Traveling with a baby on an airplane

As mentioned in this post, baby Willow went on her first flight just shy of her 4 week birthday.
It was an hour flight each way and from pretty small airports.
We have a 4.5 hr flight next week out of two of the largest airports in the country so this was a big test run for that, to find what works and what doesn't.

I read this blog post of helpful hints from Jamie at C.R.A.F.T. on the subject awhile ago and took most things into consideration.

In my experience, so far, this is what I have learned 

( I am by no means an expert, but this is what worked for us)

1. Wear your baby

I love wearing my baby (since I don't have a stroller), she usually falls asleep and I can nurse her while wearing it and nobody knows 

This  blog post from Our Knight Life on baby wearing and breast feeding really struck with me because I was having so much difficulty and self conscious issues doing it in public. I read the post and started practicing and it has saved my sanity.

Also, when wearing your baby during security, YOU DO NOT NEED TO TAKE THEM OFF. 

2. Ask for stuff

Ask your friends and family at your destination (that you trust)  if they have  a car seat or anything else you may need to limit the amount of STUFF you need to bring.
I know my friends and family were more than willing to help and even offered.

With this trip and the trip we will be taking next week to Illinois, our friends have offered to help and let us borrow. As an option car rentals also rent car seats, but take that at your own risk

3. The rule of 3's

If bringing formula, only make 3 oz or bring 3 oz of water and you will not have a problem

I supplement and sometimes in the car or in public she just wants a bottle. I had one made specifically for take offs and landings which we never used but we had it ready just in case.

4. Fly Southwest

( this is not a paid post and I was paid or perked to promote this company in any way)

So, Southwest does not have assigned seating it goes by when you check in for the flight. You are allowed to check in 24 hrs before hand. If you get a boarding pass in the 'A'  section you are amount the first 60 people on the plane and can pretty much choose anywhere. Southwest also does mommy boarding between the 'A' group and 'B' group in case you muss out and still get a decent seat.

Also, with southwest you can check up to two bags for FREE.

This made my life easier because In The terminal I only had to worry about my baby and the backpack full of all of our stuff we needed. When flying with an infant it's no longer about your entertainment for the flight it's all about there's. 

5. Bring baby's birth certificate or birth record 

I had brought this sheet of paper with me "just in case" because of Jamie's post and I needed it both ways. Although baby is lap sitting with you, they still need there own boarding pass.

6. Clothes for mama
I have found if I wear a "nicer" shirt, I wear a nursing tank underneath so that when I breast feed the nicer shirt goes up and nursing tank goes down and still covers your torso. This is what works for us and makes me feel like I am not flashing the whole world my boobs. You will still have to take off your shoes at security so wear slip ons. I made this mistake the first flight and wore boots in which I singe handedly had to unzip and try to put on while wearing the baby. With any flights bring a sweater cause it gets cold on the plane and be comfortable.

7. Feed the baby
You want to feed the baby or have them suck on something during take off and landings. I had the baby in the carrier in the airports while we were waiting for our flights and she fed while I was walking around so for the flight she was asleep. I AM NOT GOING TO WAKE A SLEEPING BABY to hope they go back to sleep, it doesn't work that way. So during take offs and landings I just put a pacifier in her mouth and we were good during both flights.


(baby sleeping on the plane)

8. Family bathrooms
I now look for these since becoming a mom and they are AMAZING. It is a giant room with a changing table, usually built into the counter not those plastic fold down ones, a toilet, large sink and just room to move and take your time. It was nice to be able to use the bathroom and not think these is someone waiting for me in that long line or I need to hurry up and change the baby.

These are my helpful hints.
 Is there anything you do while flying?


~ Steph ~

My trip across the U.S. .. again PartI

So as you know, I just recently drove across the U.S. again to find a home again in California.

This series is just about that journey.

First, I came up with a route. 

There are two (main) routes you can travel to get to california

1. the upper and 1. the lower

The decision:

I have never been on the upper route, so I decided that would be it.

It also happens that I have friends/family that live on this route.

Decision made, this would be the route.

