Choosing the right luggage for your child can transform the travel experience. Give them a case they love and suddenly packing becomes exciting, airport queues feel like an adventure, and you’ve got one less thing to manage. But with so much choice out there, you may be wondering if it’s even worth buying your child their own dedicated luggage. Here’s what we rate (including some items that go far beyond just a way to transport clothing!) and where to buy it:
- Best affordable-while-fun toddler suitcase: Trunki
- Best ride-on suitcase: Stokke JetKids BedBox
- Best kids backpack: Trixie
- Best adult-style backpack: Eliot by Hindbag
- Best stylish kids hardcase: Liewood Norelle
- Best family luggage set: Antler
- Best children’s sit on luggage for parents: Carry On Kiddie
What to look for in kids suitcases and toddler luggage
Before diving into specific picks, it’s worth knowing what actually matters. Size is the obvious one and you want something your child can wheel themselves without constantly losing grip. Durability matters too, because kids are not gentle with their belongings. Added locks are a nice touch for security, and 360° spinner wheels make navigating airports a whole lot easier for little hands. Hard-shell cases tend to protect contents better, while soft-shell options can be more flexible if you’re squeezing things into tight overhead lockers.
It’s also worth checking the dimensions of any kids suitcase on wheels against your airline’s cabin bag policy before you buy. Most children’s hardcase suitcases are designed to the budget airline standard of 45x36x20cm, which covers easyJet and most Ryanair cabin bag requirements. If you’re flying with a full-service carrier like British Airways or Jet2, your child will have more flexibility on size. See our airline comparison table further down this article, or head to our full guide to flying with a baby for a complete breakdown of airline policies.
The classic toddler suitcase: Trunki
If there’s one name synonymous with kids travel luggage, it’s Trunki. The iconic ride-on suitcase has been a staple for British families for years, and for good reason. Children can ride on it, pull it, and pack it – it doubles as entertainment during long waits, which parents will know is priceless. Available in a huge range of characters and colours, it fits within most airlines’ cabin luggage requirements and comes with a five-year guarantee. If your child doesn’t have one yet, it’s usually the first port of call. I do think they are a tad on the flimsy side though, so best for infrequent flyers or car trips rather than frequent adventurers.
Suitable from around 18 months and up to approximately 5–6 years depending on size, it weighs just 1.7kg – light enough for little ones to manage themselves.
The stylish upgrade: Liewood Norelle hardcase suitcase
For parents who want something a little more design-led, the Liewood Norelle Hardcase Suitcase is a beautiful option. This gorgeous hardcase features an illustrated sea creature print (others are available) – whales, dolphins, jellyfish, seahorses and a sweet little submarine, meaning it’s stylish as well as hardwearing. At 30 litres it’s well-sized for carry-on use or even checked baggage, with a TSA code lock, adjustable telescopic handle, 360° wheels and a zip compartment inside for organisation. Dimensions are H44 x W32 x D21cm and it weighs 2.2kg – well within most airline cabin allowances.
The family investment: Antler
This is what we use as a family currently, and Antler luggage is beautifully made, lightweight, and built to last, which is why we have all three suitcase sizes (it means we can mix and match depending on the trip, scaling up accordingly). The quality does hold up and the interior fabric is strong, although I have noticed scuffs appeared on the outside after the very first time in the airplane hold. The fact that the sizes all work together as a set is useful for families who travel regularly, and they all sit inside each other like a nest egg when note in use.
Kids ride-on and scooter suitcases: what are your options?
One of the best things you can do to make airport travel easier with young children is hand them something that makes the journey feel like part of the fun. Ride-on and scooter suitcases do exactly that – and once you’ve navigated a departure terminal with a toddler happily being towed through the crowds rather than insisting on walking at snail’s pace, you’ll wonder how you ever managed without one.
There are a few different styles worth knowing about, and they suit slightly different situations.
The classic ride-on suitcase (Trunki being the most well-known) is designed to be the child’s own carry-on luggage. They sit on top, you pull them along via a strap, and their belongings are packed inside. It’s a neat solution because it removes one bag from your hands while keeping your child moving. Most are sized to fit within budget airline cabin allowances, which is a bonus.
The scooter suitcase takes things a step further. Rather than being towed, children can scoot themselves through the terminal, which is useful on long airport walks and tends to buy you considerably more goodwill than a traditional suitcase ever would. Storage capacity on scooter-style cases is typically smaller than a standard ride-on, so they work best as a personal item rather than a main hold-all – but for short trips or as an entertainment strategy on a long transit, they earn their place.
