Sydney, next week baby

THIS time next week we'll be heading to the airport to catch a plane to Sydney. It will be baby Lila's first time in the air. I'm hoping it'll be a smooth ride where we're all cloud gazing through the tiny oval windows (and seeing blue skies, hopefully).

But it could be the kind of flight that leaves us with our ears ringing louder than church bells for our eight broken* weeks there (*we come back for a week after three weeks, then head back for two and a half.** My first asterisk. Now I feel like Mark Dapin).

The last time we visited Sydney was for a different kind of trip - with friends to relax, hang out at the beach, go out and drink until we were merry. All the usual stuff young-ish people do pre-baby. This time, B has a work-funded training course and Lila and I are tagging along. Generously, it's all expenses (minus our flights) paid, including accommodation at a four-star hotel in the central city, thanks very much.

Now all we have to do is work out what and how we're going to get everything packed so there's no chance our luggage will tip the plane tail into the ocean. Lila's port-a-cot alone weighs 15.5 kilograms.

If anyone has any tips on first-time flying with an infant, please share them here.