As most people that have moved at one point in their life will tell you, relocating can be very rough. There’s usually a lot of stress involved. What’s more, moving is a time-consuming process that can easily eat your precious time. Worrying about moving while simultaneously attending to your everyday duties isn’t anyone’s idea of a good time. And if you’re moving with toddlers (or even older children) – double so. However, you’re not alone. Many people have had the same problem. Together, they have come up with ways to ease the process of moving with toddlers. Here are some of the things that should help you immensely.

Prepare your kids for the move

Before you start moving, take the time to prepare your children. I know that, amidst your everyday duties and all of the preparations for the move, you won’t have as much time on your hands as you’d like. However, while you shouldn’t neglect all the fun activities for kids that you can do together, you should also find enough time to prepare them for the move.

Proper communication is very important when moving with toddlers

Talk to your child about the move. And not just once, as toddlers learn best when things are repeated to them several times. Don’t forget to stress the fact that you’ll all be moving together, just in case that your toddler becomes confused.

Apart from explaining some of the challenges that moving entails, you should also get a feeling as to what is the child’s perspective on the situation. That way, you’ll be prepared for some of the problems that may arise on your children’s behalf. And be sure to ask your kids if there’s anything that you can do to help them out. Most likely, they’ll have an answer for you. If you can, try doing what you can in accordance to their wishes.

Try to involve your kids in the moving process

You should also try to involve your toddler(s) in the moving process as much as you can. Children may fear that they don’t have any control over moving. However, you can do some things in order to make them feel more in control. You can, for example, let them pick the colour of their new room.

Your kids can also help you pack. If you’re moving with the help of a moving company, try to find the company with friendly employees who won’t have a problem with allowing the kids to participate in the packing process. You can use a specialized website to help you find the right movers based on your location. For example, if you’re moving to or from Florida, Best Movers in Florida can help you find… the best movers in Florida.

Throw a goodbye party

As most children will have a hard time saying goodbye to their friends (even if they’re toddlers), you can throw a goodbye party. Not only will the party be an opportunity for your kids to say goodbye to their friends, but they’ll be also saying goodbye to the home that they’ve lived in as well. And while organizing a party for children can be hard amidst the moving process, here’s what you can do in order to throw a stress-free kids party.

After the move

However, preparing your child is not enough. Here’s what you can do once you’ve moved in.

Having a routine and sticking to it will ease the process of moving with toddlers

For toddlers, the world is very much an unknown place, chaotic and full of mysteries. However, having a good routine makes small children feel more safe. Unfortunately, most parents want to unpack as soon as possible and some of them may neglect the previously established routine. Don’t do that! I know that unpacking is high on your list of priorities, but don’t forget to serve meals at the same time every day. The same goes for your toddler’s bedtime, and any pre-nap and pre-bedtime routines that you may have.

When moving with small children to another state, you’ll probably be traveling by air. In that case, don’t take the red-eye flight! In all likelihood, your toddler will be so excited about the journey that he or she will sleep very little during the flight, and that will mess up your kid’s routine. So, try traveling during the day. 

Try to make your new place feel like home

However, unpacking some of your toddler’s things as quickly as possible also has its benefits, so try to find a balance between sticking to a routine and quickly unpacking. The idea is to try to make your toddler’s new home feel like his or her previous home. For example, try to put your toddler’s old bedding on the bed as soon as possible. Or, try posting your toddler’s pictures on the wall as quickly as you can.

Signs of stress to look out for

Children don’t show that they’re feeling stressed out the same way that adults do. That’s why you should be on the lookout for some physical changes that may occur in your toddler. These changes will probably signal that your child is having a hard time adjusting to its new home. Here are some of the symptoms that may occur:

• Your toddler may regress in terms of his or her speech ability.
• He or she may experience pain as a result of stress. If your toddler starts suffering from persistent headaches or stomach aches after moving, it could be that they’re stress-induced.
• Similarly, toddlers may also experience the loss of appetite, or they may start sleep-walking. Even worse, your toddler may start suffering from insomnia.
• Your child might also unexpectedly become aggressive. If you you don’t know why this is happening, it could be a result of moving stress.
• Toddlers might also start sucking their thumbs because of stress. If they haven’t done this before, there’s a good chance that they’re now doing it because you have moved.

Try to remain positive

Finally, remember to stay positive. If you follow these tips for moving house, the moving process will be much easier. You’ll be able to keep your nerves more easily. And that is very important, because your state of mind can have a huge impact on your toddler’s. If you’re sad or stressed, there’s a good chance that your child will feel stressed or sad as well. Likewise, if you’re feeling good about the move, that should influence your toddler in a positive way. So, try to handle the moving process as best as you can, if not for your, then for your child’s sake.

To conclude

Moving with toddlers can certainly be tough. However, if you follow these guidelines, you’ll be well on your way to having a smooth moving procedure. Just remember to stay positive and everything should be okay!