The whole process of moving homes is stressful in general. Adding an infant or toddler to the mix makes it even more stressful with a dose of anxiety creeping in. But with careful planning and the assistance of an experienced and reliable removal company, you can be more prepared and feel you are ready for an affordable move. Read ahead for some tips and a guide on how to move homes with a baby.
Essential tips for moving with kids
Newborns tend to spend most of their time sleeping so they should be easy to handle during the packing and traveling stage, particularly in the case of long distance moves. But older infants and toddlers are curious and unsure of what is happening around them. These important tips will help create a calm atmosphere for you and your baby.
- Maintain a routine – make sure you keep meal and nap times on the same routine for your little one, even when it’s time to move and after you have moved into your new home. Consistency makes babies feel secure at times like these.
- Do your packing while they are sleeping or away. Make use of nap times, daycare hours or arrange a sitter so you have peace of mind when packing. It is easy to forget where you placed something if there are distractions during packing.
- Hire an experienced and reliable removal company to help with the move. This will free you from majority of the stress related to moving houses, so you can focus on making sure your baby is not affected by the move.
Guidelines for moving with a baby
Before the move
While on one hand moving requires a lot of planning and packing, even with the help of professional movers, there are some additional tasks to consider when a child is involved.
- Schedule an appointment with the pediatrician
Visit your baby’s doctor a few days or weeks before the move and inform them. Make sure the baby’s weight and health progress is fine and is up-to-date on all the vaccinations. Also, inquire about recommendations for a new pediatrician in your new locality. Keep copies of all medical records and prescriptions so you can hand it over to the new doctor.
- Explore options for a new daycare
Find daycare programs in your new neighborhood before the move. These are things you can do in advance without rushing when its time to move. Also, good childcare facilities have waiting lists. So being early can ensure your child will be accepted by the time you move to the new home.
- Look for a family-friendly removal company
Try to find an experienced and reliable removal company that also accommodates families with children. For example, moving trucks may need to make space for car seats, strollers, and other child-related equipment. Hiring a moving company suitable for your move will involve a lot of research and comparison of options from firms in the moving industry. Keep in mind, in addition to the cost of your move quoted by professional movers, it is important to make sure they are a reliable and trustworthy company that will guarantee a high quality of service.
- Plan the move
If it is a long distance move, figure out a route that includes family-friendly pit stops, parks, and restaurants. Get in touch with your local movers for some advice and inform the moving crew that you will be scheduling extra time because you will need stops to feed, diaper change, and cater to any of your baby’s needs.
- Pack items for your baby
Experienced movers advise you to divide your packing into two categories: essentials and non-essentials.
Essentials will include everything you need during the traveling period and immediately when you get to the new house. These items include diapers, wet wipes, creams, snacks, feeding bottles, feeding cutlery, breast pump, formula, napkins, clothing, soaps, bags for dirty diapers, medication, first-aid kit, favorite toys, thermometer, and blanket.
In the non-essentials boxes, pack things that won’t be needed just before the move, during the transfer or just after you get there. These things can be packed weeks or months in advance. For example – extra toys, off-season clothing, nursery décor and furniture, books, and other things that are not used regularly. Customized packaging can be requested local moving companies to cater to items such as antiques and appliances
On moving day
On the day of your move, it would be ideal to have your little one with a babysitter, friend, or relative, away from the site. By doing so, you are assured that your child is safe and you can concentrate on the moving process with peace of mind. With the help of a reliable moving company such as UKDAR, you should undoubtedly be able to complete a seamless move.
After moving
- Unpack your baby’s belongings first
By setting up your baby’s nursery first, it will help the new home seem familiar to him/her, particularly when the furniture and décor are set similar to the old house. Also, if the nursery is set up, your baby will have a quiet and safe place to sleep and play while you continue to unpack and set up the rest of your new home.
- Baby proof your new home
- Block the staircase and other dangerous areas with gates.
- Place child-resistant locks on drawers that contain dangerous products.
- Don’t have packing materials and cords lying around the floor.
- Heavy furniture such as bookshelves and dressers should be anchored against the wall.
- Cover electrical outlets
- Visit your new pediatrician
Set up an appointment to meet your new pediatrician to introduce your baby and his/her medical history, vaccination records, and so on. Also, the doctor can examine your little one to see how he/she is coping after the move.