Moving with A Baby: The Do’s And Don’ts
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Even if moving to a new home translates to more room for your growing family, moving with a baby on board can be a bit stressful. After all, you’re probably already low on sleep and juggling a million and one tasks, so piling moving on top of your chaotic schedule can feel like a nightmare. However, by taking your move one step and a time, you can guarantee it is efficient and successful—without putting anyone’s needs on the backburner.
We consulted with Oz Moving on the dos and don’ts of moving. So if your move coincides with having a baby in the house, you’ll know exactly what to do to make your move go off without a hitch.
DO Stick to Routine
With stuff continually being shuffled around and items disappearing into boxes, the changes that come with a move start to happen long before moving day. This is why it is important to be mindful of your baby’s routine.
You should try to stick to their feeding schedule and even regularly scheduled playtimes the best you can. This certainly won’t always be easy, but the more you can keep their routine in check, the less stressed your little one will be during the transition. And let’s be honest, no one is happy if the baby isn’t!
DON’T Forget About Hazards
This is especially important if your baby is crawling about, but it applies to any stage. You still need to be mindful of baby proofing your house during your move—possibly more than ever. Be careful where you set down the tape gun, scissors, or anything else with sharp edges. Also, fully avoid packing peanuts as they are a significant choking hazard. Boxes should also be stacked only to a certain height as higher towers are more likely to fall. Finally, before you allow for any floor time, ensure you do a quick sweep.
DO Experience a Baby’s Point of View
Speaking of baby proofing, your new home will likely come with new challenges when it comes to baby safety. To get the best sense of what risks your new place poses, get down on the floor to your baby’s level. Using their point of view, you might notice things like a loose screw that rolled under a baseboard or items your baby may be interested in grabbing.
It is best to do this inspection before everything is moved into the house to assess the structure and locate plugs. Then, once again, when everything in unpacked so you can scope out any small bits that may have went rogue and rolled under furniture. It’s also never a bad idea to test smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors while you’re at it.
DON’T Skip the Pediatrician Visit
If you are moving long-distance, then you should book an appointment with your pediatrician. This is an excellent time to discuss either the car ride or plane trip, specifically any travel concerns. You may also want to obtain your child’s medical records for their new doctor at this appointment.
DO Get Extra Help
If you want to do the least amount of work possible, opt for a full-service move. With this type of move, everything from packing boxes to unpacking your home is taken care of. You can even take it one step further and go for a white glove moving packing, which has perks such as custom crates built for your valuables and a move manager to instantly update you on any changes to the moving plan and address any questions.
DON’T Overlook Friends & Family
We also realize that professional movers aren’t the right solution for everyone. So if you are going for a more hands-on approach, don’t forget to call in some favors from friends and family. If you’ve birthed your kiddo not too long ago and your support system was already a big help, many people feel uncomfortable asking for more help so soon. However, any extra helping hands on deck for packing, moving, and babysitting—especially on moving day— can be helpful.
Just don’t forget to show your gratitude. It doesn’t have to be anything lavish, just a heartfelt thank you will suffice. However, if you want to kick it up a notch, helpers usually appreciate pizza or other takeout food.
DO Unpack Carefully
Just like you did while packing, ensure that nothing hazardous is getting left out as you empty boxes. While this certainly applies to things like medications and poisonous cleaning products, also be mindful of anything that is a choking hazard or has sharp corners or edges. Also, keep an eye on any toxic plants, as well as free-standing furniture. Ideally, you will want to secure furniture to your walls before you start unpacking boxes to make sure it doesn’t slip your mind.
DON’T Unpack Just Any Room First
With most moves, it is best to unpack the kitchen and bathroom first as they get heavy use. But with a baby, try redirecting that initial packing session to the nursery. After all, no one enjoys trying to find what box holds extra wipes when you have a full diaper on deck. By unpacking the nursery first, you can access your baby’s necessities with ease. Plus, it also provides a great place for playing and crawling once the room is unpacked and cleaned.
On the flip side of this, you may also want to consider packing your baby’s room last for the same reasons.
DO Try to Relax
As a parent, it can be easy to get tied up in our children’s well-being and skip over self-care. However, don’t forget to take care of yourself during your move as well. Whether that means taking some time to yourself to go to the gym or simply relaxing with a good book, at least once a week take the time to do something that helps you unwind.
Moving with a baby can be stressful, but it’s nothing you can’t handle! With a well thought out moving plan that targets both you and your baby’s needs, you can ensure that your move is easier, less stressful, and overall, a big success.