Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Downsizing and moving home with toddler -no stress - advice please?

5 replies

MovingHome22 · 11/01/2022 13:26

I am feeling pretty overwhelmed and nervous about our forthcoming home move. I have found out today we will be moving - it's good news as we are "upgrading" to a much much nicer area with tonnes of green space and great school for our 18 month old DS. We are currently in a tower block flat with no garden. But to get the great area we have had to downsize from a very spacious flat to a little cottage. I'm overwhelmed by how on earth we are going to get everything done. We have a month. What order do I do things? My husband works long hours so it's going to fall on me.

Where we live now we have a huge cupboard the size of a small room where we keep ironing board, Dyson, coats, boxes of files, camping stuff, sleeping bags, suitcases etc etc At the new cottage there is one cupboard under the stairs and that is it!

I know we need to declutter before we move. Where do I start with all of this? What order do I declutter, pack and so on? Can I ask removals company to help pack? I have toddler at home with me all day.

We have no family support or childcare, so I'm thinking DH will need to take toddler out for the day on move day, as I'm by far the most organised one. I can't imagine we will be able to move with toddler around?

Emotionally, I'm also wondering how to support our son to understand the move. Due to lockdowns he has spent a year playing in our home and he loves it and I know he feels safe and comfortable playing in his room bless him. When we took him on holiday last year he was very discombobulated for a few days. Is there anything I can do to prepare him? Can anyone recommend a book perhaps? His understanding is good but I don't think he understands moving.

I am thinking that his room should be the last one to be packed away the first one to be unpacked so he can see all his familiar things around him. Is this a good idea?

Is there any other advice anyone can offer me re downsizing, being organised, as little stress as possible for my son (and for me)!?

OP posts:
ItsSnowJokes · 11/01/2022 13:32

You need to declutter first, get rid of as much stuff as usual can. It will be easier to pay for packing with the removals and it doesn't actually cost that much more, I think ours was £400 on top of the removals. It takes away all the stress. You need to declutter before they pack!

Start now and just keep going at it. Be ruthless!

Fallagain · 11/01/2022 13:33

You can get removal companies to do all the packing. It costs more but they do it on the day.

Start watching sort your life out on iplayer. Choose one area of stuff at a time, start small eg your sock drawer, pour it out and decide what to keep rather than what to get rid of.

I would put his dirty as in umwashed for a few days bedding back on his bed so it smells familiar.

MovingHome22 · 11/01/2022 13:48

Thanks. Ooh that's a good idea about the bedding! Hadn't thought of that!

OP posts:

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

MovingHome22 · 11/01/2022 14:12

I need to start decluttering then. It's going to be tough!

OP posts:
LakeShoreD · 11/01/2022 14:17

If you can afford it then packing services are great. Ours came the day before to do all the time consuming bitty stuff like the kitchen and then back the morning of to do the rest e.g. beds and sofa. Declutter first as you’re paying for it so you don’t want them wasting time (& money!) on useless junk. By 18 months my DD had moved 4 times including half way across the world. They’re more resilient than you think! Good luck with the move Grin

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread