“Mark Oldershaw bringing young family to Olympics despite Zika threat,” reads the headline. “Canadian canoeist ‘confident’ that situation in Rio under control.”
Travelling with a baby, despite what you’ve read and what you’ve heard, is never as easy as it sounds. There are mini meltdowns and major tantrums. You may (will?) experience delays, cancellations and the dreaded plane descent. And if you’re really, really unlucky, a diaper blowout. Or two. (Always pack an extra set of clothing!)
But does that deter millions of parents from travelling with their young ones? Not on your life. Family travel offers a wealth of experiences and the memories made will last a lifetime (at least for mom and dad!). And for Mark Oldershaw, a third generation Olympian and the fifth member of his family to compete at the Games, family travel means having his infant daughter cheering him on in Brazil.
“Excited to have them there in the crowd,” Oldershaw said in a phone interview with the CBC, as part of a sponsorship with Pampers.
Now, while some athletes had expressed reservations about going to Brazil, with some even pulling out of the Games, the Oldershaw family’s plans did not change.
“We know that the COC and International Olympic Committee is very on top of it and making sure that it will be safe for athletes,” said the native of Burlington, Ontario. “I’m very confident it will be safe for me and Annamay (his wife) and (his daughter) Josephine.”
So, what’s in Mark Oldershaw’s travel bag? I had the chance to interview Mark back in July, and the hands-on father shared with me his top picks for travelling with a baby.
1. Baby Wipes. Spills and accidents happen all the time, and having a baby wipe on hand makes it easier to contain little messes before they become big ones. We always carried Pampers Sensitive Baby Wipes in our own diaper bag, so I definitely endorse his suggestion!
2. Familiar, Calming Toys. Travel can be hard on little ones due to the change of routine, excess stimuli and new faces/ surroundings. Bringing along a few comforts from home, such as a favourite toy or blanket, can help ease the transition.
3. Tried and True Products. Vacation or work-related travel is not the right time to try new products or routines. It’s important to keep an even flow for baby (check out these four key sleep tools) and of course, stick to the most trusted brand of diapers, Pampers. With Pampers Baby Dry diapers, your baby can get up to 12 hours of overnight protection and dryness.
4. Patience. Of course you should pack a little patience! Travelling with families large and small, young and old, all have their own sets of challenges. But remember, with a little preparation, even obstacles can be handled calmly and with ease. “We can’t control everything, but we’re very confident,” say Mark. We’ll be cheering you on!
This post is sponsored by P&G. The opinions on this blog, as always, are my own.
Yes, you need to be prepared for everything
It is funny how no matter how much you plan and prepare, there will alwaya be an oops when you have kids!!
Great tips! That photo is so adorable! Let’s hope she has enjoyed the Olympics!!!
don’t forget the Advil for yourself
That’s why they serve booze on planes to help the parents cope no???
When you have kids it seems you are never prepared enough.That photo is so adorable!
I’m glad his family is traveling with him! Sometimes you can prepare a lot for baby and stuff still happens!
some water or tea for yourself to help your fraying nerves and staying hydrated!
Great tips and definitely patience is key!
That baby looks so tiny compared to his daddy
great points and tips on things to bring and keep in mind when traveling with baby. We didn’t do much traveling when our daughters were young. We went on car rides that were a couple hrs long here and there and definitely made sure to bring the right things with us for that. better to be prepared
Great blog post! Important to be prepared and patience is definitely key!
Patience in all things can go a long way
I guess I’m a little too cautious. I would not have traveled to Rio especially with the zika virus and numerous dangers. Not worth taking any chances with my family.
I flew with my daughter when she was very tiny. I think it was actually the least stressful flight of my life! It seemed everyone catered to the lady with the infant and she slept the whole flight!
I need to pack my Patience with me all the time for both my kids. Life with kids is trying at times!!!!!
Great tips; I always appreciate when parents make an effort to calm their kids (especially on an airplane). I know sometimes nothing works and that is okay…
Great tips for those with adorable traveling peanuts!
Our daughter traveled home with her 2 month in April,it’s a lot of work!
You’ve got great parent tips here but the most important thing to bring with you is patience !
Great pointers here for travelling with a baby. Love the photo of dad and baby daughter – that’s a keeper for sure. :-)