Moving Home with a Baby or Young Child: Tips for Parents
Moving home is exciting, but there is no getting away from the fact that it can also be a busy few weeks.
Add a baby or young child into the mix and suddenly there is a little more to think about.
Between packing boxes, arranging removals, collecting keys and trying to remember which box contains the kettle, you're also trying to keep feeding times, naps, nursery runs and bedtime routines somewhere close to normal.
The good news is that moving home with children doesn't need to feel overwhelming.
We've helped plenty of families move across Hull, East Yorkshire and the surrounding villages over the years, and a little preparation can make moving day much easier for everyone.
Here are some of our tips for moving house with a baby or young child.
Talk to your children about moving home
How much your child understands will naturally depend on their age, but involving them in the move can make the change feel far less daunting.
For a toddler or young child, moving home is a big change. Their bedroom looks different, their toys disappear into boxes and suddenly the place they know as home is changing around them.
Talk positively about what is happening and explain things in a way they can understand.
You could tell them about their new bedroom, the garden they will be able to play in or the park you spotted around the corner.
There are also children's books about moving house which can make the whole idea easier to understand.
If you're able to, taking them to see the new house before moving day can also help. Showing them which room will be theirs and talking about where their toys might go can make the new property feel more familiar before you arrive with the removal van.
Most importantly, try to keep conversations about the move positive around them.
Moving home can occasionally be stressful for adults, but young children are very good at picking up on how we're feeling.
Keep your child's routine as normal as possible
Routine can be reassuring for babies and younger children, particularly when everything else around them is changing.
Of course, moving day probably isn't going to run exactly like an ordinary Tuesday.
But keeping a few familiar parts of their day can help.
If your child normally has lunch at a certain time, try to have something ready. If there is a favourite bedtime story, teddy or blanket, make sure it hasn't disappeared into the back of the removal van.
The same applies to naps and bedtime where possible.
You probably won't achieve a completely normal routine on moving day, and that's fine. The aim is simply to keep a few familiar things amongst all the boxes and change.
Pack a moving-day bag for your baby or child
There are some boxes you can happily leave unopened until tomorrow.
The one containing your baby's nappies probably isn't one of them.
Before moving day, pack a separate bag containing everything your child is likely to need during the day and first night in your new home.
Depending on their age, that might include:
- Nappies, wipes and changing essentials
- Bottles, formula or feeding equipment
- Snacks, food and drinks
- A change of clothes
- Favourite toys or comforters
- Medicines or other essentials
- Pyjamas and bedtime items
- Chargers for tablets or other entertainment
Keep this bag with you rather than putting it onto the removal van.
Think of it as the same sort of bag you might pack for a day out, only with enough supplies to comfortably get you through moving day and your first evening.
It is one small bit of organisation that can save a lot of searching through boxes later.
Should you arrange childcare for moving day?
If you have family, friends or childcare available, asking someone to look after your child for a few hours can make moving day considerably easier.
There will be removal teams coming and going, doors left open, furniture being carried around and plenty demanding your attention.
Having somebody your child already knows looking after them can give you time to concentrate on getting everything moved safely.
That doesn't mean they need to miss the excitement completely.
They could spend the busiest part of the day with grandparents or another family member, then join you once the main furniture is inside and things have started to settle down.
Of course, childcare isn't possible for everybody.
If your child will be with you throughout the move, planning a safe, comfortable space for them at both properties beforehand can make things much more manageable.
Make moving day safe for young children
A normal family home is generally set up with your children in mind.
A half-empty house on moving day isn't.
Boxes can be stacked in unusual places, furniture might be dismantled and exterior doors may be open while belongings are carried outside.
Take a few minutes to think about the risks before everything gets busy.
If possible, create one safe area where your child can play away from the main route used by movers.
