Lately I’ve been reading the news and all I see in the headlines is about George. You remember George, the heir to the British throne and the one who tries to steal my thunder as the cutest baby on this planet. You could say I’m a little bitter, but I fought hard for that “cute baby” title and he gets it so easily, the world loves him, either that or he’s got really good press.

Though I must say good old George does seem to travel in style, own private jet, a couple of nannies, a team of security men waiting in line to catch any toy that he might accidentally drop, seriously George…a tad spoilt me thinks. No wonder he looked so snug at that playdate in New Zealand, whilst the other babies were wailing away, George worked the room like a pro, I mean he did a half stand or walk and the room went crazy at his extreme prowess, he nodded accidentally at a stuffed giraffe and everyone’s trying to sign him up to Mensa because of his sudden display in wildlife. I think he was trying to give one of his royal goodbye nods and he mistook the stuffed giraffe for the host. Not very bright behaviour me thinks! But of course I am the neglected few.

Hey George, my family and I went on a trip the other day. Not really a private jet, but Dad couldn’t take an eight hour car ride to Trinco, so he booked the whole lot into an hour’s flight. First time I’ve been on a plane so I was a tad nervous. I tried to tell this to Mum by constantly screaming, but she didn’t seem to get my Morse code signals and looked quite exasperated she tried to calm me down, by giving me two bottles, changing my diaper thrice, carrying me around for half an hour and then trying her hand at a few Beyonce songs, all she knew apparently. But Drunk in Love or Single Ladies just doesn’t do it for me Mummy darling…hit me with “Row Row Your Boat” or “This Little Piggy”..I love finding out where the last piggy has gone, I always get a tickle at the end. Nope I screamed my lungs out and Mum just jiggled me some more, I was nervous, one, because it was my first flight and, two, had my parents not been listening to the news, did they know what happened to that Malaysian Flight. Sheesh! Scary stuff!

Fortunately flight was not too bad, quite smooth not much turbulence, they even gave a snack of jujubes, which I demolished. Thought Big Sister didn’t take the flying too well, looked sick, vomited, screamed a lot at her plight, totally unnecessary I thought. Then when we landed they’d apparently lost our luggage, left it behind accidentally..WHAATT!!. I bet these things don’t happen to Good old George!!!!

When do babies start walking?

When it comes to milestones, your baby's first steps can't be beat. One day he's standing against the couch – maybe sliding along it – and the next he's tottering hesitantly into your waiting arms. Then he's off and running, leaving babyhood behind. Your child's first steps are his first major move toward independence. During her first year, your baby is busy developing coordination and muscle strength in every part of her body. She'll learn to sit, roll over, and crawl before moving on to pulling up and standing at about 9 months. From then on, it's a matter of gaining confidence and balance. Most babies take their first steps sometime between 9 and 12 months and are walking well by the time they're 14 or 15 months old. Don't worry if your child takes a little longer, though. Some perfectly normal children don't walk until they're 16 or 17 months old.

What to expect when flying with children

Flying with a toddler can be trying -- for your toddler, for you, and for everybody seated nearby. But by planning ahead and knowing what to expect, you can make the trip bearable if not enjoyable. Many families like the row just behind the bulkhead because there's more leg space and you don't have to worry about your kids bothering the passengers in front of them. The downside is that there's no under-seat storage for carry-ons, the armrests often don't go up, and you have to crane your neck if you want to watch the movie. In addition to your usual diaper-bag supplies, stow a few small toys and books (enough so you can pull out one per hour). Choose a few old favorites and some new items. Add your toddler's favourite comfort object (plus an extra, just in case) and a sweater or blanket, since airplanes sometimes get cold. And take along extra wipes (it's amazing how many you can go through) and several zip-top plastic bags for collecting the used ones, as well as antibacterial gel for cleaning up. In fact, it's a good idea to pack an extra set of clothes and diapers in case your checked luggage gets lost or you miss a connecting flight.

By Mayuri Jayasinghe