Moving House with Kids

There’s nothing more challenging than moving house – oh yes, there is. Moving and doing so with kids in tow!

This is often the reality of many families up and down the country who find themselves with a few more humans than they had before moving into the property.

Whether your children are still toddlers or they’re starting to hit the pre-teen years, you must run a move like a well-run ship. Otherwise, it descends into chaos. Here’s how to keep things smooth and stress-free during your next house move.

Preparing your home and your family for the move

To prepare yourself for the move, you’ll want to consider both the home and your family. With that being said, let’s start with the home.

Start by creating a timeline, breaking down the tasks into weekly goals so that you’re spreading the big effort that comes with moving into smaller and more manageable chunks. 

Go through all of your belongings and decide what it is you’re keeping, selling, donating, or simply throwing away. This will ultimately reduce the amount that you need to pack up and move yourself.

Packing strategically is helpful to make sure all of your non-essentials go into boxes that you don’t mind not unpacking if need be. Label all of your boxes with details of all the contents in them. You’ll also want to pack an essentials box, which keeps everything you’ll need in one place for use in those first 24 to 48 hours. Toiletries, medications, a change of clothes, etc.

Be sure to get everyone involved with the move so that the weight of having to do it all yourself otherwise is spread fairly across the household, where possible. Don’t forget to involve your children, especially if they’re able to pack up their own stuff into boxes.

Planning for pets is important because, for the most part, they’re just likely to get in the way. With that being said, create a plan for your pets’ travel to help minimise the stress. Otherwise, you could consider leaving them with a family member or friend while you do the move.

Keeping your belongings safe during the transition

One of the most important aspects of moving house is making sure all of your belongings are well looked after in the transition from your old property to the new one. Whether there’s a delay in the move or you’re looking to keep your most important belongings off-site, then it’s a good idea to look into the option of a self storage facility.

A self-storage unit is definitely something that can be helpful to keep your most precious belongings in a secure place. At the same time, it’s a useful alternative for when things don’t go to plan.

Settling into your new space with ease

Settling into your new space is always made better if you’re move goes well. With that being said, use these tips to help with moving house next time you’ve got some kids in tow.

See more property-related posts here and parenting posts here

Becky

Meet the award-nominated UK lifestyle blogger behind Spirited Puddle Jumper – a mum of three living in South East London! Becky shares the real ups and downs of family life, parenting tips, and lifestyle inspiration, proving that being a mum doesn’t mean you stop being fun or having other interests! Follow along for honest insights into UK family life and opinions on a whole range of topics, from travel and food, to beauty reviews, home and DIY, business and health and wellness.