The summer travel season has officially begun and if you are opting to take a flight for your family vacation, here are some helpful tips to make your trip less stressful.

I recently took a flight from Charleston International Airport to Salt Lake City, Utah. I left on a Monday and it was busy. Flights were filled to the max and the airports were bustling with people.

Flying with children, little kids especially, can be a challenge. From crying babies to kids kicking seats, packing small humans into a small aircraft that is soaring above the earth for hours is not for the faint of heart.

But the plane ride is just one part of the journey. Parents have to navigate airport security, baggage costs, connecting flights, overbooked flights, cancelled flights, waiting for flights - it's all part of the travel experience.

If you will be flying with children this summer season, here are some tips and suggestions from seasoned family travelers that will help you be prepared and (hopefully) will ensure a smoother trip.

Strollers and Car Seats

Fortunately, you don't have to check your stroller before heading to security. If you have a car seat or stroller and want to tote your child around the airport before boarding, you can do that without worry. Most airlines allow you to check your stroller or car seat at the gate.

Car Seats on the Plane: If your child has their own seat on the plane, they can remain in their car seat during the flight. Just be mindful that most car seats are heavy and somewhat awkward to carry, especially down the narrow aisle of a plane, so try to board early in order to have time to secure the car seat into place, and to avoid bumping other passengers with loose buckles or straps.

Checking Car Seats: If you're going somewhere where you need a rental car and plan on driving long distances to multiple locations, it makes sense to bring your kids' car seats so you can use them at your destination. If you don't feel like bringing car seats on the plane, you can check them with your luggage. Contact the airline ahead of time though because some airlines let you check those for free, but others might charge extra. Being aware of the policy can help avoid paying more. You can order a special cover for your car seat too, that keeps it dry and/or prevents it from getting dirty during transit.

Invest in the Right Equipment: I once saw a dad struggling to put his pack n' play back together after he had been waiting for over an hour for his flight at the gate. He eventually just broke it and placed it by the trash before boarding. Make sure you know how to fold up your strollers or other child carriers quickly.

Get an inexpensive umbrella stroller that is lightweight. It will help keep your little kid contained at the airport, and can be checked at the end of the jet bridge right before you get on the plane. It's likely not as sturdy as your regular stroller, but it also doesn't matter if it gets a little banged up en route, and it will make things a lot easier to have your hands free or when having to swiftly navigate through a busy airport to catch a flight.

Airport Security and Safety

Going Through Security: Security is much the same for children as it is for adults, except kids under 12 years old don't have to take their shoes off. Infants must be carried or placed in a sling/wearable carrier. Any items will need to be screened on the X-ray belt, such as toys, blankets, car seats or strollers. Parents and guardians will not be separated from their children at security checkpoints.

Do Kids Need ID? TSA does not require children under the age of 18 to present ID at the travel document checking podium. However, if you are traveling internationally, your child will need their own passport.

Even if you are just traveling within the U.S., it's not a bad idea to carry a copy of your child's birth certificate, or at least have a special album on your phone that has a photo of each child's birth certificate, just in case of an emergency.

Know Safety Procedures: This goes without saying, but airports are crowded and losing your child is a concern. Point out airline employees and other security workers in the airport that a child should report to should they happen to lose sight of you. For little ones, make sure they have some kind of identification on them for an authority figure to read.

For Nursing Moms

Let security officers know if you have breast milk or formula in your carry-on luggage.You can bring more than 3.4 ounces of formula, breast milk, toddler drinks, and baby/toddler food (including puree pouches) through security, as these are considered medically necessary liquids. These items might need to be removed from a carry-on bag to be screened separately.TSA recommends that formula and breast milk be transported in clear, translucent bottles and not in plastic bags or pouches, because it makes it easier to screen.Private lactation rooms can be found in most women's bathrooms in the airports. If you need to breastfeed and want privacy, these rooms will lock from the inside and you can feed your baby in a quiet and relaxing space.

Airline Seating and Boarding

Early Boarding for Families: Arrive early to your gate because families with small children can board first on most airlines. This is extremely important, especially if you notice that your seats are not together. Giving the flight attendants time to work out the different seat assignments so that your family can sit together, will not only be convenient for them, but will also result in a significant reduction in stress for you and your children.

Airline Family Seating Dashboard: Nothing sparks more controversy lately than other passengers having to move seats so a family can sit together. Most parents and families don't think it's a big deal, but many business or solo travelers or those without kids think it's a huge inconvenience. In response to this issue, the U.S. Department of Transportation created a dashboard that displays which airlines guarantee family seating with no additional cost. The head of the USDOT, Secretary Pete Buttigieg, also proposed legislation to Congress that requires airlines provide fee-free family seating. The bill hasn't passed yet, but it would be such a great relief to all families that fly.

Strategic Seating: Something that works well for a family of four is booking a window seat and middle seat in two rows on the same side in front of each other. That way, one kid and one parent sits in one row, and one kid and one parent sits in the row right behind them. This avoids having three seats in one row, and one seat across the aisle. It also avoids conflict by keeping the kids separated. For families of five, have one parent sit in the middle of two of the children and then the other parent sit behind them with the other child. Allow kids to have the window seats, and take turns so that each child can sit by the window on either the way there or the way back.

Lap Rider? Another general rule of thumb is that if your child can walk, they should have their own seat. It's tempting to save money with a "lap rider" but having a squirmy toddler sitting on your lap for any flight longer than 20 minutes will not be comfortable for you, the child and other passengers.

What To Pack On The Plane

Take-off and Landing: Small ears are more susceptible to cabin pressure. For infants and young toddlers, bring a pacifier for them to suck on at take-off and landing to relieve the pressure. For older children, bring gum or lollipops.

Staying Busy: If you are dealing with a rowdy, tired, active or overstimulated child, it is imperative that you have activities for them the do on the flight.

So many airlines offer TVs for each seat. That is helpful because your child can watch a movie or their favorite TV show.Having a separate bag for just snacks, toys and activities helps for easy access - a diaper bag can do double duty in this regard.Avoid toys with lots of small parts, like Legos, or anything that can roll off the fold-down tray and end up on the floor.If you have a very long day of travel, buy little toys or items for your kids and wrap them before the trip, so you can give them a "gift" to unwrap periodically and distract them, even for a short period of time.

Little Backpacks: Once your kids are 3 or 4, getting each one a little backpack that is just used for flying or taking trips lets them take ownership of their things. You can put individual snacks and toys inside each bag or let them pack three things they want to play with on the plane.

Extra Clothes Are Essential: Always pack at least one extra pair of clothes for everyone in your family in your carry-on. With flight delays, lost baggage, sickness or bathroom accidents, being prepared and having spare shorts, pants, underwear, shirts, and onesies will likely come in handy no matter what situation arises.

While it's definitely a lot of work for parents flying with kids under age 5, it gets a lot easier every year after that. Letting your children experience the excitement of airplanes when they are young will build a foundation for traveling that will only grow as they get older. Visiting new places together will create lasting memories, and don't forget that getting there is half the fun!