Children make summer holidays that much more fun! I was totally excited to take my toddler to the beach for the first time and we had an amazing holiday in The Algarve in May.

That said, air travel, with young children in particular, is not always the most pleasant of experiences – especially long distance.

Recognising this, British Airways has drawn up a list of families flying with kids tips:

1. BA advises giving your child some pre-flight training in the living room! This involves sitting your child on the sofa at home with a cushion between you as a makeshift armrest so that they can get an idea of what it will be like on board.

2. Taking a small compact travel pushchair can also be worthwhile; normal-sized pushchairs and strollers will usually have to be classified as hold luggage.

3. The best time to rip open a treat such as a bag of sweets is when the plane is waiting to take off or when you are waiting to disembark – times when kids need fun distractions to stop boredom setting in.

4. Even better than a bag of treats is the chance to visit the flight deck where the captain and his crew can show your kids the buttons, wheels and gadgets which make the aircraft tick. (A lesson which is fascinating for adults too!) The best time to take this tour is after landing.

5. BA advises that if a family is flying to a region with a big time difference it will take about two days for young children to re-adjust their body clocks; this could mean an extra two days’ off school for lucky holidaying pupils.

Of course, BA’s list is not exhaustive; it is a good idea to ask other parents about their in-flight experiences of travelling with young children. There are also plenty of forums and articles out there in cyberspace about things to think about before you reach your departure lounge.

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Innovative and award winning nursery brand Little Helper have launched a new trendy high chair which breaks the mould in terms of style, design and functionality – or so says the marketing.

Futuristic in appearance, the chair looks like the mothership plopped it onto planet earth with the intention of satiating the appetite of trend seekers – it’s pretty cool!

Other than looking far too cool, the high chair boasts a unique collapsible concept; it can be folded down to a flat and compact ‘0’ shape in just a few simple steps, making it the perfect for smaller kitchens or to travel with.

The Little Helper Zooper high chair features a 5 point harness, and is suitable for babies from six months old up to 50lbs.

Available in two colours – red check and blue check, the Zooper high chair features an easy-clean removable tray with anti-slip surface and wipe clean cushion. The footrest is also adjustable.

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I recently opened an email, from a good friend, that had me laughing out loud in seconds.

I simply have to share! Here’s how it went:

Mary Siegel was almost crazy with her three young kids. She complained to her best friend, “They’re driving me nuts!! Such pests. They give me no rest and I’m half way to the funny farm.”

“What you need is a playpen to separate the kids from yourself,” her friend said.

So Mary bought a playpen A few days later, her friend called to ask how things were going.

“Superb! I can’t believe it,” Mary said.

“I get in that pen with a good book, a chocolate bar, and the kids don’t bother me for hours!”

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Our favourite post of the week is written by Kylie, author of Not Even A Bag Of Sugar.

Kylie, the mum of a gorgeous little boy who was born at 27 weeks, uses her blog to share experiences, not only of pre-eclampsia and premature babies, but of anything that inspires and touches her.

Read Kylie’s take on separation anxiety; something that affects both toddlers and mums.

Toddler Separation Anxiety

How the tables have turned. When Joseph was born, I felt acutely that he wasn’t with me. The first pangs of separation anxiety. I couldn’t bear the fact that my precious baby wasn’t with me. It was horrendous. Every time I left him my heart just pained, that he was laying there, all on his own, in his little plastic box. It has taken me a long time to get over those feelings of separation anxiety.

Joseph was a reasonably laid back baby, he would happily go to anyone (though only mama was allowed to give him bottles and food). I was taken by surprise when separation anxiety hit at around one year corrected, If I dared to go to the toilet at a friend’s house, Joseph would let fly, dragging himself to the bottom of the stairs screaming like a diva. At first his separation anxiety worried me. It was so out of character. Unfortunately, it was to get worse. On the odd occasion I had to leave him, as he got older, it got worse. Now his separation anxiety is still very acute.

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The most important thing you will need to start potty training is TIME, and a CALM ATTITUDE, says Tizzie Hall, author of How To Raise A Happy Toddler.

Tizzie says that potty training can take from a few days to a week or two. If you work it’s best to start during the weekend or a holiday.

On the practical side of things, you will need:

* Two potties (one for upstairs and one for downstairs unless you live in a single story in which case just one potty will suffice).

* 10 pairs of pants.

* Children’s toilet seat, so that grown-up loos fit small bottoms.

* A step, so that your toddler can climb onto the loo.

* A reward chart or other treat to keep your little one motivated.

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