---
type: Airport Family Guide
title: Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) with Kids
description: 12 nursing rooms, 2 play areas and a family security line at Toronto Pearson (YYZ) — but 4 nursing spots sit inside US preclearance. Verified Aug 2026.
resource: https://www.velivolotravel.com/family-airport-guide/toronto-pearson-international-airport-yyz
tags: [airport, family, travel, YYZ, canada]
timestamp: 2026-08-04
---

# Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) with Kids

**Short answer:** Toronto Pearson International Airport has two children's play areas, 12 nursing rooms and pods, and a Family/Special Assistance security line. Four nursing spots sit inside US preclearance, reachable only on a flight to the United States. The only sensory space, the Quiet Room, is in the Infield Concourse, a 10-minute bus ride from Terminals 1 and 3.

**Velivolo family score:** 5.3/10 (Fair)

Toronto Pearson International Airport documents 12 nursing rooms and pods, two children's play areas, and a Family/Special Assistance security line, plus a Quiet Room added in the Infield Concourse's 2024 renovation. The catch that matters most for families: four of those nursing spots, and the airport's only adult changing table, sit inside United States preclearance and are reachable only on a same-day flight to the US. Terminal 3 has no play area at all, and Pearson publishes no stroller rental or gate-check area of its own.

## Quick facts

- Toronto Pearson's only two children's play areas sit in Terminal 1 near gate D24 and in the Infield Concourse near gate 521 — none in Terminal 3.
- Four of Toronto Pearson's twelve nursing rooms and pods sit inside United States preclearance and are reachable only on a same-day flight to the US.
- The nursing room near gate B1A is in Terminal 3 at Toronto Pearson, not Terminal 1, despite what many guides claim.
- The Infield Concourse — home to Pearson's second play area, its Quiet Room and its only adult changing table — is a 10-minute bus ride from Terminals 1 and 3.
- CATSA screening officers ask parents never to hand their child to them during security screening at Toronto Pearson.

## Facility matrix

| Facility | Status | Terminals | Security side | Hours | Age limit | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Children's play area | available | T1, IFC | post-security | Not published | — | unknown |
| Nursing room / lactation pod | available | T1, T3, IFC | post-security | Not published | — | free |
| Family / companion care restroom | available | T1, IFC | post-security | Not published | — | free |
| Baby changing table | unconfirmed | — | unknown | Unknown | — | free |
| Sensory room | available | IFC | post-security | Not published | — | free |
| Family security lane | available | T1, T3 | pre-security | Unknown | — | free |
| Stroller rental | unconfirmed | — | unknown | — | — | unknown |
| Dedicated family lounge | unconfirmed | — | unknown | — | — | unknown |

## Play areas

| Name | Location | Security side | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Children's play area, Terminal 1 Departure Lounge | Terminal 1 · D gates (Domestic) · Departure Lounge · Near gate D24 | post-security | Toronto Pearson publishes the location only. It gives no description of the equipment, no age range and no price for the Terminal 1 play area. | https://www.torontopearson.com/en/while-you-are-here/family-travel |
| Family friendly play area, Infield Concourse | Infield Concourse (IFC) · IFC · Departures · Near gate 521 | post-security | Toronto Pearson's own words: 'Unwind with your family in the dedicated play area which features a large climbing apparatus for kids.' No age or height limit is published. | https://www.torontopearson.com/en/whats-happening/stories/newly-renovated-ifc |

