We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kelly Stary a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Kelly, thanks for joining us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

So, I’ve always been an avid traveler. And when I lived in Europe for four years, part of that time was spent as a travel content writer, just traveling around to different countries and cities, and experiencing new cultures. That was something that I really grew to love.

Now, traditionally, when you get pregnant and find out that you’re about to have a baby, most people say something along the lines of, “Oh, it’s time to settle down, to stay in one place.” But that just wasn’t the reality of what I wanted for my life. I knew that I wanted to start bringing my kids with me.

After my daughter, Stella, was born, we started doing more research into what we needed to know to travel with her successfully. You know, things like what products we could bring, where we wanted to go, and the logistics of traveling with a baby. It was just so hard for me to find this information. I could find bits and pieces here and there, but there was no one-stop-shop that just had everything I needed to know when it came to traveling with a baby.

At the time, I was using Instagram as an educational resource to gather bite-sized information on different topics related to becoming a parent and motherhood. So, at that point in time, I just kind of figured, why not create the space for myself? Why not create the resource that I wasn’t able to find? So that is how Traveling with Babies was “born”.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

As mentioned before, I’ve always had a passion for travel. When I became a parent, I quickly realized how much I didn’t actually know about traveling with a baby and how to do so successfully. And let me tell you, that doesn’t mean it’s not hard – it’s always hard. It takes effort, but then again, so does parenting. I always say, I could be parenting in my living room, or I could be parenting on a beach. You tell me which one sounds better?

So, I embarked on a mission to create a resource that would offer all the information needed for a successful trip with little ones. I want parents to feel confident and have the ability to stand up for themselves when facing the challenges that come with traveling with a baby – not just surviving, but thriving during their journeys with their children.

However, it’s crucial to remember that not everyone approaches travel in the same way. This is why I’ve built the community aspect into this platform. I want parents to access information from all points of view, so they can make choices that align with their unique needs and those of their baby. This is also why I’ve introduced private consultations and personalized travel planners as part of my services because a significant part of a successful trip lies in the details.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

I know it sounds cliché, but consistency and an absolute disregard for what people think are probably the keys to the success of my page. As long as I’m content with what I’m doing, I genuinely don’t care about others’ opinions. Instagram is flooded with countless pages, so if I can bring together a community of like-minded individuals, even if it’s just 500 strong, that’s a win for me!

I’m all about keeping my expectations modest. My initial goal was simple: let’s see how long I can post every single day. The number of followers I accumulate isn’t my focus; my main aim is to create a resource—an educational tool and a community—for people. I aim to show up daily as my authentic self and provide as much help as I can.

As you move forward, you begin to notice growth and celebrate the small victories. These little triumphs gradually turn into bigger ones. And then suddenly, a year and a half has passed, and you’re still engaged in what you love.

Now, don’t get me wrong, it’s not always a smooth ride. There are plenty of moments when I think, “This is so much work. I’ve poured my heart and soul into this, but is it all worth it?” But then, just when I need it, a parent shares a story about how my advice helped them have a wonderful flight with their 5-month-old, and that’s what keeps me pushing forward.

What else should we know about how you took your side hustle and scaled it up into what it is today?

This initially started as a passion project for me. I recognize that not everyone can say that money isn’t the driving force behind starting a new business, but for me, it genuinely wasn’t. My focus was on creating a resource for fellow parents and having my own creative outlet while navigating parenthood and adjusting to life as a new mom.

For a considerable time, that’s exactly how it remained. Eventually, I began delving into the business side of things, exploring how to build a sustainable business model. This would enable me to offer more resources and valuable information to the community I had dedicated so much time to building.

A significant milestone for me was figuring out how to transition away from relying solely on Instagram. Instagram is where brands engage with your community and build trust, but it’s not necessarily where the financial opportunities lie. In order to thrive as a business, especially for influencers and affiliates, creating one’s own product and business within the community’s space becomes crucial. That’s the path I decided to take. I’m still in the process of learning and growing, trying to find my place and how I can truly transform this into a sustainable and profitable company with the potential for limitless growth, as I firmly believe it can be.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.travelingwithbabies.net
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/traveling.with.babies/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/travelingwithbabies1/
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/kellystary07314

Image Credits
Blaine Alan Photography