday relaxed. All parking options at a glance are on the page Parking at Düsseldorf Airport, and the best-value ones under cheap parking at Düsseldorf Airport.