## Nursing rooms

| Name | Location | Security side | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Combination family washroom and nursing room, Terminal 1 Domestic | Terminal 1 · D gates (Domestic) · Departures · At gate D37 | post-security | Toronto Pearson publishes no access procedure for the walk-in nursing rooms — only for the Mamava pods, which need an app code. | https://www.torontopearson.com/en/while-you-are-here/family-travel |
| Combination family washroom and nursing room, Terminal 1 International | Terminal 1 · E gates (International) · Departures · Near gate E78 | post-security | No access procedure published. | https://www.torontopearson.com/en/while-you-are-here/family-travel |
| Combination family washroom and nursing room, Terminal 1 Transborder (inside US preclearance) | Terminal 1 · F gates (Transborder / USA) · Departures · Near gate F67 | post-security | No access procedure published. | https://www.torontopearson.com/en/while-you-are-here/family-travel |
| Nursing room, Terminal 1 Transborder (inside US preclearance) | Terminal 1 · F gates (Transborder / USA) · Departures · Near gates F87/F88 | post-security | No access procedure published. | https://www.torontopearson.com/en/while-you-are-here/family-travel |
| Nursing room, Terminal 3 Domestic/International | Terminal 3 · B gates (Domestic/International) · Departures · Near gate B1A | post-security | No access procedure published. | https://www.torontopearson.com/en/while-you-are-here/family-travel |
| Upgraded nursery room, Infield Concourse | Infield Concourse (IFC) · IFC · Departures | post-security | No access procedure published. | https://www.torontopearson.com/en/whats-happening/stories/newly-renovated-ifc |
| Mamava Nursing Pod, Terminal 1 Domestic | Terminal 1 · D gates (Domestic) · Departures · At gate D22 | post-security | Toronto Pearson: 'To use the pod, you will need a code either from the Mamava app or our customer care line.' Download the free Mamava Pump and Nursing Finder app, open it in front of the pod, and a code appears; enter it on the keypad on the pod door. | https://www.torontopearson.com/en/while-you-are-here/family-travel |
| Mamava Nursing Pod, Terminal 1 International | Terminal 1 · E gates (International) · Departures · Near gates E80/81 | post-security | Mamava app code or the Toronto Pearson customer care line. | https://www.torontopearson.com/en/while-you-are-here/family-travel |
| Mamava Nursing Pod, Terminal 1 Transborder (inside US preclearance) | Terminal 1 · F gates (Transborder / USA) · Departures · Near gate F59 | post-security | Mamava app code or the Toronto Pearson customer care line. | https://www.torontopearson.com/en/while-you-are-here/family-travel |
| Mamava Nursing Pod, Terminal 3 International | Terminal 3 · C gates (International) · Departures · Across from gates C30-31 | post-security | Mamava app code or the Toronto Pearson customer care line. | https://www.torontopearson.com/en/while-you-are-here/family-travel |
| Mamava Nursing Pod, Terminal 3 Domestic/International | Terminal 3 · B gates (Domestic/International) · Departures · Near gate B22 | post-security | Mamava app code or the Toronto Pearson customer care line. | https://www.torontopearson.com/en/while-you-are-here/family-travel |
| Mamava Nursing Pod, Terminal 3 Transborder (inside US preclearance) | Terminal 3 · A gates (Transborder / USA) · Departures · Across from gates A12/A13 | post-security | Mamava app code or the Toronto Pearson customer care line. | https://www.torontopearson.com/en/while-you-are-here/family-travel |

## Family restrooms

| Name | Location | Security side | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Combination family washroom and nursing room, Terminal 1 Domestic | Terminal 1 · D gates (Domestic) · Departures · At gate D37 | post-security |  | https://www.torontopearson.com/en/while-you-are-here/family-travel |
| Combination family washroom and nursing room, Terminal 1 International | Terminal 1 · E gates (International) · Departures · Near gate E78 | post-security |  | https://www.torontopearson.com/en/while-you-are-here/family-travel |
| Combination family washroom and nursing room, Terminal 1 Transborder (inside US preclearance) | Terminal 1 · F gates (Transborder / USA) · Departures · Near gate F67 | post-security |  | https://www.torontopearson.com/en/while-you-are-here/family-travel |
| Universal washrooms with an adult changing table, Infield Concourse | Infield Concourse (IFC) · IFC · Departures | post-security | Adult changing table | https://www.torontopearson.com/en/whats-happening/stories/newly-renovated-ifc |

## Sensory rooms

| Name | Location | Security side | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quiet Room, Infield Concourse | Infield Concourse (IFC) · IFC · Departures | post-security | Soft seating; Charging outlets; Tranquil images | https://www.torontopearson.com/en/whats-happening/stories/newly-renovated-ifc |

