Baby’s First Flight – Our Travels as a Family

We survived our first family trip!

“Travel now, because once you have kids that all stops….” We would hear this nonstop from our family before we had Santiago, & my response was always the same – “kids under two fly free!” You best believe I was taking advantage!

Why would having a kid stop us from traveling? I want nothing more than to give my child the world. Make him a global citizen, & instill the appreciation for other cultures & customs different from our own.
Which is why the first chance I got to book a flight with baby, best believe I jumped on that opportunity. What better way to get baby accustomed to traveling than a short flight to the sunshine state! Miami was my husband and I’s first trip as a couple, so it was only fitting to be our first family destination.

Our first flight

We packed our bags & headed to the airport! But I was very nervous for the flight & how it would affect Santiago. Luckily I’ve had moms before me bestow some knowledge on me to make the trip go as smooth as possible:

• when the plane is taking off, breast/bottle feed the baby. This helps avoid discomfort with the pressure in their ears
• baby headphones also help with the changes in cabin pressure
• Bring an extra change of clothes, and another backup to the backup
• Bring baby’s favorite toy/blanket to ease the ride

Of course, right before we were set to board the plane, baby decided to drop a bomb in his diaper that went ALL over his clothes… yay me! One clothes change and half a pack of baby wipes later, we were good to go.

One perk of flying with babies and small children is priority boarding on most airlines. This takes away a lot of the stress of flying with a little one, as it is inevitable you will need extra time getting them settled in and gate checking any stroller or carseat.

Surprisingly, Santiago had no problems on his first flight! I’m proud to be a breastfeeding mom, & I was able to feed him as the plane took off. Santiago fell asleep shortly after takeoff, & for the majority of the flight! The only downside to this was holding a 16 pound baby for two and a half hours!

Pro tip for flying with baby…

airline tables make great makeshift beds for heavy babies!

Hitting the town with baby

We were so excited to explore Miami with Santiago. He obviously won’t remember the trip, but we couldn’t wait to see his reaction to the ocean and to sand. There was only ONE problem…

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Santiago fell asleep at Wynwood Walls

He was asleep during his first time at the beach – and was very unimpressed with South Beach

Our Travel Essentials

Luckily, families are traveling more & products are being made to ease the burden of trips with small children. These were our travel must haves when exploring with an infant:

• Motif Duo
  This is a cordless, lightweight, rechargeable breast pump which makes it perfect for traveling. You can pump anywhere and on the go since you’re not stuck to the wall like normal breast pumps
• Lansinoh Manual Pump
  Hand pumps may seem like tedious work, but the Lansinoh pump is easy on your hands. This pump is great to not have to rely on finding an electrical source – and personally I’ve been able to pump more with this than any other pump!
• Travel Bassinet
  This bassinet was such a great find! It folds up into a portable bag that… wait for it, is CARRY ON APPROVED! It also rocks to help baby get to sleep faster, and has a built in mosquito net.
• Co-sleeper
  This is a great choice for baby to sleep when away. The co-sleeper is not for everyone, as you would essentially bed-share with baby (you can do your own research on safe bed sharing here). It folds up small and is lightweight, making it a great option for on the go.
• Baby Carrier
  This baby carrier is great since it has back support, & when walking around with a 16 pound baby you’ll need all the support you can get! It’s perfect for walking around the city or beach when a stroller will be too burdensome.
• Diaper Bag Backpack
  I love this diaper bag because, well it doesn’t even look like a diaper bag! It is SUPER spacious and lightweight.
• Baby Soundproof Headphones
  These headphones are soundproof (and look so cute on a baby!), and they help with the pressure upon the plane takeoff and landing

the best part of traveling with baby?

Seeing Santiago take in new sights and feeling the fresh breeze on his face was amazing. Everything was so new to him and it was a wonder to see. Another good outcome of the trip? Baby slept throughout the night! Being on the go really tired him out – which was great for mama!

I anticipated speed bumps, but in reality there were none. I breastfed in airports, restaurants, parks and no one gave me any problems. Something that as a first time mom you’re always worried about.
It was such a blessing to bring Santiago to meet our extended family. He met my abuelo’s brother who is now too old to travel and who I missed dearly. We even met my older brother Sami for the first time. Even if Santiago doesn’t remember this trip, it’s one I will never forget!

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