Written by my NCT girls in June 24

• ​ Plan more time then you think you need to allow for feeding, nappy changes etc
•  All staff (both the airline and airport) were so friendly and helpful. They always let us skip the queues or go in the fast lane
•  Security
• You need to empty the pushchair completely for them to check. You then carry your baby through the security gate.
• For bottle feeding - you have to get all the formula milk and any water on a special tray to get checked
• With most airlines you can take 2 free items with you when you fly with a baby, like the pram. The pram with bassinet counts as one piece. We took our bassinet and used it until we boarded the plane. Then we just put it into a travel bag and they put it into the plane for us and we got it at the baggage claim on the other side.
• For easyJet flights, when we went to check in they'd already assigned us to seats sat next to each other - so we didn't have to pay for it!
• If you take a car seat... We checked the car seat in to go in the hold. I wrapped the seat in his play mat before putting it into a bag (you don't have to do this but we did to protect it / be able to carry it more easily)! I then shoved nappies, wipes and a few toys into the seat itself before zipping up the bag! They didn't check the bag at all. If they did check it and say we aren't allowed to take those extra bits, I was planning to put it into the bassinet of the pram before putting that in the hold
• You can take your pram right to the areoplane and pack it away there for the airline staff to put in the hold
• Would highly recommend a bag for the pram as it was raining when we left London. We put the pram in the bag at the gate and saw it through our window in the rain for quite a while until they loaded it into the plane. It would have been soaked and unusable without the bag
• Don’t rush getting on the plane if you don’t mind where your stuff goes overhead. We only had the changing bag and backpack with us which we put under the seat in front of us. Nice to be off the plane as long as possible and enjoy the freedom
• This didn't happen to us but we were told that the change in air pressure during take off and landing can affect the baby's bowels! So bring enough nappies for the flight as well as several changes of clothing for the baby and a change of clothing for you (in case they're sick on you etc!)
• Bring enough nappies for the flight and the first day or so of your trip, but remember you can buy more nappies and wipes in your destination country
• The changing table in the toilet wasn’t as bad as we thought
• At take off, try and feed your baby or give them a dummy so they can swallow to help with the air pressure. Seems to be fine if they are asleep!
• You are given a special baby seat belt and are told that your baby should sit on your lap and face forward. I asked about this because I wanted to breast feed during take off and landing, they said it's the advice that they have to say, so you can lie them down for feeding etc as long as the seat belt is on
• Take the sling in hand luggage to help with napping on the flight if necessary
• On the way to your destination we put one of our hand luggage suitcases underneath her pushchair which made it easier on the underground
• For the heat, I used the pram fan a lot. I also took some spare muslins that I ran under a cold tap and would put on baby's legs / forehead etc to keep cool. Snooze shade helps with the UV
• Would also recommend getting a blackout cover for the travel cot as our travel blackout blind doesn’t cover enough of the window and the room is really light. Something like this https://www.snoozeshade.com/collections/cot-shades/products/snoozeshade-for-travel-cots