Driving to the airport is stressful on its own, but when you have kids it’s even harder. Although adults often procrastinate and show up to the airport late, kids can make you even later and sometimes you’ll feel lucky you left the house at all.
If you’re traveling with younger children, it’s ideal to hire a driver. If you’re traveling with a group of young kids, a private van shuttle will be a blessing. This type of service is easy to find through drvn.com and will prove to be an invaluable asset for your travels.
Why driving to the airport with kids is stressful
First of all, driving anywhere with young kids can be a stressful experience. Babies can be fussy, but they’re easier to travel with because they depend on you to carry them everywhere and they can’t really object physically. Kids, however, can and do object to traveling, and sometimes it’s hard just to get them in the car.
Getting ready for a trip with young kids starts like any other day, but with more pressure and less leeway for time. You’ll need to start the process earlier than you think, by at least an hour or two. This is why it’s easier to catch later flights with kids, so you don’t have to force them out of bed at three in the morning.
Once you make it past the hurdles of getting your kids out of bed, fed, and clothed, you have to get them in the car. If they’re excited to go on the trip it will be easier, but if they’re not in the mood you could end up dealing with a lot of resistance.
If all of the kids going on the trip are coming from different homes, if one person is late everyone will miss their flight.
Gather everyone the night before and hire a driver
Whether you’re traveling with one kid, a few, or a large group, the best thing to do is gather everyone together at one house the night before and hire a driver to take you to the airport. Bringing everyone together the night before will ensure no single person can make everyone late. You can work on last-minute preparations and get everything in order. You can also line up everyone’s luggage at the door so it can be carried out quickly and efficiently when your driver shows up.
When you travel with kids, the benefits of hiring a sprinter shuttle service to get to the airport are huge. You won’t need to worry about stopping for gas, a GPS that leads you in the wrong direction, or misjudging the time it will take to make it through traffic. You get a break from being the responsible parent; you get to relax and be the passenger.
Traveling with kids? Here are some tips to make things easier
1. Pay extra for seats together
If you don’t keep everyone under control, you risk being kicked off the plane. This is easier when your seats are together.
In a perfect world, you’ll be able to find seats together when you buy your tickets – even an entire row on both sides if you have a large group. However, this isn’t always the case.
If you can’t get seats together right away, call your airline to find out if they can do anything for you. Sometimes they’ll be able to accommodate you for an extra fee and that fee is worth your peace of mind.
2. Bring your child’s car seat
If your child is used to sitting in a car seat, bring it with you to use on the airplane. This will keep your child calm by making them feel comfortable sitting in something they already feel secure and familiar with. However, make sure you take them out of the car seat after you deboard the plane.
When used in a car and on a plane, car seats are tilted at a 45-degree angle, which makes your child lean back a bit and keeps their airway open. When a car seat is left on the ground, the backwards angle disappears, causing kids to lean forward, which cuts off their airway. Each year, a large number of children die from asphyxiation from being allowed to sleep in a car seat outside of a car or plane.
Make your travels as stress-free as possible
Traveling with kids isn’t easy, but it doesn’t have to be too stressful. Do whatever it takes to reduce your stress. Hiring a driver and gathering everyone together the night before will make your travels a whole lot easier.
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