Travelling to Ireland with Children: Car Seats, Luggage and What to Plan for a Private Transfer
A practical guide for families arriving in Ireland: how child and booster seats work on a private transfer, why every child counts as a passenger, how to plan luggage and buggies, and how to keep a long journey after a flight calm for small children.
Arriving in Ireland with young children raises a different set of questions from a trip made by adults alone. Will there be a proper child seat at the airport? Does a baby count as a passenger? Is there room for the buggy as well as four large suitcases? These are sensible things to settle before the flight, because the moment you land with tired children is the worst time to discover that the arrangements do not quite fit.
This guide covers the practical points for families using a private transfer: child and booster seats, how to count passengers, how to plan luggage, and how to make a longer drive after a flight easier on everyone. It applies to any of the journeys listed on the airport transfers page, from a short run into Dublin to a longer drive west to Athlone or Galway.
Child seats and booster seats: what to arrange in advance
In Ireland, children are expected to travel in a child restraint suited to their size and weight, and the right seat depends on the child, not simply on age. A baby needs a rear-facing seat, a toddler a forward-facing one, and an older child usually a booster. Because the correct choice varies, the most useful thing a parent can do is tell the driver each child's age and approximate weight when making the booking, so the right seats are fitted before the vehicle arrives.
Our executive Volkswagen Transporter, shown on the fleet section, has child and booster seats available on request, charged at €5 per seat. Seats are fitted in advance rather than handed over at the kerb, so the family can step straight in. If you are bringing your own seat from home because your child is used to it, mention this at booking and the driver will plan for it.
Counting passengers, luggage and the buggy
One point catches families out more than any other: every child counts as a passenger, whatever their age. A couple with two children is a party of four, and a baby on a lap still needs to be included in the number given when you ask for a quote. This is for safety as much as space, and it lets the driver prepare the right number of seats and belts.
Families also travel with more luggage than most, and the buggy is the item people forget. The van carries up to eight passengers with full-size luggage, so a family with two or three large cases, a folded buggy and a bag of snacks and spare clothes is comfortable in a single vehicle. List the large items when you request a quote, including any buggy, travel cot or sports equipment, and the vehicle will be loaded and arranged around them.
Making a long drive after a flight easier for small children
Children are rarely at their best after an early flight, so a few small choices make the first hours calmer. Ask for the first stop to be planned around the youngest child's routine, keep drinks and snacks in a bag within reach rather than in the boot, and let the driver know if anyone is prone to travel sickness. Complimentary water is provided on board, and the cabin has climate control, which helps when a child is overtired or too warm.
Because waiting time after landing is included in the fixed fare, there is no pressure to hurry through baggage reclaim with tired children, and the driver tracks the flight whether it is early or late. Families heading to the west can see the fixed fare and journey time on the Dublin Airport to Galway transfer page, and those planning a day out once they have settled in may find the private tours easier to enjoy with a driver who already knows the family's needs. If you would like something built around a young family's pace, the custom tour page is the place to describe it.
Travel planning
See the airport transfers and fares
Fixed fares, journey times and FAQs for private transfers from Dublin Airport, with child seats available on request. Add the ages of your children and your flight number when you ask for a quote.
View the airport transfers and fares