Keep an eye on the departures board and you will notice when your flight is starting to board and to which gate you should proceed.

Some airports are so huge, that actually getting to a boarding gate might take you as much as twenty minutes or longer with children in tow, so as soon as you see that your flight is boarding ask someone how long it takes to get to the gate from wherever you happen to be.

If your child is in nappies make use of the usually well-equipped UK airports unisex changing rooms where parents can feed and change children in privacy and comfort. Once on the plane the only changing facilities you're going to have will be cramped, unlikely to be as clean and usually consist of a very hard fold down piece of plastic, which is far too small to change a toddler on anyway.

Before proceeding to your boarding gate bear in mind that there is far more to see and do in this area of the airport than down at the boarding gate so we always carrying on window shopping and walking around in an attempt to tire Rory out for as long as is reasonable.

On the other hand if your child is over stimulated go to the boarding gate early, the seating area will be quite now and will give you the opportunity to calm him down.

As you go through the gate the larger part of your boarding pass will be torn off, leaving you with a small stub - worthwhile mementos for your children's scrapbook. If you've decided to take your stroller to the aircraft door it will be taken from you now and you will be given a receipt for it.

In many airports you go to the aircraft down a long tubular corridor that butts up against the side of the aircraft. These corridors are sometimes quite steep and unrestrained toddlers and young children can pick up too much speed if left to their own devices. The step into the aircraft can also trip up little ones who are focusing on the inside of this wondrous thing called a plane.

In other airports there will be a bus that takes you out to the plane, same rules apply here as in airport car park buses.

When you get to your seat stow your non-child oriented hand luggage in the overhead locker and your child-oriented hand luggage under the seat in front of you.

Eventually everyone will be sat down, and the plane doors will close. If you have lap children the flight attendants will give you an attachment for your seat belt to hold them during take off and landing.

Safety instructions by the flight attendants will follow - concentrate you are responsible for the safety of your children - make a mental note of your exits.