Virginia law requires children under 8 to ride in a child safety seat, and that includes taxis and private cars, with no exemption for airport trips. So the first planning question for a family arriving at Washington Dulles is where the car seat is coming from: your own checked seat, a rental, or a car service that brings one. Decide that before you book flights, because it changes what you carry through the airport.

Dulles is a large airport with long distances between gates and the exit, so the second question is how to move two kids, a stroller, a car seat, and luggage from the plane to the curb without losing anyone. Both questions have simple answers once you know the layout.

Should you bring your own car seat on the plane?

Yes, if you will use it for more than the airport ride. Most US airlines check car seats for free, either at the counter or at the gate. A gate-checked seat is waiting at the jet bridge when you step off the plane, which is convenient but means carrying it through the AeroTrain and Main Terminal along with everything else. If you will only need a seat for one ride to a hotel, ask the car service to supply one instead and check nothing.

Also consider the seat's weight. A convertible seat can run 25 pounds. Two of them plus a stroller is a real load through a terminal the size of Dulles. Lightweight travel seats and booster seats for older children are easier to manage.

Do Dulles car services provide car seats?

Many do on request. Specify the child's age and weight when booking so the right seat, infant, convertible, or booster, is installed before pickup. Limos 4 Less takes car seat requests on Dulles family pickups; mention it at booking rather than at the curb, because the seat has to be in the vehicle before the driver leaves for the airport. Rideshare drivers generally do not carry seats, and taxis almost never do, so a family relying on either should bring their own.

How does the stroller work at Dulles?

Gate-check the stroller; it comes back at the jet bridge, not at baggage claim. From the gate you take the AeroTrain or a mobile lounge to the Main Terminal, both of which fit strollers without folding, then an elevator to baggage claim. The walk from the farthest Concourse B gate to baggage claim is 15 to 20 minutes at a toddler's pace. Keep the stroller open until you reach the vehicle; folding it at the curb is easier than carrying a child and a seat across the terminal.

Which vehicle fits a family of four with luggage?

An SUV. Two adults, two kids, two car seats, two large bags, two carry-ons, and a stroller do not fit a sedan trunk, and a driver who arrives with the wrong vehicle has to call for another one while you wait. When booking, list every item, including the stroller and any car seats you are bringing, so the company sends the right vehicle the first time. Families of five or six should book two vehicles or a larger SUV if the company offers one.

What else helps families at Dulles?

• Nursing rooms are in the Main Terminal and in several concourses, marked on the airport maps.

• Family restrooms with changing tables are on every level.

• TSA allows formula, breast milk, and baby food in quantities over 3.4 ounces; declare them at the checkpoint.

• The AeroTrain has level boarding, so a stroller rolls straight on.

• A cell phone lot is available if a relative is picking you up in a private car.

What should you tell the car service when booking?

Four things: the number of children and their ages, whether you are bringing car seats or need them supplied, the total bag count including the stroller, and the flight number. Age and weight determine the seat type, so a company cannot install the right one from "two kids." Bag count determines the vehicle, and an SUV that was not requested cannot be conjured at the curb. The flight number lets the pickup follow a delay, which matters more with children than with anyone else, because a two-hour wait at the curb with a toddler is its own kind of travel day. Add the hotel name and whether the room is ready for an early check-in; drivers can wait briefly at the hotel while you confirm, but a long wait is billed as hourly service.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do taxis in Virginia require car seats?

Yes. Virginia does not exempt taxis or for-hire cars from the child seat law.

Can I check a car seat for free at Dulles?

Most US airlines check car seats and strollers free of charge. Confirm with yours.

Is there a family lane at Dulles security?

No dedicated lane, but TSA officers usually direct families with small children to a slower-moving lane.

Are there nursing rooms at Dulles?

Yes, in the Main Terminal and several concourses.

How early should a family arrive for a flight from Dulles?

Add 30 minutes to the normal two hours domestic or three hours international.