Edinburgh Airport With a Baby: The Family Lane, Pushchairs at Security and Changing and Nursing Rooms (Scotland)

Edinburgh Airport describes itself as committed to being family friendly, and its website has a page of family facilities and a set of top tips for parents flying with young children. This guide summarises what those pages say about getting a baby and a pushchair through the airport, with details as published by the airport in September 2026. It covers Edinburgh Airport in Scotland; airline rules on seats, luggage and pushchairs are separate and should be checked with the airline. The site’s guides to Heathrow with a baby και Manchester Airport with a baby cover two English airports.

Arriving and checking in

The airport’s top tips say that arriving in good time, early but not too early, is the best way to keep the journey smooth. It advises arriving for the opening of the airline’s check-in desk, and points out that airlines open desks at different times: some up to four hours before departure, others two hours ahead, and times can change. Its family page says check-in generally opens two hours before departure, though some airlines open a little earlier. It also suggests having boarding passes printed or on a device, essentials packed, and checking the airline’s baggage allowance.

The Family Lane at security

Edinburgh Airport has a dedicated Family Lane for anyone travelling with children under the age of 12. It is clearly signposted at the entrance, where the e-gates are, and the airport says it is suited to families who need a little more space and time. Staff are on hand to help.

The airport says pushchairs, prams and buggies are all allowed through security, but a parent may need to lift the child out so the chair can be properly searched. If the family has arranged to take a pram or buggy to the aircraft, it can go through security and be handed to airline staff at the gate as boarding starts.

Sleepy children in pushchairs

The family page has an unusually practical detail. It says a sleeping child can be left in the pram or buggy, and the security team will still carry out its check but will do so as quietly as possible so as not to disturb the child. It explains that security scanners are now in place: a child over 1 metre tall is asked to stand still for a moment to show whether further checks are needed, while children under 1 metre in height need a security check from one of the officers. It also says the airport screens all items, including soft toys and dolls, which it promises to look after, and that its team will make sure everyone is comfortable if additional checks are needed. The packing of the tray is the passenger’s own responsibility, and the airport says to empty pockets and remove jackets and belts.

Shops and food after security

After security, the airport says a number of shops can help with essentials that have been forgotten, such as nappies, toys or books. For meals, it says several restaurants and cafes offer dishes for smaller appetites to eat in or take away, and names Giraffe, Burger King, JD Wetherspoon, Forth and Main, and Icons Sports Bar and Kitchen as offering children’s menus.

Changing and nursing rooms

The airport says washrooms throughout the departure lounge include many with baby changing facilities or dedicated children’s cubicles, and that there is a family washroom at Gate 21, which it describes as ideal for keeping everyone together. Breastfeeding is welcome throughout the terminal, and for those who would like privacy there is a lockable nursing room near Gate 21. Knowing where these are before the flight can take pressure off the walk to the gate, so it is worth looking at the airport map in advance.

Boarding with a pushchair

The airport’s family page says boarding usually starts around 40 minutes before the gate closes and that many airlines call families to board first, so it is worth listening to announcements. If a family has a buggy or pram, the airline will take it as the family boards. The top tips add that the gate should be worked out from the departure screens as soon as it is announced, because with a family the last-minute dash can be much more stressful. Both pages agree on the practical point: keep the pushchair until the gate, then hand it over.

A short checklist

1. Check the airline’s baggage allowance and pushchair handling.
2. Arrive for check-in opening and head for the Family Lane.
3. Be ready for the pushchair to be searched, and keep essentials in easy reach.
4. Note the Gate 21 family washroom and nursing room on the map.
5. Keep the pushchair to the gate and listen for the family boarding call.

Frequently asked questions

Who can use the Family Lane? Edinburgh Airport says it is for anyone travelling with children under 12.

Can a sleeping baby stay in the pushchair at security? The airport says a sleeping child can be left in the pram or buggy while the team completes the check as quietly as possible.

Where is the nursing room? Near Gate 21, according to the airport, alongside a family washroom.

The bottom line

Edinburgh Airport offers a Family Lane for children under 12, allows pushchairs through security to the gate, and says sleeping children can stay in the pushchair during the check. Baby changing facilities are throughout the departure lounge, with a family washroom and lockable nursing room near Gate 21, so families can plan the route before the flight.

Sources

• Edinburgh Airport, "Family Facilities"
• Edinburgh Airport, "Flying with the family: Top tips if you’re coming to Edinburgh Airport with the kids"