Be particularly careful around:
- Open front and back doors
- Stairs without safety gates
- Stacked boxes
- Cleaning products
- Tools and furniture fixings
- Heavy furniture being moved
- Uncovered electrical sockets
- Garden gates and unfamiliar outside spaces
It sounds simple, but when you're answering questions, directing furniture and looking for the broadband router at the same time, it is easy to become distracted.
Child-proof your new home early
You may have spent years making your current home safe for your child without really thinking about it.
Then you arrive at the new house and have to start again.
One of the first jobs when you receive the keys should be a quick safety check from your child's point of view.
Are the staircases safe?
Does the garden gate close properly?
Are there accessible sockets?
Do any blind cords need securing?
Are cleaning products or tools left in cupboards your child can reach?
If you have a crawling baby or adventurous toddler, it can even help to get down to their level and look around the room. You'll often spot things you wouldn't notice while standing up.
You don't need to have every cupboard lock fitted before the sofa arrives, but dealing with the obvious risks early gives you one less thing to worry about.
Set up your child's bedroom first
When you arrive at your new home, it is tempting to start with the kitchen or living room.
For families with younger children, there is a good argument for putting their bedroom near the top of the list.
Getting their bed or cot ready, putting familiar bedding on and unpacking a few favourite toys can quickly create one part of the new house that feels like theirs.
If they arrive later in the day, they'll see familiar belongings rather than an empty room full of boxes.
It can also make that first bedtime considerably easier.
You can worry about whether the pictures are perfectly straight another day.
Let older children get involved
If your child is old enough, giving them a small job can actually make moving day more enjoyable.
That could be carrying a lightweight bag, choosing where their toys should go or helping unpack a box in their bedroom.
You might even let them decorate their moving box beforehand so they can easily find their belongings at the other end.
It gives them a role in what is happening rather than making the move feel like something that is simply happening around them.
For children who are particularly attached to their current home, allowing them to make some decisions about their new space can also give them something positive to look forward to.
Explore the area around your new home
Moving isn't only about changing houses.
For a family, you are also becoming part of a new neighbourhood.
Once the boxes are beginning to disappear, take some time to explore.
Find the nearest park. Walk the school or nursery route. Discover where you can grab a coffee or take the children on a Sunday morning.
If you've moved to a new part of Hull or East Yorkshire, getting to know those everyday places can quickly make an unfamiliar area start to feel like home.
It can be particularly helpful for older children who may be leaving familiar surroundings behind.
Give them reasons to feel excited about where they are going, not just sad about what they are leaving.
What should first-time parents look for when buying a home?
Having children often changes what buyers want from their next property.
The kitchen you once loved might suddenly feel small once there is a highchair in it, while having a garden or an extra bedroom can become far more important than it was a few years earlier.
Every family's priorities are different, but parents commonly consider things such as:
- Bedroom space as the family grows
- A secure garden or outdoor area
- Storage for pushchairs, toys and everything else children seem to accumulate
- Parking and getting a child in and out of the car
- Schools and nurseries
- Parks and family amenities nearby
- Space for working from home
- How easily the house could adapt as children get older
You don't necessarily need the biggest house you can afford.
The better question is whether the house works for the way your family actually lives.
Give yourselves time to settle in
Your new house probably won't feel completely like home the moment you collect the keys.
That's normal.
There might be boxes in the spare room for weeks. You may spend the first few days trying to remember which kitchen cupboard contains the mugs.
Children can take time to adjust too.
Keeping familiar routines, favourite belongings and plenty of reassurance around them can help while everyone settles into their new surroundings.
Before long, the unfamiliar house becomes the place where toys are scattered across the living room, bedtime stories are read and everybody knows which floorboard creaks on the landing.
That's when it starts becoming home.
Your Best Move Yet
Whether your next move involves a new nursery, a bigger garden or simply a little more room for family life, it pays to understand your options first.
If you're considering selling your home in Hull, East Yorkshire or the surrounding villages, speak to your local Beercocks team for straightforward advice and a no-obligation property valuation.
We'll help you understand what your home could be worth and what your next move might look like.
#Beercocks