## Security with children

- **Family lane:** Toronto Pearson lists three special security lines at its checkpoints: a Trusted Travellers (NEXUS, Global Entry etc.) line, a 'Family/Special Assistance security line' and an American Express Priority Security Lane. CATSA, the national screening authority, describes the same thing as the 'Family and Accessible Line' and tells passengers to check whether it is open at their checkpoint. Toronto Pearson also publishes live estimated wait times per checkpoint (Terminal 1 Domestic, International and USA; Terminal 3 Canada, International and USA) rather than a typical figure.
- **Strollers and car seats:** CATSA: screening officers will need to inspect strollers, infant carriers and car seats. Children's carry-ons, including diaper bags, go on the conveyor belt. Let your child walk through the metal detector if they can do so on their own, and do not hand your child to a screening officer while you go through security. If you are flying to the United States from the F gates in Terminal 1 or the A gates in Terminal 3, TSA rules also apply: strollers, umbrella-strollers, baby carriers, car and booster seats must be screened by X-ray, and infants and children are removed from strollers and car seats and carried through the walk-through metal detector.
- **Formula, milk and baby food:** CATSA: 'If you are travelling with an infant younger than two years of age (0-24 months), you can bring baby food, milk, liquid formula, water, juice and other baby items in your carry-on baggage in quantities greater than 100 ml.' Certain powders and granular materials such as baby powder and inorganic baby formula are limited to 350 ml or less in total, and metal-lined containers are discouraged. Gel and ice packs are allowed if they are refrigerating those items. Breast milk over 100 ml is allowed whether or not your child is with you, provided it is presented to the screening officer before screening. For US-bound flights out of preclearance, TSA's parallel rule applies: formula, breast milk, toddler drinks and baby/toddler food including puree pouches are allowed over 100 ml, do not need to fit in a quart bag, are treated as medically necessary liquids, and must be declared at the start of screening.
- **Shoes:** CATSA publishes no age threshold for keeping shoes on. On the US preclearance side, TSA's rule applies: children 12 and under can leave their shoes, light jackets and headwear on during screening, though light jackets come off for advanced imaging screening.
- **PreCheck:** Toronto Pearson publishes a Trusted Travellers security line for NEXUS and Global Entry members. It publishes no TSA PreCheck family policy, and CATSA has no child-specific trusted traveller rule.
- Source: https://www.torontopearson.com/en/departures/security

## Getting between terminals

Toronto Pearson: 'The free, accessible Terminal Link train takes passengers between Viscount station and the terminals.' It runs 24 hours a day, travel time between stations is two to eight minutes, and the maximum wait is four minutes from 03:30 to 08:00 and from 11:30 to 00:30, or eight minutes from 00:30 to 03:30 and 08:00 to 11:30. The airport states the train 'is accessible, capable of carrying a non-folding or non-collapsible mobility aid'. It also serves the Sheraton Gateway Hotel, the ALT Hotel and Viscount Station's Value Park Garage and Lot.
- Source: https://www.torontopearson.com/en/transportation-and-parking/terminal-link-train

## Layover plans

### 1–2 hours — Know which zone you're flying from before you move

1. Confirm whether your gate is in the D or E gates (Domestic/International) or the F gates (already inside US preclearance) before you plan a stop.
2. If you're not flying to the US, the Terminal 1 play area near gate D24 is the closest thing to entertainment outside the Infield Concourse.
3. Use the Family/Special Assistance security line if it's open at your checkpoint.

### 3–5 hours — The Infield Concourse is worth the bus ride if your flight leaves from there

1. If you're departing from the IFC, use its play area with the large climbing apparatus, its upgraded nursery and its Quiet Room, all part of the 2024 renovation.
2. Feed or change at the nearest walk-in nursing room to your gate — five are named by gate across Terminal 1 and Terminal 3.
3. Change a baby at the IFC's new universal washrooms, the only place at Pearson with a published adult changing table.
4. Gate-check your stroller only at the departure gate; Pearson has no stroller rental or dedicated gate-check area of its own.

### International connection — Feed and change before you cross into US preclearance

1. If your connection eventually crosses into the F gates in Terminal 1 or the A gates in Terminal 3, use a nursing room or family washroom in the Domestic or International zone first — you cannot walk back once you clear US Customs and Border Protection.
2. Inside preclearance, the only nursing options left are the F67 and F87/F88 rooms and pods in Terminal 1, or the A12/A13 pod in Terminal 3.
3. Remember the Terminal Link train between T1 and T3 is landside, so a terminal change means passing through security again.

## Your rights

- **Lactation:** The FAM Act is a US law and does not apply at Toronto Pearson. The airport instead runs its own network of nursing rooms and Mamava pods — 12 in total — across Terminal 1, Terminal 3 and the Infield Concourse, all after security.
- **Changing tables:** No Canadian law is published guaranteeing a changing table. The only adult changing table Toronto Pearson names anywhere is in the Infield Concourse's new universal washrooms; nothing is confirmed for ordinary or men's washrooms in Terminal 1 or Terminal 3.
- **Liquids:** CATSA's national rule applies at every Pearson checkpoint: travelling with an infant younger than 24 months lets you bring baby food, milk, liquid formula, water and juice in quantities greater than 100 ml, and breast milk over 100 ml is allowed whether or not your child is with you. If your flight departs from a Transborder gate, the equivalent TSA rule applies once you clear US preclearance.
- **Boarding:** Priority boarding for families is set by your airline, not by Toronto Pearson — check your carrier's policy before you fly.
- **If it is missing:** If you can't find a listed nursing room or pod, use the free Mamava app to locate the nearest one, or call Toronto Pearson's customer care line for a Mamava pod access code. For help through screening, ask for the Family/Special Assistance line at your checkpoint.
- Source: https://www.torontopearson.com/en/while-you-are-here/family-travel

