We recently moved into a new home.Although it was an exciting time for our family, at times it felt like a very emotional, stressful, and tiring process.
And while I was excited for a fresh start, I couldn’t help but feel extremely sad thinking back on all of the memories our family created in our first house — the only home our daughter had ever known.
At our first home we shared many highs and lows, laughter and tears. We told friends and family we were expecting, brought our daughter home from the hospital, and watched her grow and achieve milestones. My husband and I had our own accomplishments and trials, both individually and as a married couple, then as parents.
We learned so much during our time in that space.
And while I knew we’d make plenty of memories and continue to learn and grow in our new home, it still weighed heavy on my heart.
In addition to the emotional attachment to our home, we also dealt with the stress of packing and moving with a toddler.
Anxiety consumed me from the time our offer got accepted until we closed on our new home. And the stress of not having everything together still lingers as we continue to make our new house a home.
So, while the move is still fresh in my mind, here are my tips to make moving with kids less stressful.
7 Tips for Moving with Kids
Start Early
The second our offer was accepted, we started packing. We didn’t even know when we would be moving, but knew the time would come quickly. And we wanted to be prepared.
We started with taking decorations off the walls and assessing what we wouldn’t need to use for the next month or so. Shockingly, we found we didn’t use many of items on a daily basis. This made it fairly easy to pack a few boxes each night.
Label Everything!
As you’re packing, don’t forget to label boxes! Then when you move in there’s no guessing where each box goes.
Never Enough Boxes & Storage Totes
It’s fair to say, you probably have more stuff than you think. I know we did!
We stocked up on heavy duty boxes and storage totes each week while we were out running errands. Even when we thought we had enough containers, we brought more home, just in case.
I found that generally stores have a surplus and will let you take boxes home. I also snagged a good amount of boxes from my workplace recycling.
While storage totes can seem expensive at the time, they’re not only great for moving, but for long-term storage. Think holiday decorations, clothes and toys your kids have outgrown, and fancy dishes you don’t use often. Also, clear totes are my favorite because you can easily see what they contain.
Keep Your Home Clean and Tidy
Another strategy we employed before moving was keeping our home neat and also deep cleaning areas we don’t normally touch. Think dusting blinds, wiping down light fixtures, cleaning out the gunk in windowsills, and wiping down trim, cabinets, and walls. We also wiped out cupboards as they were emptied.
In the final week, we cleaned out our fridge and freezer. Then put paper towels down before adding any food that we would need for that week back in. Anything we hadn’t used in the last few months (like random condiments and freezer burned french fries) landed in the trash.
This made our final clean incredibly painless once we had removed everything from our home.
Another great option we didn’t utilize, but I would in the future, is using a local cleaning service to help lighten the load.
Hire Moving Help
In my previous moves, I had always relied on my husband or my parents to help with transporting boxes. And while family was great help again this time around, I knew we would need some additional manpower.
A three bedroom house isn’t a quick load and unload. Plus we closed on the sale and purchase of our homes on the same day, so we didn’t have the luxury of moving things over slowly.
We opted to hire a local moving company for hourly labor and it was 100% worth it. They helped with all of our heavy items (couches, dressers, dining room table, etc.) so my husband and I were able to tackle the more manageable items. They wrapped everything with packing blankets and nothing was damaged in the process!
You can also hire movers to pack and move your items within your house as well. From what I learned, the moving companies can be flexible to your needs, allowing you to stay within your budget.
Prep Meals
One of the most challenging rooms to pack was our kitchen because we use items in there so frequently! The weekend before the move, we prepped meals for the week and used paper plates and plastic silverware, so we could pack up the majority of the kitchen.
Knowing we’d likely be eating out frequently during our move to save time, it was nice to have a few home-cooked meals that week.
Schedule Care for Kids
This may seem like a no-brainer, but packing and moving with kids around isn’t ideal. There’s so much going on and it can be dangerous with large items being moved around.
We were fortunate to close on a Friday, which meant we were loading trailers on a Thursday. Both days our daughter was at daycare.
Then on Saturday, when we unloaded, we had a family member assigned to “Harper Duty” at all times, to make sure she wasn’t getting into boxes or getting in the way of the movers. This freed me up to direct traffic and help as needed.
Be Patient
This is my favorite tip, yet it was the hardest one to put into practice.
You will get everything packed, loaded, unloaded, and cleaned. It will happen, but it might require some additional patience with yourself, your spouse, and your children.
Then after you get moved in, relax and enjoy the space. Take a break. And take your time.
Remember that not everything needs to be Instagram-worthy in the first week.
Your house will transition to a home simply because your family inhibits it, not because it’s perfectly clean or decorated.
I hope these tips will help you with your next time moving with kids!
Are there any tips for moving with kids you would add to this list? Let us know in the comments below!
