San José Mineta Airport (SJC) with Kids: Every Family Facility, Mapped

Yes: the Zoom Zone, in Terminal B between Gates 24 and 25. It was designed and built by the Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose and covers about 600 sq ft, with objects and creatures that fly and activities that teach young children how air, wind and wings make flight possible. SJC says hours are subject to change. There is no play area listed in Terminal A, so families flying from Gates 1 to 16 should check whether they can reach Terminal B.

SJC has five private nursing rooms, all available 24/7. Four are in Terminal B, inside the entrance of the women's restrooms near Gates 18, 21, 24 and 26. The fifth is a separate room to the left of the restrooms near Gate 8 in Terminal A. Each one has a changing table, comfortable seating, power outlets and a sink, and all are wheelchair accessible. The Gate 24 room is right by the Zoom Zone.

SJC publishes a full list. Diaper changing stations are at restrooms near Gate 8 (in the nursing room), Gates 10 and 13 (all-gender restrooms), Gates 15, 17, 21, 24 and 26, and the customs processing centre. Before security, there are changing stations in the Terminal A ticketing lobby, Terminal A baggage claim and the Terminal B lobby. Every nursing room also has its own changing table.

SJC doesn't use the term family restroom. Instead it has all-gender restrooms, including near Gates 10 and 13 in Terminal A, with diaper changing stations and accessible stalls. These work well for a parent travelling with a child of a different gender. All restrooms at SJC have accessible stalls.

Not yet. A sensory room called the Nest, created with the Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose and Nutanix, is planned between Terminals A and B across from Gate 17, but no opening date has been published and SJC's own services pages don't list it yet. For now, SJC offers Sunflower lanyards at check-in counters and information booths, and therapy dogs from its Happy Tails programme visit the terminals.

SJC doesn't list one. Both the Terminal A and Terminal B checkpoints have CLEAR and TSA PreCheck. For help at screening, including for a child with a disability or medical condition, contact TSA Cares at least 72 hours before you fly to arrange a Passenger Support Specialist. Children 12 and under keep their shoes on, and formula and breast milk are allowed over 3.4 oz.

SJC doesn't say. Stroller rental isn't in its services directory; the only rentals listed are Smarte Carte luggage carts for $6 at the curb and in both baggage claims. Bring your own stroller and gate-check it under your airline's rules.

SJC notes that TSA does not require children under 18 to show identification on domestic flights within the United States. Your airline may have its own rules, especially for lap infants and international trips, so check with your carrier.

TSA's national rules apply. Formula, breast milk and baby food are allowed in your carry-on above the 3.4 oz (100 ml) limit and don't need to fit in the quart bag. Tell the officer at the start of screening and take them out of your bag. You can carry your child through the walk-through metal detector.