As the mother of a baby or toddler, you may be looking forward to an upcoming family vacation—but you’re probably dreading the plane flight that stands between you and your final destination. Flying with a baby or toddler is no easy task, but here are some steps you can take to make it a little more bearable:

Call the airline ahead of time: If you’re flying with a baby younger than 2 years of age, you are not required to purchase an additional ticket for your child. However, if you book your plane tickets online, it’s a good idea to call the airline and let them know that you’ll be flying with an “infant in arms.” Some airlines require that you show your baby’s birth certificate at check-in while others do not. Additionally, a few airlines designate specific seats for parents flying with infants. Either way, it’s best to call them ahead of time to ensure you understand their policies about flying with a baby.

Check TSA’s website for updates: Although some liquids and gels are currently banned from air travel, the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) makes exceptions for parents traveling with a baby. As of right now, you can carry formula, breast milk and even juice through the security checkpoint as long as you declare these items to the Security Officers at the checkpoint. Because the TSA is constantly changing safety regulations, you should check their website (www.tsa.gov) a day or two before your flight.

Get them tired at the gate: You’ve probably heard the age-old advice to schedule family flights during your baby’s naptime—but obviously, this isn’t always feasible. That’s why you should do everything you can to tire out your baby or toddler before boarding the flight.

If your child is walking, let her run around and explore (under your supervision, of course). If your baby isn’t mobile, you can stimulate him by showing him around the terminal so he can check out all the interesting faces, shops, sights and smells. Hopefully, this pre-boarding stimulation will get your baby drowsy enough to take at least a short snooze on the flight.

Pack plenty of in-flight entertainment: Bring along a little “bag of tricks” in case your baby doesn’t take a nap during the flight. Pack your diaper bag or carry-on bag with plenty of books, toys, teething rings and other fun items to keep your baby entertained and content.

Don’t worry about what everyone else thinks: As parents, one of our biggest fears is for our child to have a complete meltdown in public—especially in the close confines of a plane. If you’re dealing with a fussy baby or a loud toddler on a flight, it can be difficult to ignore the glares and dirty looks from unsympathetic passengers. But as long as you’re doing everything you can to calm your baby, you shouldn’t worry about what co-passengers think. You have enough to deal with as it is!

Just remember that many your fellow passengers have children themselves, so they can relate to your struggle. So if you’re having a hard time keeping your baby happy during the flight, try to keep your cool. After all, in a few short hours, you’ll be on vacation!

Also see: Baby/Toddler Travel Checklist