Flying With Kids From O'Hare: Car Seats, Strollers and Picking the Right Vehicle

Flying with kids takes more planning. Car seats, strollers, snacks, naps and a lot of bags. This guide covers the rules and the practical steps for families flying out of O'Hare, from your front door to the gate and back home again.

We start with the car ride, because that is where the law applies. Then we cover the plane, security, and the family spots inside O'Hare.

Illinois car seat rules for kids

Illinois law, the Child Passenger Protection Act, sets these basic rules, according to the Illinois State Police and the state's rear-facing law:

What about taxis and car services?

The law's wording refers to non-commercial vehicles, and sources disagree on whether it covers taxis and car services. We do not treat that as a loophole. A small child is much safer in the right seat, whatever vehicle they ride in. That is why we provide seats for free.

Free child seats in our cars

Child seats are available at no charge with 24 hours of notice. We have three types:

• Rear-facing seats for infants and young toddlers.
• Forward-facing seats with a harness for toddlers and preschoolers.
• Booster seats for bigger kids who are not yet ready for a seat belt alone.

When you book, tell us how many seats you need and what type. If you are not sure which type fits, give us each child's age, weight and height. The chauffeur will have the seats installed before pickup, so you are not fitting a car seat at a busy curb.

Need seats on short notice, like after a canceled flight? Tell dispatch right away on the call. You can also bring and use your own seat. Just let us know so we plan the space.

Picking the right vehicle for your family

Car seats take up room, and so do strollers. Here is how our main vehicles compare for families:

A simple rule: if you have two or more car seats, or a stroller plus full-size suitcases, book an SUV. Tell us your headcount, your bags and your seats when you book, and we will confirm the best fit.

Car seats on the plane: FAA rules

The rules change once you board. Here is what the Federal Aviation Administration says:

• Children under 2 can ride on your lap. But the FAA says the safest place for them is in an approved car seat or device in their own seat. It suggests buying a ticket for your child so you can use one.
• Check the label. A car seat used on board must say it is certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft.
• No boosters for takeoff. Booster seats, backless seats and baby carriers are not allowed during taxi, takeoff or landing.
• The CARES harness is an option. It is FAA-approved for kids between 22 and 44 pounds and up to 40 inches tall who can sit up in their own seat. It is approved for planes only, not cars.
• Ask your airline about seating. Check before your flight that your family is seated together.

Checking strollers and car seats with the airline

Most major US airlines let you check a stroller and a car seat for free, either at the ticket counter or at the gate. Rules differ by airline. For example, American Airlines says strollers over 20 pounds must be checked at the ticket counter, and if you have both a stroller and a car seat, only one can be checked at the gate.

A few practical tips:

• Gate check the stroller if you can. You keep it through security and all the way to the plane.
• Ask where it comes back. Gate-checked strollers usually come back at the jet bridge, but some airlines send them to baggage claim.
• Use a bag. A padded or sturdy bag helps protect a car seat from damage in the hold.

Getting through TSA with kids

The TSA's rules for families are more relaxed than most people expect:

• You will not be separated from your children.
• Kids under 18 do not need ID at the checkpoint.
• Baby liquids are allowed in bigger amounts. Formula, breast milk, toddler drinks and baby food, including puree pouches, can be over 3.4 ounces. They do not need to fit in your quart-size bag. Ice packs for them are allowed too.
• Tell the officer at the start. Take those items out so they can be screened separately. Clear bottles make it faster.
• Strollers and car seats go through the X-ray. Babies come out of carriers and are carried through by a parent.
• TSA PreCheck works for families. A parent with PreCheck can bring their children through the PreCheck lane.
• Shoes can stay on. Since July 2025, the TSA no longer requires most travelers to take off their shoes.

Family spots inside O'Hare

O'Hare is one of the better US airports for families. Mamava, a maker of lactation pods, has ranked it the top US airport for breastfeeding parents two years in a row. Here is what you will find, according to the airport's family page:

• Family Lounge, Terminal 2. Past security near Gate F1. A play space with colorful seating, charging stations and stroller parking.
• Mother's Rooms in every terminal. Open 24/7, with seating, a sink, outlets and a changing surface. You will find them in Terminal 1 near Gate B10, Terminal 2 between Gates E5 and F9, Terminal 3 in the Rotunda and near Gate L6, and Terminal 5 near Gates M8, M20, M32 and M37.
• Mamava lactation pods. Private pods for nursing or pumping in Terminals 1, 2 and 3.
• Baby supply vending machines. They carry diapers, formula, bottles, wipes and snacks.
• Changing stations in most restrooms and all gender restrooms.

Airport pickup with kids: how it works

Arriving with tired kids is the hardest part of the trip. Here is how we keep it simple:

1. We track your flight. Early or late, your chauffeur is timed to your real landing.
2. Stay inside with the kids. Your chauffeur waits at the Cell Phone Lot at no cost, and we include a grace window for bags. No one stands in the cold.
3. Call or text when you have your bags. The car pulls up to the lower-level arrivals curb within a few minutes, with the child seats already installed.
4. Want a hand at the door? With our meet and greet service, a chauffeur waits at the terminal door with a name sign, takes your bags and walks you to the car. For a parent juggling kids and suitcases, it makes a real difference.

Bags often take longer than the flight. We explain why in How Long From Gate to Baggage Claim at O'Hare?.

Packing and timing tips for families

• Leave extra time. Kids slow down security and the walk to the gate. Take our normal suggested pickup time and add a cushion. Our drop-off guide has the base times.
• Early flights are fine. Pre-dawn pickups are routine for us, at the same flat rate.
• Pack a carry-on kit. Snacks, a change of clothes for each child, wipes, medicine and a charger.
• Take off bulky coats before buckling. A thick winter coat under a harness leaves the straps too loose. Buckle the child in, then lay the coat over the straps.
• Book the seats and the car together. One call covers the vehicle, the seats and both directions of your trip.

The takeaway

Flying with kids from O'Hare is easier when the ground part is handled. Book the right vehicle, ask for free child seats 24 hours ahead, know the FAA and TSA basics, and use the family rooms inside the airport. That leaves you free to focus on the kids.

Related reading: luxury SUVs, terminal pickup guide, our O'Hare holiday travel guide, Sprinter Van or Three Sedans? Picking a Ride for a Group, and our FAQ.

A travel guide from O'Hare Limo Service, the flat-rate ORD car and limo service covering Chicago and the suburbs.