Then there’s a newer category altogether: the sit-on suitcase with a conversion function. The Stokke JetKids BedBox is the standout example: a ride-on case for the airport that transforms into an in-flight bed once you’re on board. And for parents rather than children, the Carry On Kiddie flips the concept entirely: it’s a parent’s own carry-on with a built-in child seat, so small children ride on your case rather than their own.
We’ve got dedicated sections on both the JetKids BedBox and the Carry On Kiddie below, but here’s a quick summary of which type suits which stage.
- Trunki — best for children aged 2–6 who want their own case to ride on and pack themselves
- Scooter suitcase — best for active children aged 3–8 who want independence in the terminal
- JetKids BedBox — best for families who want a cabin bag with airport ride-on function plus the in-flight bed
- Carry On Kiddie — best for parents of very young toddlers who need hands free and a tired child off their feet
The best ride-on suitcase for toddlers: Stokke JetKids BedBox
If you’ve ever done a long-haul flight with a toddler, you’ll understand the appeal of the JetKids BedBox immediately. On the surface it looks like a compact hardcase as children can ride on it through the airport or pull it themselves, but the clever part comes once you’re on board. In five steps it converts into an in-flight bed, slotting in front of your child’s seat and creating a flat surface so they can actually lie down and sleep. For anyone flying overnight with young children, that’s a real game-changer. Not to mention that dreaded airport delay past nap time or bedtime, where this luggage comes into its own and turns a chair into a bed for tired adventurers.
Over 50 airlines approve its bed function on board (including British Airways and EasyJet), and it weighs around 3kg and sits within standard carry-on dimensions (holding a decent amount for a carry-on). It also comes with a mattress and in a range of colours and stickers for personalising, working very well for children aged 2–7. It’s an investment, but for families who travel long-haul regularly it’s hard to argue with. Get it with our without an attachable backpack.
Children’s sit on luggage for parents: Carry On Kiddie
A slightly different take on the sit-on suitcase concept, this is children’s luggage that solves a very specific problem. Carry On Kiddie is a parent’s carry-on with a built-in child seat and safety harness on top, meaning your little one rides on your case rather than their own.
We tested ours out on our recent trip to Italy and it’s a very neat solution for the airport dash when you need both hands free – but more importantly when you’ve got a bored or a tired toddler who simply isn’t going to walk another step.
I love that it has a strap – this made it feel really secure and while it took R a couple of goes to accept it was intended to be fun, once he got the hang of it he was thrilled every time we put him on it! He was only 16 months and the seat is recommended for 18 months+ so I’m expecting it to become even more of a lifesaver as he gets older. What amazed me most was how the seat is suitable for adults too – such a game changer when you’re waiting in an airport queue and need to sit down or pop a child on your lap.
It’s a small business who make the Carry On Kiddie and it’s available in four colours (Midnight Black, Blush Pink, Charcoal Grey and Pearl White). It’s a very decent size and cabin approved with a 45-litre capacity and a 100kg weight limit on the seat.
The best kids travel backpack for lighter trips
Not every trip calls for a suitcase. A good rucksack is perfect for day trips, overnight stays, or flights where you’re keeping luggage to a minimum. Handing a child their own bag is a surprisingly effective way to keep them engaged and feeling grown-up from the moment you leave the house.
The Trixie backpack is a lovely choice for toddlers and younger children. Made from cotton with a water-repellent lining, it comes in a range of animal character designs: Mrs Cat, Mrs Butterfly, Mr Lion and many more – with padded adjustable straps, a chest strap to keep it in place, and a name tag inside. There’s a main compartment and a front pocket, sized just right for the airport essentials: a snack, a small toy, a change of clothes.
Lassig is worth a browse as they offer a range of children’s backpacks at different sizes, so you can match the bag to the age and the trip. For younger toddlers the Lassig Mini Backpack is a lovely option: water-repellent, with padded adjustable straps, a chest strap to keep it in place, and moveable patches that children can rearrange themselves. For slightly older children who need more space, the Lassig Mini Square Backpack has a roomier main compartment that fits a change of clothes plus snacks comfortably, with a handy bottle loop on the side. And if you want a matching set for you and your child, the Little One & Me Square Backpack comes in both a kids and adult version in the same colourways.
