Our Baby’s First Vacation: Travelling to Baku as a Family of Seven

This wasn’t our baby’s first flight, but it was his very first vacation — and our first time travelling with both sets of parents.

Six adults, one baby, and a cold destination (hello, Baku!)… chaotic on paper, but surprisingly, I wasn’t intimidated. My husband and I love travelling, and we were excited to add our little bub as our third partner in adventure.

I didn’t think too much, I didn’t over plan, and I didn’t stress about things going “perfectly.” I just wanted us to make memories.

*Travelling with grandparents on both sides… more hands to help, more hearts to love him. Thatha 1 (grandpa) was the camera man!*

Preparing for the Trip: Packing for a Cold Destination

If you’re planning to travel with your baby and wondering what you actually need, I’ve put together a simple baby travel checklist based on this trip 🤍

Travelling to a chilly place with a baby meant… layers, layers, and more layers. Tiny sweaters, warm onesies, mittens, socks, caps… and then all the regular baby stuff. Add in the things-you-might-need-but-probably-won’t (every mum knows this category) – I did pack half the house!

Some links below are affiliate links. I only share products I’ve used, or similar ones I trust for the purpose.

For example, a similar lightweight jacket would work well for layering — perfect for keeping your baby cozy in cold destinations.
Similar soft caps and warm socks help keep tiny hands and feet comfortable during chilly sightseeing.

Along with his clothes, I packed:

Homemade oats powder
Dal & rice powders
Buckwheat pasta
Ready-made baby puree pouches
Basic medicines for baby and adults
Extra bibs & washcloths
His favorite Peek-a-Boo book
Frozen expressed breast milk in an insulated bag
Pumping supplies (because I ended up pumping in the car on a few days!)

We stayed in Airbnbs so I could have access to a kitchen, store milk, sterilize & wash bottles and make baby food if needed. In theory, it sounded perfect. In reality… well, keep reading. 😅

The Flight: Simple, Sweet, and Surprisingly Smooth

We took an early morning flight — the kind where everyone except mum and baby sleeps.

I loved that quiet time with him.

Here’s what our flight looked like:
Lots of baby–mum time while everyone else snoozed
Baby was busy reading the flight menu
Reading his Peek-a-Boo book
No baby snacks (he’s still too little) — just mama’s milk
Using the infant seatbelt, which barely stayed on because he only wanted to stand
No ear pain, but I still used cotton as a precaution
No diaper changes in-flight (small wins!)

Nothing fancy. But these tiny moments felt special.

*Baby’s first proper holiday, our first as a trio.*

Feeding on the Trip: A Whole New Challenge

This was the biggest adjustment.
Feeding solids through BLW while sightseeing was almost impossible.

For convenience I carried homemade mixes, but honestly… there was no time to make them.
He mostly had ready-made purees.
Breastfeeding + pumped milk helped a lot.

Every day depended on his mood, naps, and comfort — something that was different from our pre-baby travels.

Travelling with Two Sets of Parents

Back when it was just the two of us travelling, we ate when we wanted, stopped where we wanted, and explored freely. With a baby — and parents from both sides — everything changed.
This was our first time travelling as a big group, and it showed.

Our parents have their own pace:
They like eating on time
Prefer simple, familiar Indian vegetarian food
Walk slower, rest more, decide things differently

My husband and I didn’t really get time to explore the city on our own— and that’s okay.
This trip wasn’t meant to be a “couple’s getaway.” It was a family experience, with all its sweetness and chaos.

Getting Around

We had a car + driver, which was a lifesaver.
It gave us flexibility with timing, naps, feeding breaks, and pumping sessions (yes, I pumped in the car on some days!).
The baby enjoyed the road time, the new sights, and being surrounded by six adults who were ready to entertain him at all times.

What I Learned (and What I’d Do Differently Next Time)

1. Traveling with a baby isn’t hard — traveling with a baby + 6 adults Is a whole new adventure because everyone has different needs, rhythms, and preferences. Next time, I’d let go, even more, of expectations.
2. Feeding needs planning… but also realistic expectations. I packed homemade mixes but ended up feeding only ready-made purees.
Next time, I’d rely even more on easy-to-carry foods and not stress about BLW on a trip.
3. I would prioritize 1–2 baby-friendly activities per day rather than trying to fit in multiple attractions with a big group.
4. Accept that couple time may not happen on family trips. And that’s okay. Some trips are for family bonding.
5. Airbnbs are great — but only when you actually have the time to cook which… we didn’t. 😅
For short trips, I might choose a hotel next time.

*Cold outside, but always warm in my arms.*

❤️ So, Was It Worth It?
Absolutely.
The trip wasn’t glamorous.
It wasn’t easy.
It wasn’t Instagram-perfect.
But it was real.
It was warm.
It was our baby’s first vacation — and that alone makes it unforgettable.
He was surrounded by all four grandparents.
We saw a new city through his eyes.
And despite the chaos, we created memories we’ll talk about for years.

Next time, the destination and dynamics may be different — but this trip taught me that travelling with a baby is not about perfection.
It’s about connection.
And I wouldn’t change that for anything.

If you’re planning your first (or next) trip with a baby, I hope this story helped you feel a little more confident.
I’ve linked a few items in this post that worked well for us.
For the full packing list — you can download my baby travel checklist below.🤍