Even though I’d flown hundreds of times, I was nervous. This was our first trip fresh out of lockdown with our even fresher newborn baby. Would she scream the whole flight? How will she cope in the heat? What if she was dragged away by a pack of feral dogs in the night? You know, all the typical things new mums worry about…

Seeing as this was our first flight with Ruby, but still wanting some winter sun, we decided to book our first family holiday of three on the Greek island Crete. An all-inclusive hotel with a reasonably short flight of four hours was the perfect option to dip our toe into the baby travel waters.

Packing like a pro.

I’m not usually the organised type, but taking your first flight in over two years with a newborn baby triggers a different level of neurosis. Having a packing checklist will mean you won’t overpack – a complete revelation to me. Plus, you’ll feel assured you’ve got everything and will make for a calmer experience. Here are the absolute packing essentials on my list:

• Packing Cubes – these are a game changer when you’re sharing a suitcase with a tiny being with lots of luggage. Everything is kept neat and organised. You can find the thermometer, sun hat, and baby grow without having to tip the whole suitcase out.
• The Ergobaby Omni 360 All-Position Baby Carrier – this baby carrier is worth every penny. From newborn to infancy, we have gotten so much use out of this. For this trip, we just took the Ergo and the car seat for car travel and left our heavy pram at home. There are so many baby carriers on the market but this one is just so sturdy, comfortable and has a nice, simple design.
• Large Cotton Muslin – the Swiss Army knife in your hand luggage. A large cotton muslin will keep your baby cosy without overheating, can be used to create a sun shade, to wipe dribble off of Bebe’s chins, or for toddlers you can create a kind of hammock by tieing the ends to the seat in front so they can have a leg rest on the flight. This isn’t the exact one we have from NotOnTheHighStreet.com but I LOVE this whale print design.
• Baby Car Seat Travel Bag – now this was something I hadn’t even considered until I started researching travelling with a baby. But it makes sense to get some sort of cover for your costly car seat to prevent it from getting covered in dust and grim – by all accords, cargo holds aren’t the most sanitary. Most airlines let you check in your car seat, pram and/or travel cot for free. You just need to have one of these handy bags when you check your under-the-plane luggage. They’re massive. You can even sneak in a couple packs of WaterWipes and nappies in there too!
• Nappy Changing Travel Bag – one for the hand luggage that is so useful. The pull-down nappy changing bed in Economy airplane toilets is basic. So you’ll want something to be able to put your baby on that’s comfortable, has a bit of cushioning and is clean. Pop your baby wipes, nappies, bags and spare clothes in the handy compartments and you’re good to go.

At the airport.

You’ve got the passports. You’ve packed meticulously. Now you’re at the airport. The sun and sea is so close you can almost feel it! Here are just a few tips getting you through the airport and flight:

• Take the baby out of their sling/pushchair when you get to security. These will be screened in one tray, and then the rest of your hand luggage goes into another. You then walk through the metal detector carrying your baby. Remember to empty all contents underneath the pram and have it packed down before you reach the front (something I’ve forgotten to do too many times!) Security can be a bit of a faff, especially when it’s busy, but most airports have a fast-track lane for families and will try and get you through as quickly as possible. 
• If your baby is formula-fed or already on whole or alternative milk, pack enough for the flight duration along with a bottle(s). Remove these from your hand luggage and place them in the tray. Oh, also the 100ml liquid limit does not apply to baby food or milk so that’s one positive! Security will most likely test them. Some do, others don’t. I guess it depends on the security officer and the airport. 
• Remember to pack dummies. They can be a lifesaver for take-off as they can help soothe baby and release pressure in their ears. Pack plenty of them as they have a way of wandering off. If your little one doesn’t use a dummy try and time their feed with take off. On this trip to Crete, Ruby had a feed during take-off and then slept for most of the flight. Yeah, we got lucky!

• Babies sitting on laps don’t have a cabin bag allowance so you need to be quite particular with your hand luggage packing. In comparison to toddlers, little babes don’t need as much entertainment. At this stage, I just packed a few toys (the maraca and rainbow ribbon) from a sensory box gifted by some lovely friends. Along with this Little Dutch soft touch activity book, which is ideal for when you’re on the move. 

• Pack some spare clothes for baby and for yourself! You never know when you’re going to get struck by a poonami! 

It may feel overwhelming at first, but going abroad with a baby is actually the best. Why? Well, firstly you don’t have to pay for a full air ticket – big plus! They do not move AND you don’t need to pack a selection of snacks. You cannot underestimate this fact until you have an unruly and hangry toddler.

One memory that sticks in my mind is as we were waiting in the Crete airport at the luggage belt, a dad traveling with his three children came over to say how well Ruby had done on the flight and commented on how relaxed we were: “you’re taking it in your stride and that’s the best way to be when traveling with kids.” being well prepared and little encouraging words went a long way for a first family holiday away.