Sometimes it’s just about a good backpack that is light enough for a child to wear but grown up enough that it can double up as a travel-friendly nappy bag. I’ve been testing the full-size Eliot Backpack from Hindbag (available through All Things Dylan) and we love it. My usual nappy bag is a beautiful leather one, but it’s chunky for travel, doesn’t sit well under a plane seat, and once we arrive somewhere it’s almost too big to be practical day-to-day. The Eliot is the perfect alternative and I’d been looking for a stylish but practical flat-pack nappy bag for a while.
The size is spot on for fitting in nappies, snacks, toys and all the in-flight essentials, and because it’s canvas rather than a structured bag it squishes into whatever space you’ve got. It also flat-packs when empty, which means if you’re travelling on board with a holdall, you can just tuck it away in your main luggage and pull it out when you get to your accommodation.
Both the full-size Eliot (£68, H38 x W30cm) and the Mini Eliot (£55, H31 x W24cm with a 10L capacity) come in multiple colours and flat-pack the same way, so it’s worth thinking about which size suits your travel style best. The full-size has a padded laptop compartment fitting up to 15 inches, making it useful as a working bag too. Both have adjustable straps and external side pockets for a water bottle.
They’re made from GOTS-certified organic cotton canvas – sustainable, sturdy, and nothing like your typical kids bag.
Kids cabin luggage size guide: what fits on which airline
One of the most common questions parents ask when buying kids luggage is whether it will actually be allowed on the plane. The short answer is that most children’s suitcases on wheels are sized to the budget airline standard, but it’s always worth double-checking before you travel. Children are generally entitled to the same cabin baggage allowance as adults, though policies vary and budget carriers in particular can be strict.
| Airline | Children’s cabin allowance | Max dimensions | Notes |
| Easyjet | 1 cabin bag (same as adults) | 45x36x20cm | Must fit in overhead locker |
| Ryanair | 1 small personal item free | 40x20x25cm | Larger cabin bag needs Priority boarding add-on |
| British Airways | 1 cabin bag + 1 personal item | 56x45x25cm | Most kids cases well within limit |
| Jet2 | 1 cabin bag included | 56x45x25cm | One of the most family-friendly policies |
| TUI | 1 cabin bag included | 55x40x20cm | 10kg weight limit applies |
For a full breakdown of airline policies including pram allowances, bassinets and travelling with car seats, see our complete guide to flying with a baby.
Our choice of children’s luggage
Trunki is usually the first one parents as it’s practical, fun, and kids genuinely love it. For shorter trips or travel-light days, a Trixie or Lassig rucksack is a brilliant alternative that takes up far less space.
However, I think the better investment is one that doubles up as a ride on like the JetKids BedBox. And if you want something that looks beautiful and feels a little more special, the Liewood Norelle is hard to beat.
Allie, Jack & R
This post contains affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Some items were gifted samples but all opinions are our own.
Trunki for the classic option — it’s lightweight, cabin approved and kids love it. If you’re flying long-haul and want the in-flight bed function too, the Stokke JetKids BedBox is worth the investment.
Yes – most airlines allow children the same cabin baggage allowance as adults. A small kids suitcase on wheels or a backpack that fits under the seat is usually the most practical option for younger children.
For cabin use on most budget airlines, look for a kids suitcase within 45x36x20cm – this covers easyJet and Ryanair’s standard allowance. Full-service carriers like British Airways and Jet2 are more generous. See our airline size table above for a full breakdown.
Children’s sit on luggage refers to suitcases designed for a child to sit or ride on. This includes ride-on cases like Trunki (the child’s own luggage, pulled by a parent) and parent suitcases with a built-in child seat like the Carry On Kiddie. The Stokke JetKids BedBox combines the ride-on function with an in-flight bed conversion.
A ride-on suitcase like Trunki is pulled by a parent strap while the child sits on top. A scooter suitcase allows the child to actively scoot themselves through the terminal, which works well for older and more independent children aged roughly 3–8.
Most ride-on suitcases are suitable from around age 2. The JetKids BedBox is designed for ages 2–7, Trunki suits children up to around age 5–6 depending on size.
The child’s own ride-on case counts as their cabin bag allowance, so yes in most cases. The Carry On Kiddie counts as the parent’s carry-on. Always check individual airline policies as rules vary, particularly on budget carriers.