For 1st time parents the idea of a family holiday in the sun can be daunting, not least because before you get to lie in the sun you usually have to get on, and off an airplane!

Sounds scary, I know, but if you follow a few basic guidelines you can jet away with precious cargo and still retain your sanity, and the sanity of those traveling around you!

So, how old does the baby have to be before flying for the first time? There is no real minimum age but most medical practitioners will tell you that 4-6 weeks (for a full term baby) is probably about the earliest you should plan for as their immune system will be starting to develop at this point which is useful because you will be in a fairly enclosed space with other people who are not always in perfect health! If your baby has a cough, cold or an ear infection you should definitely visit your doctor for advice before you travel.

Delays can seem like a nightmare when travelling, if you are not breast feeding so you should remember to pack more food that you think you will need. Baby milk, formula (try using the ready made in a carton which is also usually acceptable served at room temperature) and food are exempt from the 100ml liquids rule but you should not go over the top as there are rules about ‘reasonable amounts’, again, check with your tour operator or airline in advance to ensure that you are not held up in security (keep the food separate from your other liquids). Breast feeding is ideal as you will have all you need on your person and feeding is a great way of soothing your baby on take off and landing. Although you will be concentrating on the comfort of your baby it is worth remembering that you will need to eat and drink lots of water to ensure your milk supply is not compromised.

Remember that nappy cream and ointments need to be packed into 100ml or less bottles or tubes and all your other liquids need to be able to fit into a clear plastic bag that is 1 litre or less capacity, everything else needs to be packed into your checked luggage.

Not all airlines have facilities to heat baby bottles and those that do usually only have a microwave, be really careful to shake the bottle and stir the food well. Check the temperature twice before offering the food to your baby as you do not want to burn or scald their mouths, if in doubt leave to cool. Surprisingly not all air stewards are particularly child savvy so it is always worth reminding them to take off metal lids prior to placing in the microwave and to heat for very short periods, ok, it may be obvious to you and I but better to point out what you feel is obvious that to end up with molten lava instead of lunch!

Another useful tip is to buy some sticky labels and use them to name all your cartons, bottles and food so that there is no confusion on a busy flight as to what belongs to whom, especially if you have food that needs to be refrigerated by cabin crew for some of the flight or needs heating, quite apart from the fact that you do not want another child to be given your liquidised organic carrots it can be harmful to feed your child a different type of formula that that they are accustomed to, I know this seems unlikely but I have seen it happen, so best to be sure!

Another issue can arise with breast feeding on airplanes as you may not be intimately acquainted with the person sitting next to you! Bring a small light sheet or shawl with you to screen yourself or failing this do not hesitate to ask cabin crew for a blanket.

Some airlines will seat you at the front of a section which often has a special baby seat shelf to allow you to seat baby in their chair for feeding or sleeping, it is really important to ensure that there are sufficient straps in place to fasten the seat securely as you do not want the seat to slide around, again, check with the airline prior to travelling to ask what is and is not available.

Always ensure that you have plenty of your usual wipes and tissues handy as even a small mount of turbulence can make feeding time extremely messy!

On the big plus side as a family with a young child you should be treated with extra care and consideration by your airline, you will be called to board first and can take the buggy right up to the entrance of the airplane but they will ask you to fold it up for them so try to get someone else to take all the bags that will inevitably be hanging from the handle!

Have fun and remember to take photos of your babies’ first flight, great for the family album!