## FAQ

### Does Toronto Pearson have a kids' play area?

Yes, but only two, and they're not evenly spread across the airport. Toronto Pearson names a children's play area in Terminal 1's Departure Lounge near gate D24, on the Domestic side, and a second, larger one in the Infield Concourse near gate 521, which the airport describes as featuring 'a large climbing apparatus for kids.' There is no published play area in Terminal 3, and none inside the US preclearance zone, so a family flying to the United States from the F gates in Terminal 1 or the A gates in Terminal 3 has nothing to use once they've cleared US Customs and Border Protection. The Infield Concourse is a 10-minute bus ride from Terminals 1 and 3, so it's only a realistic stop if your own flight actually departs from there.

### Where are the nursing rooms at Toronto Pearson?

Toronto Pearson publishes 12 nursing locations in total: five walk-in rooms and six Mamava pods spread across Terminal 1, Terminal 3 and the Infield Concourse, all of them after security. Terminal 1 has rooms and pods in its Domestic (D gates), International (E gates) and Transborder (F gates) zones; Terminal 3 has one walk-in room near gate B1A and a Mamava pod near gate B22, plus a second pod near gates C30-31; and the Infield Concourse has an upgraded nursery room from its 2024 renovation. The Mamava pods need a code from the free Mamava app or Pearson's customer care line to unlock. Crucially, four of these twelve — the F67 and F87/F88 rooms and the F59 and A12/A13 pods — sit inside United States preclearance and can only be reached on a same-day flight to the US.

### Can I use Toronto Pearson's nursing rooms if I'm not flying to the United States?

Most of them, yes — but not all. Eight of Pearson's 12 nursing locations are outside US preclearance and reachable by any passenger who has cleared ordinary Canadian security: the Domestic and International rooms and pods in Terminal 1, the Terminal 3 room near gate B1A and its two Mamava pods, and the upgraded nursery in the Infield Concourse. The other four — the rooms near gates F67 and F87/F88 in Terminal 1, and the Mamava pods near gate F59 in Terminal 1 and gates A12/A13 in Terminal 3 — sit inside United States preclearance, past US Customs and Border Protection, so only a passenger with a same-day boarding pass to the United States can reach them. If your itinerary eventually crosses into a Transborder zone, feed or change your baby before you clear preclearance rather than counting on those rooms.

### Does Toronto Pearson have family washrooms?

Only three are named by gate, and all three are in Terminal 1. Pearson describes them as combination family washroom and nursing rooms: one at gate D37 in the Domestic zone, one near gate E78 in the International zone, and one near gate F67 in the Transborder zone — which means it sits inside United States preclearance and is only reachable on a same-day US flight. Terminal 3 gets a nursing room near gate B1A but no family washroom is named there specifically. Separately, the Infield Concourse's 2024 renovation added new universal washrooms equipped with an adult changing table — the only adult changing table Pearson publishes anywhere on the airport. Nothing is published about family washroom coverage beyond these locations, so treat this as a partial map rather than a complete one.

### Does Toronto Pearson have a sensory room?

There is exactly one, and it's easy to miss. Pearson's Quiet Room opened as part of the Infield Concourse's 2024 renovation and offers soft seating, charging outlets and tranquil images as 'a peaceful space away from the busy gate areas' — Pearson's own words, and notably it does not describe the room specifically as a sensory space for neurodivergent travellers. There is no equivalent quiet space in Terminal 1 or Terminal 3, so a family departing from either main terminal has nothing to use unless their own flight happens to leave from the Infield Concourse, which is a 10-minute bus ride away. Pearson's accessibility hub lists Autism Ontario, Hidden Disabilities Sunflower and other partners, but no additional quiet or sensory facility is confirmed anywhere else on the airport.

### Does Toronto Pearson have a family security lane?

Yes — Pearson lists a dedicated Family/Special Assistance security line among its special checkpoint lanes, alongside a Trusted Travellers line for NEXUS and Global Entry holders and an American Express Priority Security Lane. CATSA, the national screening authority that runs Canadian checkpoints, calls the same thing the Family and Accessible Line and tells passengers to check whether it's open at their specific checkpoint — wording that implies it isn't guaranteed to be staffed everywhere at every hour. Pearson also publishes live estimated wait times for each checkpoint by zone — Terminal 1 Domestic, International and USA, and Terminal 3 Canada, International and USA — rather than a single typical figure, so check those before you commit to a lane.

