The flight is often the most stressful part of a holiday with a baby, not helped by the rules about the carrying of liquids in hand luggage laid down by the Department for Transport www.dft.gov.uk

This is what you can and can't take as hand luggage:

One piece only per paying passenger (an infant under two doesn't count) measuring 56cm x 45cm x 25cm. Anything else - bum bags, camera bags, changing bags - has to be crammed into this main bag for the minutes it takes you to get through security. After that you can take them out again.

Any containers larger than 100ml will be confiscated at the security search point, including cups of coffee or bottles of water you happen to be drinking from at the time. Any containers of liquids, gels or pastes need to be carried in a transparent bag which should no more than one litre in volume. It's much easier to supply your own see-through bag, ready loaded with rather than having to unpack your hand luggage at the check point.

Liquids are defined as:

All drinks, including water, soup, syrups

Creams, lotions, oils, perfumes, mascara etc

Sprays and pressurised containers including shaving foam and spray deodorants

Pastes, including toothpastes

Gels, including hair and shower gel

Any other solutions and items of similar consistency

Essential medicines are allowed but you'll need a letter from your doctor to prove it.

Liquid baby food or sterilised water, sufficient for the journey, can be taken through airport security. The accompanying adult will be required to verify by tasting. The same goes for liquid dietary foodstuffs but if you're thinking of taking yoghurts or cartons of juice on the flight for your toddler, buy them once you've gone through the checkpoint.

Pushchairs are permitted but will be security screened - you'll have to take your child out of the pushchair, collapse the chair and put it through the X-ray.

Beware of even the most innocent children's toys that look potentially alarming: plastic guns, water pistols, toy swords are all likely to be confiscated. British Airways recently took a wooden snake from me that I'd bought for my son ‛in case it frightened someone on the aircraft'.

These rules apply throughout the EU, including on the return flight. Boarding an aircraft outside the EU may be different - check with your airline.