I’ve moved five times in my adult life, and 4 of those have been with kids. Twice with a set of twins! So I have had to learn some tricks to make it easier when moving house with a family. So I thought I would share them with you to help your moving process go as easily as possible.
Get In A Babysitter!
OK, this one is the easiest way to make it as smooth as possible for you! Although I only did this with the last move, I am so glad I did! The twins were 2.5 years old and ran! The removal van arrived early, before my parents had arrived to help out, and the twins ran out the front door within five minutes of the removal company arriving!
Creating A Safe Place
If there isn’t an option to get a babysitter, then you need to come up with a way of keeping them in one room or area. If your children are young enough, maybe think about getting a kids’ playpen or a room divider. I had a large room divider for my twins, and I made the lounge completely safe for them. I knew I could then leave them in this room, and they could play with their toys safely, and I was able to get on with some jobs. Then you can keep aside some new toys that they haven’t played with before to bring out on the day of the move, and it should keep them occupied.
Removal Companies
Look into different removal companies to see what options they offer and the removal costs. You may find you can afford to hire a company that not only does the moving from one house to the other, but also packs up the house for you. Allowing you to concentrate on looking after the children and the admin side of moving house. Using a transport executive makes everything so much easier for yourself, and that’s what you need to do when you’re moving with kids!
Pack A Overnight Bag
Pack up an overnight bag, or even to cover a few nights. Think of it as a holiday bag and pack everything you would need to dress, medicine, toys and clean them. This means you can just turn up in the new house with enough stuff for the children to cover them for a few days and not have to find everything straight away. Allow them to add some things that are special to them, and it will make them feel happier knowing they can get to their important things first.
Stick To Your Routine
Stick to your routine as much as you can. It can be difficult, but keeping the kids in their routine will help them settle and feel more in control of all the changes that are going on around them. Try to get the kid’s bedroom set up as much as possible with your first move-in as well.
I hope this has given you a few ideas on how to help you move as a family, good luck with your move and it will all be worth it in the end!
Check out Claire Mac as she shares her Moving house with a baby: Crucial dos and don’ts