### What are the security rules for formula and breast milk at Toronto Pearson?

CATSA's national rule applies at every Pearson checkpoint: if you're travelling with an infant younger than 24 months, you can bring baby food, milk, liquid formula, water, juice and other baby items in quantities greater than 100 ml. Breast milk over 100 ml is allowed whether or not your child is with you, as long as you present it to the screening officer before screening. Powders such as inorganic baby formula are capped at 350 ml total. If your flight departs from the F gates in Terminal 1 or the A gates in Terminal 3, you'll also clear US preclearance, where the parallel TSA rule applies — the same over-100-ml allowance, but treated as a medically necessary liquid that must be declared at the very start of screening rather than presented partway through.

### How do I get from Terminal 1 to Terminal 3 at Toronto Pearson with a stroller?

Take the free Terminal Link train, which runs 24 hours a day with a journey time of two to eight minutes between stations and a maximum wait of four to eight minutes depending on the time of day. Pearson describes it as fully accessible, capable of carrying a non-folding mobility aid, so a stroller fits without folding it. The one catch: both platforms are landside — the Terminal 1 platform is at the parking garage's Level 5, the Terminal 3 platform is at the Sheraton Gateway Hotel's pedestrian bridge — so changing terminals means leaving the secure area and clearing a security checkpoint again on the other side. Pearson does not publish whether an airside route between the two terminals exists, so plan on the re-screening.

### Can I rent a stroller at Toronto Pearson?

No stroller rental or loan programme is published anywhere on Toronto Pearson's family travel pages. What the airport does publish is guidance: keep your stroller with you throughout the terminal, and check it at the departure gate before boarding — Pearson's own words are that 'it will be ready for you to pick up again when you get off the plane at your destination.' Before you fly, Pearson recommends confirming with your airline that strollers and car seats can actually be taken on the specific aircraft. No stroller parking area is published for gate-checked strollers either, so if you need one waiting on arrival, that arrangement is entirely down to your airline rather than the airport.

### Is Toronto Pearson a good airport for families compared to Vancouver?

Both Canadian hubs share the same structural quirk — a chunk of their family facilities sit inside United States preclearance and are unreachable unless you're flying to the US that day — but they differ in depth. Pearson documents more nursing locations overall, 12 versus Vancouver's 6, and adds a dedicated Quiet Room, though it's stranded in the Infield Concourse, a 10-minute bus ride from the main terminals. Vancouver, by contrast, publishes a changing station in literally every washroom and a full Changing Places assisted-change facility, plus four Quiet Spaces spread across its terminal rather than one hard-to-reach room. If gate-level nursing detail matters most to you, Pearson has the edge; if washroom-level changing coverage matters more, Vancouver documents it more thoroughly.

## Related airports

- [Vancouver (YVR)](https://www.velivolotravel.com/okf/airports/vancouver-international-airport-yvr.md) — Canada's other major hub, and the only other one in this guide with the same US-preclearance layout problem Pearson has.
- [New York (JFK)](https://www.velivolotravel.com/okf/airports/john-f-kennedy-international-airport-jfk.md) — A common transborder connection from Pearson — bigger, and worth knowing before you land.
- [Newark (EWR)](https://www.velivolotravel.com/okf/airports/newark-liberty-international-airport-ewr.md) — Another frequent US connection point from Toronto, with its own security and terminal layout to plan around.
- [London (LHR)](https://www.velivolotravel.com/okf/airports/london-heathrow-airport-lhr.md) — The transatlantic hub many Pearson international connections route through on the way to Europe.
- [Boston (BOS)](https://www.velivolotravel.com/okf/airports/boston-logan-international-airport-bos.md) — A short domestic-feeling hop from Toronto and a common connection point for New England-bound families.

## Sources

- [Toronto Pearson — Family travel (2026)](https://www.torontopearson.com/en/while-you-are-here/family-travel) — Play areas, nursing rooms, Mamava pods and family washrooms, all by gate and zone
- [Toronto Pearson — The Newly Renovated Infield Concourse is Ready to Welcome You (2026)](https://www.torontopearson.com/en/whats-happening/stories/newly-renovated-ifc) — The IFC play area, nursery, Quiet Room and adult changing table
- [Toronto Pearson — Security at Pearson Airport (2026)](https://www.torontopearson.com/en/departures/security) — The Family/Special Assistance security line and live checkpoint wait times
- [Toronto Pearson — Train between terminals (Terminal Link) (2026)](https://www.torontopearson.com/en/transportation-and-parking/terminal-link-train) — Terminal Link train hours, frequency and accessibility
- [Toronto Pearson — Airport services directory (2026)](https://www.torontopearson.com/en/while-you-are-here/toronto-airport-services) — Confirmation that no dedicated family lounge is published

**Last checked:** 2026-08-04