According to a study by the Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (ACAP), moving is one of the most stressful things kids go through. Babies, toddlers, and children, in general, thrive with predictable routines. Whenever those routines are disrupted, which is usually the case when you move, it can make them anxious. A new room, new home, new school/daycare, and new friends – it’s sometimes just too much.
Worse still, the research found that during a move, adults tend to focus on the logistics of moving itself – packing, finding a new home, selling the house, and so on – completely forgetting about the stresses the move might put on the little one. It makes an already difficult period even more stressful for the young ones.
No one wants to put their bundle of joy through this, right? So, we’ve summarized a few quick tips to help make the move easier for both you and the baby.
Before the move
- Stick to the routine: Babies need their routines. Never let the packing and house hunting get in the way of their play, sleep, and eating schedules.
- Use childcare: Ask a trusted babysitter, friend, or family member to look after the baby during planning, packing, and on the actual moving day.
- Talk to the baby’s doctor: Armed with the baby’s medical records, see a pediatrician and ask for tips on how to best care for the baby’s health during the move.
- Always pack a baby bag: The rule of thumb is to pack half the nursery and carry it with you wherever you go. At the very least, carry enough supplies to last three days for short moves and a month for long moves.
- Say goodbye – to help the baby develop closure, a day or so before the move, walk through each room together and say goodbye. Also, if the baby has special friends whom they might miss, make sure they say goodbye too.
When moving in
- Unpack the nursery first: This will allow you to easily change the baby and put him or her to sleep on the first night in the new home. For an easier transition, ensure that the set up is as close as possible to the previous nursery.
- Set up the crib: Make sure the crib should meet the CPSC and JPMA requirements. Additionally, to prevent risks such as suffocation and strangulation, look out for sharp edges, loose hardware, large gaps, and missing/broken parts.
- Use safe bedding: Soft bedding can suffocate a baby when their faces become buried in the bedding. The same applies to mattresses. Use firm, tight-fitting mattresses with sheets and nothing more. For extra warmth, use wearable blankets.
After the move
After moving in, there will be a lot to do to make the little one completely at home in the new place. The following tips usually help;
- Spend time together: For the first few days after the move, stay at home as much as possible. You should even consider taking time off work. Spending time together will help the child adjust faster.
- Keep things normal: Just like you did leading up to the move, stick to routines for at least one month. No family vacations or major trips during those first few weeks of moving in.
- Baby poof the new home: From installing gates to securing furniture and decorating, go every distance to make the place as homey for the baby as possible.
Schedule your move today
Winter Moving & Storage is a Van Lines approved agent with more than 40 years of industry experience. Contact us today for a baby-friendly move.
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