Packing

* TIP - Take a cardigan or sweater in case it gets chilly on the plane. And don't forget to pack a spare t-shirt for yourself in case of spills!

* TIP - pack enough essential supplies for the first two days after you arrive. This allows you to get over jetlag without worrying about finding a store.

* TIP - pack a plastic shopping bag in your cabin luggage to use as a garbage bag during the flight.

At the airport

* TIP - If you are able to take your stroller to the gate then it will need to pass through the security gates and will be searched. Your baby will also need to be taken out of the stroller and carried through the security gates - even if they are asleep. Make sure you don't have too much junk stored in the storage sections of your stroller to make it easier at the security checks.

* TIP - If you are like me then you will probably have foodstuffs like biscuits (cookies) or even fruit stashed in the pockets of your stroller. Remember to empty these before you pass through customs (or better still, before you check in your stroller) to avoid any fines for breaking quarantine regulations - this applies even between states in Australia!

* TIP - If you aren't going to pre-board then wait until most of the other passengers have boarded so that you don't get stuck in the traffic jam inside the plane.

On the plane

* TIP – If you are on a plane with individual TV screens and you are going to use the bassinette make sure that you pull up the TV screen before the bassinette is installed, otherwise you won’t be able to watch TV!

* TIP - the toilets are their busiest after the trays have been collected from meal service (all those free glasses of wine and second cups of tea or coffee!) and for the hour before landing (people using those free toothbrushes to freshen up). The toilets are at their quietest when the lights go out as people are sleeping or watching movies. That's a good time to do a mid-flight nappy change when you are not pressured by a huge queue of people waiting for the toilet.

Meals

* TIP - just because you buy an infant ticket doesn't mean that a meal is ordered automatically. Make sure you order an infant meal when booking your tickets. Double check that your meal has been ordered when checking in and again once you are on the plane (before takeoff!)

* TIP - Infant and childrens' meals are "special" meals and often the cabin staff will mark the back of a seat with a little sticker to indicate a "special" - so if you see them marking other seats and not yours - ask!

* TIP - If you are traveling with a partner do a baby swap at mealtimes. One person holds baby while the other eats and you swap when you are done. Ask the cabin crew to hold aside a meal for the person holding the baby.

Arriving

* TIP - If you are not in a rush then wait on the plane for everyone else to disembark so that you have time to gather all your belongings

* TIP - Always carry a spare t-shirt for yourself and your partner in case of spills on the plane (extremely likely if you have a lapsit baby!). Get changed once you land - chances are that you will have a long wait at immigration and at the baggage carousel anyway. I generally avoid using the toilets before landing and wait until we disembark. In most airports there are several sets of toilets in the terminal. The toilets closest to the gate will be the busiest, so unless you need the baby change room keep walking until the next set of toilets.

* TIP - fill in your entry cards before the plane lands. Make sure you have filled in both sides and every section - don't forget to sign it! This saves a lot of time at immigration control.

* TIP - have all of your passports in a readily accessible spot - I like to put my entry card inside my passport (and the kids) to mark the photo page. This makes it easier for the customs officer and gets you through the process quicker.