So, on day one we made a short 6 hour trip to Des Moines Iowa to see our friend Brian

(who had the honor of marrying us)

The first challenge of the trip was the Cat, Daliah 

She does not like her crate so we thought that letting her out and rome around would be best, turns out not. Here's her after 2 hours of meowing and finally finding a comfortable spot

When we got into Des Moines, Brian decided to meet us at  Zombie Burger

They had an extensive unusual burger menu with alcoholic milkshakes 

Us. After dinner and good company. 

She called it a night at the hotel. Thats how we all felt.

So that was the first day of our journey.

Have you been traveling or moving your life across the country?

I am a californian .. again!

It's official, I am a Californian again!

As of last friday, I have moved back.

I am so happy to be back.

The journey was long and I am glad that it is over, but i will be sharing it with you soon. 

The golden state: part I

I needed a break .. So I went on trip # 5 for the year

As you saw, we celebrated 2 wonderful years of marriage and going strong.

So this trip was for my mental health and friend spending.

The first day was spent jumping flights finding my way to California, well I got there.

(The traveling flowers from This post)

The second day, I spent at Disneyland. 

It's been 4 years and I missed it the whole time.

See, I use to have a season pass and go all the time.

So.. It was time.

We did both parks and I loved it. I was wiped but I loved it. 

I can't wait to go back.

Stay tuned for part 2.

Have you gone anywhere this summer?

Mini Vaca: Dominican Republic

A couple weeks ago, we took off on a jet plane to the Dominican

I found an all inclusive for $50/night and 4 nights off. I couldn't pass it up.

This was the view from our room.. not to shabby

P looking swanky

My last day relaxing near the ocean. 

It was pretty awsome, but I do not think I will be cheap again when it comes to all inclusive resorts. 

Have you been traveling lately?

I like traveling..

You hear everyone say it, but do they really mean it?

I mean honestly, until now, all of my prior vacations were filled to the brim with the feeling of being rushed to meet up with people and see things. 

It honestly never felt like a vacation. 

Well, I am about to leave for my 4th trip this year and I can honestly say I like traveling, for me. 

I don't plan an agenda, I go for my scheduled days off and just see whats out there. 

If I like it, I can always go back.

We usually only have a few days and if we (or I should say I) just want to lay on the beach and do nothing, I can. 

Traveling is a lot easier when your not on a schedule and you get there, when you get there.

Managing airports has become a lot easier and I am starting to find tricks (like don't wear bobby pins in your hair during security because they will mess it up) and liking certain airports over others. 

I have also found some amazing deals when you fly last minute 

(I'll talk about those later)

Do you dread traveling or do you enjoy it?

Mini Vaca: PR

P and I had 3 days off together and we wanted to go somewhere we haven't been

So, we went to.. Puerto Rico

IT WAS AMAZING!

We used the website airbnb.com to rent a room in a condo and rented a car for the experience

We went to the beach

 Lighthouse at teh forts

Tiny island off the coast where they use to keep leppers

The coast

Pretty view

Coast

cannon

to the forts

Old San Juan

Kayaking from our backyard to the ocean 

(sorry no pictures of that due to wet phones)

the rain forrest

Our serious faces.. haha

Have you taken any vacations lately? where'd you go? 

St. Louis

This past weekend I went to visit P in St Louis.

It was time and I have not been there in my adult life.

We got dinner and headed to the city museum

If you have never been you walk in to a massive indoor playground with sensory overload of sounds and sites everywhere. You don't get a map and are encouraged to explore.

We walked to the right and the first thing I saw was spiral tube that went into a tree and the first the thing that popped in my head, was can I climb up this?
Well, I did and yes it was encouraged.

I was exploring into this dark abyss when I found a whole I squeezed myself through than ducked onto my knees where than I found a door into "the caves"

It opened up to this wide area of spiral staircases and slides (see bottom )

We found out it use to be a shoe factory and the slides use to be used to send the shoes down 10 stories.

There are cracks and crevices everywhere and some of them you can't fit into, but it was fun trying.

Overall, it was awsome time and we both had a great date. 

Any fun places you've been lately?