Gate check the buggy

Keep buggies with you as long as possible if you have a small baby or if your toddler doesn’t like to walk when flying with children. If that means buying a cheap folding umbrella stroller you can board the plane with – you’ll be glad you did. There’s a lot of walking to the flight gate and even when toddlers can sit down they rarely stay still, so little legs will get tired and you will get whingeing.

Board first or last

If you do not have allocated seats, board as soon as you can to get the spot near the loo/window/aisle wherever you want to be. Paying extra for early boarding sounds like a great idea but in reality it means an extra 30 minutes with fidgety kids in those cramped seats when the air conditioner has not been turned on yet and there’s no access to the loo. Allocated seats are better value, that way you can just wait until the final boarding call and get on within minutes of take-off.

Spare top


One for you and one for your kids – in case of airsickness, nappy leaks, dribble or plain old spillage. You might not get access to your luggage for hours and no one likes to smell of wee or vomit for long. Plus patterned tops are more forgiving than plain, dark tops - new mums will understand why! We’re not expecting ourselves to emerge from the plane looking like Cheryl Cole but we can at least disguise food and poo stains!

Teach them to equalise


During take-off and descent help prevent them getting ear pain by encouraging them to keep swallowing, chewing or sucking a sugar-free lollipop. For a baby, you should try feeding them at these times. Even if you’re not keen on a sixth trip to the loo, don’t deprive them of drinks; it’s easy to dehydrate even during a short flight.

Ditch the nappy changing bag

There’s no room for them in a airplane loo and they have a tendency to slip down and whack fellow passengers as you whoosh down the aisle. Use a backpack instead and be sure it’s small enough to stash it under the seat in front of you not the overhead lockers. If you don’t use nappy bags at home, flying is the time to make an exception – many airplanes don’t dispose of dirty nappies.

Dirty looks from grouchy passengers

On every flight, there are some people who, no matter how well your children do, will be grumpy. They'll grumble under their breath when your child drops something or turn around and sneer when they get excited. Ignore them; you'll never see them again after the flight, so be proud of your kids, they have as much of a right to be there as anyone.

Enjoy it

Yeah right… No, seriously. Flying with kids is hard work but it can be a satisfying experience. How often do you get the chance to spend a few uninterrupted hours with them? Have a snuggle and make up a story about clouds with your toddler or look at flight maps with your older ones. If there are two parents, consider taking it in turns to sit with the kids while the other one takes a seat at a distance to get some rest.