By Ethan BrooksTraveling with a toddler can turn a simple trip into an adventure, but unfamiliar spaces like hotel rooms and rental homes often hide hazards that a childproofed home does not. A little preparation and a few careful steps can reduce risks and help everyone enjoy the journey. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and other safety organizations offer practical guidance for parents and caregivers.
Hotel room safety: the safety crawl
According to the AAP’s holiday travel tips, the first thing to do after checking into a hotel is a “safety crawl.” Before letting your child explore, get down on your hands and knees and look for small items that could pose a choking or poisoning risk. Hazards may have rolled under beds or dressers. Remove anything that a toddler could pick up and put in their mouth. For more on preventing choking, see our choking hazards guide.
Cords attached to lamps, TVs, and telephones can catch a child’s attention. The AAP suggests moving as many cords as possible to higher surfaces or taping them down with masking tape brought from home. This simple step keeps dangling cords out of reach and reduces the chance of a pull-down injury or strangulation.
Bathroom and water safety
Bathrooms in hotels and rentals can be especially risky. The AAP advises keeping bathroom doors closed at all times and packing a toilet lock to prevent a toddler from opening the lid. Drowning is quick and silent, so layers of protection matter. Use the deadbolt so your child cannot slip out of the room alone, as the AAP advises. At the pool or hot tub, the AAP stresses touch supervision: an adult should be within arm’s reach and watching the child at every moment. No device or product can replace constant, close supervision. Learn more about water hazards in our water safety article.
Staying with family or friends
The AAP reminds parents that homes of friends and family may not be childproofed. Before settling in, walk through the space and look for loose cords, unlocked cabinets, cleaning or laundry products, unsecured stairways, and heavy objects that could tip over if a child climbs or pulls on them. Address these concerns as you would at home. Nothing replaces a watchful adult. For a broader checklist, see our grandparent home safety checklist and the toddler home safety checklist.
Medicine safety on the road
When traveling, medicines often end up in purses, bags, or suitcases that sit within a toddler’s reach. The AAP’s medication safety guidance says that even small amounts of some common medicines can be deadly for young children, sometimes just a pill or two. All prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, and supplements should be stored in their original containers with child-resistant caps. However, the AAP notes that no container is fully childproof, so these items must still be kept out of reach and sight.
The AAP suggests a small safe or lockbox to lock up all medicines, which is easy to bring on a trip. After using any medicine, put it back into safe storage immediately. Never leave a child alone with medicines, and remind other adults to keep their bags and jackets out of reach. For possible poisoning, call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. If a child is unconscious, not breathing, or having seizures, call 911. Our poison prevention page has more details.
Car seats and air travel
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) states that the safest place on an airplane for children under 2 years is in an approved child car seat or device based on the child’s weight. The FAA recommends buying a separate seat for your child and using a restraint that has a label reading: “This restraint is certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft.” Booster seats, backless child restraints, and baby carriers are not allowed during ground movement, takeoff, or landing.
The AAP also supports using a car seat on the plane. When choosing a restraint, make sure it fits your child and follow the manufacturer’s instructions to secure it in the airplane seat. Car seats generally must be installed in a window seat, cannot be placed in an exit row, and must not block an escape path. For children who have outgrown a rear-facing seat, a forward-facing harness should be used as long as the child is within the seat’s weight and height limits. For help selecting and installing a car seat, visit our product selection guide and installation and use guide.
Going through airport security
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has modified screening procedures for children who appear to be 12 years old and younger. Children in this age group can leave their shoes, light jackets, and headwear on during screening. Infants and small children may be carried through the metal detector by a parent or guardian. Strollers, car seats, and baby carriers must be X-rayed or visually inspected if they do not fit through the machine.
Formula, breast milk, toddler drinks, and baby food (including puree pouches) in quantities over 3.4 ounces are allowed in carry-on bags. The TSA says these items do not need to fit within a quart-sized bag and are considered medically necessary liquids. Inform the TSA officer at the start of screening, and remove these items from your carry-on for separate screening. Ice packs, freezer packs, and gel packs are also permitted. If you prefer that these items not be X-rayed or opened, tell the officer, though additional screening steps may then be required.
Travel safety checklist
Use this quick reference to prepare for a safer stay away from home. Every step is based on the guidance from the AAP, FAA, and TSA.
- Do a safety crawl in the hotel room or rental: check under beds and dressers for choking or poisoning hazards.
- Move cords from lamps, TVs, and phones out of reach or tape them down.
- Keep bathroom doors closed and use a toilet lock.
- Engage the deadbolt so your toddler cannot exit alone.
- Maintain touch supervision at pools and hot tubs at all times.
- Walk through a relative’s or friend’s home to spot unsecured cabinets, cords, stairways, and tip-over risks.
- Store all medicines, including those in purses and bags, in a locked container or cabinet out of reach.
- Use an FAA-approved car seat or child restraint on the airplane, installed in a window seat.
- At the security checkpoint, inform TSA officers about any liquids over 3.4 ounces for your child.
- Keep the Poison Help number (1-800-222-1222) saved in your phone.
Frequently asked questions
How can I quickly make a hotel room safer for my toddler?
The AAP recommends a safety crawl to remove small items, taping down or moving cords, locking the bathroom, and using the deadbolt. These steps take only a few minutes and address the most common hidden dangers.
What should I do if I think my child swallowed medicine or a harmful substance?
If your child has mild or no symptoms, call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222 immediately. If the child is unconscious, not breathing, or having seizures, call 911. The AAP stresses that even one or two pills of certain medications can be life-threatening for a small child.
Can I bring my child’s car seat on the plane?
Yes. The FAA and the AAP both recommend using an approved child restraint system on the aircraft. Look for the label that certifies the seat for use in motor vehicles and aircraft, and install it in a window seat following the manufacturer’s instructions.
For more room-by-room safety advice and checklists, visit our travel safety page, the safety checklists hub, and the toddler home safety checklist.
Sources
- Holiday Travel Safety Tips for Parents With Young Kids
- Medication Safety Tips for Families
- Child Safety: Keep Your Little One Safe When You Fly
- Traveling with Children
- Car Seats: Information for Families
About Ethan Brooks
Ethan Brooks is part of our editorial team and reviews and edits our childproofing guides, checking product details against manufacturer specifications and owner feedback.
