As parents who have traveled with our toddler for 9 months straight, taking 39 different flights around the world, we can’t help but notice when there are parents attempting flying with kids for the first time. It’s easy to spot the newbies: there is a sense of panic before boarding, their children are hungry, and they are not not working as a team.

Don’t get us wrong — Aarav has had his tantrums and we have certainly had our moments. But with all of the trips we have taken, we now know what to do, and what not to do when flying with kids.

We love traveling, and so does our son. Well, considering that he was only four-months-old when he went on his first flight, he hardly had a choice. He didn’t choose the travel life. The travel life chose him. His first flight was not easy, but we never expected it to be easy. Like any parent flying on a plane with a newborn, we were terrified. But we decided to go anyway.

If you enjoy traveling, it’s essential to make it a habit early on during your child’s life, both for your sake and your child’s. And no matter how long or short the flight, it’s best to be prepared. Here are a few things we’ve learned about flying with a newborn on a plane. Though they can’t guarantee you a hiccup-free trip, they’ll certainly help your flight be more enjoyable.

When our son Aarav was born, our friends who were well-acquainted with our love of travel told us to slow down until he grew up. But we were travel junkies. We wouldn’t let having a child keep us away from our next fix. Besides, traveling is awesome, and we wanted to share this passion with our son. We knew that for our son’s sake and our own, it was necessary to introduce him to travel as early as possible.

So when we decided to travel with a four-month-old, we knew not to expect smooth sailing. His first flight was rocky. But we learned. And with each trip we take, we learn even more. Though Aarav has now been on over 70 flights, we’re still learning. However, one thing we know for sure is that there’s no substitute for proper preparation. In the spirit of helping you prepare for flying with an infant, here are a few of our favorite tips for flying with a baby.