At the best of times, relocation day can be an exhausting and harried experience. And a moving day a kid? Even more frustrating.
Times of change and transformation can be difficult for kids, which implies that, in addition to regular issues, like keeping them away from permanent markers and packing tape—you might have someone grumpy or annoyed on your arms. All this can end up making it even more difficult to move with a baby. But it doesn\’t have to be that way!
The best thing you can do for both yourself and your kid is to go on a big day with a strategy. And to help you do that, we\’ve compiled some of our best tips to navigate the day with a kid—including some simple and innovative ways to keep small hands busy
Get A Nanny, If Possible
The best way of dealing with a moving day with a kid is to have someone to look after the kids. This will give you the liberty you need to attend to your move-to-do list, and you won\’t have to worry about things like leaving the door open when you\’re loading a truck or having a pair of scissors lying on the floor.
Hire Local Movers in California Rather Than Trying To DIY
If your budget allows, hire a few professionals for your move instead of trying to do it on your own. Not only will this make the whole process quicker, but you\’ll also be able to stay focused on your kid while your local movers take good care of all the leg work and loading. Search for a reliable moving company in your area, and get the quotes and ensure that you get the best possible price for your move.
Let Your Child Help with Their Room
Give your baby some simple moving-related tasks to do that will keep them occupied and make something that could be sad into something fun. Keep aside a simple but \”important\” task for them on a moving day, such as packing all their stuffed toys in a box or gathering all the empty hangers in their cupboard. It\’s not necessarily going to be the most effective way to accomplish that particular task, but it\’s going to help your child feel like part of the process.
Get A Moving Day Box of Fun Ready
The more distractions the better when you\’re dealing with a toddler\’s moving day. While you\’re supposed to have your child’s, essentials packed and easily accessible, have another box on handy that has just exciting and fun stuff that can hold their attention. This may include non-messy art supplies such as pencils and a drawing book, a few favorite toys, and some snacks. Pack and seal the box a few days before the moving day, and let your baby know they\’re going to be able to open it on a moving day. It\’s going to feel like a gift, even if it\’s loaded with stuff they already have.
Assign A Kids Zone
The last thing you need on a moving day is your kid wandering around from one place to another, so pick a safe and central spot where they can play and use a baby gate to close it off. ng Check in regularly and stick a screen in there too so that if your kid needs you, and you\’re not at a hearing range, they can easily get your focus.
If Possible, Try to Follow Your Usual Schedule
Little children thrive on routine, which is part of what makes a moving day with a child so exhausting. As you plan ahead, prefer to adhere to your usual routine as much as you can, especially before you start the journey. Try to wake up at the same time as normal and have a lazy morning—even if that means you have to work a bit harder the night before getting everything prepared. Even little things like adhering to their normal sleep routine offer some reliability to your baby on an otherwise new and unexpected type of day.
Treat It as An Adventure
Get your baby thrilled about the moving day by classifying it as an adventure. Your own attitude to moving around can have a big impact on how your baby responds, so twist it as something fun and new and work in a couple of pleasant surprises throughout the day—like a big doughnut when you get in the car to head to your new place.
Give Your Kids an Opportunity to Say Good-Bye to Their Old Home
Change is difficult for kids, so it’s essential to provide them an opportunity for closure on their own terms. While you may be in hurry to leave for your new home, be sure to take some time with your baby to stroll through each room and say \”goodbye.\”
Bid farewell to the kitchen, to the backyard and the front door, and to your kid\’s favorite place in the lounge room. And of course, set aside time for them to say good-bye to their bedroom.
You\’re going to have a lot to do once you get to your new place. But before you start unpacking, walk your baby through the new house and show them what it\’s like. Let them pick up their room (or have the illusion of picking up their room and show them any nice features you didn\’t have in your previous place.
From there, work backward, do many of the same things that you did while you were loading a truck in your old home: bring out something fun or unusual for them, set them kept in a secure space, and maintain a positive attitude. While they\’re busy, get to work with a quick child-proofing of space, including:
- Close the door to open spaces that are not safe for your child to have access to.
- Keep sharp objects, such as scissors and kitchen knives, as well as glass objects and other breakable items, on the counters and out of reach of small hands;
- Try to plug in the outlet caps in any room that your child has access to
- Ensure that all hazardous materials, such as cleaning supplies and paint, are out of reach;
Moving day with a kid doesn\’t have to be that exhausting. As long as you get into it with a strategy.
And remember: seeking help is all right! Moving day is a good time to join the help of grandparents or a friend or family member. The more adult hands-on deck, the better you\’ll be able to handle all of your many day-to-dos, while also guaranteeing that your kids are safe and well cared for. It\’s even better if you get someone to keep hold of them at home, leaving you with time to focus on your so many moving day duties.
Looking for local movers in California?
Our professionally trained moving work crew understands the problems and distress associated with local residential moving or local apartment moving. So, our goal is to make your moving as easy as possible. We take as much care as any long-distance or international move in local residential moves to keep with safety standards to make your local move successful. We understand that each apartment or house move is unique and special. Therefore, we offer a variety of moving services in California aimed to suit our client’s specific moving needs and the best during their relocation.
Get a quote from the best long-distance movers in California here and rest assured that your move will be in good hands. We wish you happy moving!