Tips for Moving House with a Toddler or Baby

Everything You Need to Know About Moving House with a Baby or Toddler

How to Move House with Kids

If you didn’t think moving house was stressful enough, why not throw some kids in the mix? Moving house with a baby or toddler can be downright difficult. From packing all their essentials and keeping them entertained to baby-proofing your new home and helping them settle in.

As a parent, there’s a seemingly endless list of steps to take to ensure a safe and smooth move for your little one. Once the initial flurry of excitement has passed and you’re at the point of wading through tedious paperwork, you’ll likely be hit by the enormous task at hand – especially if you have kids in tow!

It’s important to have a plan when moving house with a toddler or a small baby – you need to know exactly what to do and when to do it. With this in mind, we’ve rounded up our top tips for moving house with kids – whether it be a newborn baby or a toddler. We’ll help you navigate the lead up to your house move as well as the big day itself.

How Do You Move House with a Newborn?

Moving house with a newborn baby is no mean feat. When trying to balance the preparation and work that goes into moving with the obligations of being a brand new parent, it’s easy to feel like you’re losing control. However, with the right plans in place, moving house with a newborn baby doesn’t have to be stressful.

1. Don’t start too early

When moving house with a newborn baby, you shouldn’t start packing any earlier than you need to. If you’re itching to start the packing process, at least leave your baby’s belongings until last. While it might be tempting to start packing all those noisy toys and stuffed animals away, we advise waiting to pack your baby’s things until a week or so before the big move.

The reason? The last thing you want to do right before you move is go hunting through boxes to find your baby’s favourite blanket or that toy that they can’t sleep without. When you do come to pack up your baby’s belongings, make sure you label each box as clearly as possible so you can easily find them at the other end.

2. Stick to routine

Moving house means a lot of changes in a very short space of time. But, having a newborn baby means you have to stick to a relatively consistent schedule – feeding at the right times, being put down for a nap and waking up again. Babies, especially newborns, thrive off a set routine and disrupting this when moving house could cause all kinds of problems down the line.

3. Find new services

Moving house with a baby means you’ll need to find all kinds of new services at your new address. Whether it’s a new GP, a new paediatrician, or new childcare options. It’s important that as soon as you move, you register with a new GP to ensure you have somewhere to go if your baby gets sick. You’ll also need to remember to notify all your existing services that you’re moving, in particular your NHS change of address.

How Do You Move House with a Toddler?

Moving house takes it’s toll on us, but it can also be stressful for toddlers and young children. From manoeuvring the chaos of moving day to adapting to a new home, it’s important to plan ahead when moving house with a toddler to make the process run as smoothly as possible.

1. Involve your child

Not only will asking your toddler to help with the packing make them feel more involved in the moving process, it will buy you 10 minutes of peace and quiet. Make packing up all their belongings a fun game that will keep them entertained while helping to give them a sense of independence.

2. Enlist childcare

Don’t feel any shame in asking for a little help when it comes to childcare. If you’re able to, as a friend or relative to take care of your child on moving day or even for a couple of days leading up to the move. This will allow you some extra time to get on with moving tasks disruption-free. You’ll also be able to get their new room ready, helping them feel more settled when they arrive.

3. Meal prep

In the days leading up to your move, you probably won’t have the time nor the inclination to cook. So, it’s a good idea to start preparing meals for the freezer in advance. You should make things that are easy to freeze like chillies, curries and soups. This also means you can pack more pots, pans and utensils so you have less to do last minute.

4. Book a food shop

Plan ahead and pre-book a food shop for the first day in your new house. You’ll be far too busy to take a trip to the supermarket, especially if you’re moving to a new area and aren’t familiar with the surroundings. You’ll thank us when your hungry toddler is pestering you for snacks!

5. Comfort in the familiar

When moving house with a toddler, there will be a lot of new things for them to take in. To help them adjust to their new surroundings, wait a day or two before putting their new bedding on. Giving them their usual duvet and cover, complete with familiar smells, will help them feel more settled in their new home.

6. Remain calm

We know better than anyone how stressful the moving process can be. Unfortunately, though, toddlers and young children tend to pick up on the stress around them – especially from their parents. Changes in sleep patterns and eating habits, as well as sudden temper tantrums and crying spells are a sign that a toddler isn’t happy. To ensure your child remains as calm as possible during the move, it’s important that you remain calm too. So, take a deep breath and happy moving!

Moving House with a Baby or Toddler

Moving house is meant to be an exciting time, and it should be – for both you and your kids.

Whether you’re moving house with a newborn baby or a toddler, it’s important to plan ahead and consider how your child might be feeling.

It’s also important to remember that every child is different – some might love moving to a new house and not think twice about their old home, while others might dislike the change.

Either way, as long as you take the relevant precautions and follow our tips on moving house with a toddler or baby, the process should go smoothly.