How do I pack an entire house with a baby in tow!?

[Barbaricmoonbear]

We move house in 6 days and there is still tonnes of packing to be done.
Im currently on maternity leave with my 5 mo so the most part of the packing is left to me as DH works 7am-5pm and doesn’t get home until gone 6pm. Naturally he is exhausted and we then have the children to feed, bath and organise school/work. There doesn’t seem to be enough hours in the day for anything house move related. DH is collecting stepchildren tonight who will be staying until Sunday afternoon, again I won’t rant but it means no help from him again as his children are more of a handful than the baby.
If I attempt to pack anything in the daytime 5mo will scream and cry. He isn’t having many naps at the moment and he’s being very clingy due to teething and a recent ear infection. If I leave the room he cries, if I put him down he cries, if I put him in the sling he cries, I cannot win.
We cannot afford packers so that’s out of the question. I haven’t got anyone who can come and help me, but that’s for another thread so I won’t rant here!
So can anyone share tips for getting everything packed up while wrestling a baby made of iron and not losing the plot in the process!?

As far as I can see it, your options are either DH deals with the baby, or DH packs. Not sure what else you can do really!?

When i was in this situation. I found things for baby to play with in same room that wasn't ' toys' so plastic utensils, mixing bowls plastic jugs etc kept them entertained.

Or even stick the tv on. Little baby bum on Netflix or coco melon they tend to love. Few hrs tv isn't going to hurt.

Good luck

We had a newborn so paid the company to spend a day packing for us.

Will baby go in a sling?

I think something has to give. Either he takes time off work and cracks on with it (you could do all the planning up front and he just does the 'doing') or you get someone in to entertain little one to allow you time to do it. He may have to alter the way his weekends with his children are for a short time till you get past this hurdle? Can they be babysat by someone at your house but out of the way?

When we moved with an 8 month old , dh took holidays from work and packed while I organised things and entertained ds . your Dh will have to help out some bit or pay for help

Grandparents can babysit his DC for one weekend to allow you a chance to get on. DH can watch baby. Good luck.

I feel for you. IMO you definitely cannot do this whilst also looking after your 5m old. Your DH will need to take some time off to pack or to watch baby while you do it.
Absurd that DH is having stepchildren over during this period too. Does suggest he has no idea what is involved with looking after a young baby by yourself if he thinks you can also pack up a house on your own at the same time.

Thanks everyone, I know it’s basically impossible to do alone I was just hoping for a miracle suggestion I hadn’t considered yet!
DH isn’t allowed time off work as he used up all of his holiday (which resets in April) I told him to call in sick but he’s a wimp and won’t do it. If I suggest he doesn’t see his children this weekend then I’ll be burnt at the stake as he hasn’t seen them since Christmas - convenient huh! We’ve argued several times about his lack of help, but as the move date came on so suddenly without much notice it wasn’t easy to plan ahead.
I still have to do the school run too so if I start something I can’t finish it.
I’ve tried the tv which baby watches for 5 minutes then notices I’m not holding him and will scream. Giving him things to play with that aren’t toys is a good shout.
Family and ‘friends’ talk the talk but when it comes to needing their help they are no where to be seen. I helped pack my friends house when I was 7 months pregnant for example, but she hasn’t offered to help me once

Ugh I did this with a 5 month old velcro baby with reflux (although not the stepDC which is really hard for you).

Solution we found to work reasonably well was DH constructing loads of packing boxes in the evening. Then the next day I'd manage to throw stuff in the boxes whilst juggling a screaming baby. DH did some boxes at the weekend. We didn't have much stuff thoguh luckily.

Basically you cannot do it all yourself. DH needs to step up.

Also could a friend come over for a couple of hours to literally hold the baby whilst you pack? Maybe if baby can see you they'll be calmer?

Husband takes some annual leave to pack during the day.

Sorry I just saw your update about your husband's leave. I think he is being a bit of a dick tbh. Why hasn't he seen his kids since Christmas? Why hasn't he saved up some leave if he knew a house move was on the cards? I think he's going to have to suck it up and contribute in the evenings. I expect you're tired too...!

Paying a couple of hundred pounds for the packing service was one of the best thing I've ever done! I highly recommend it to take the stress out!

I second this. They are incredible, so fast and efficient. I think it might be the best value for money I've ever got from a service.

Good luck!

[Edited for typo]

Have you directly asked your friend to help? Don't wait for her to offer, some people are oblivious.

Have you actually ASKED anyone for help, not just waiting for them to offer?

I third it!

Sorry, have just reread the OP where it clearly states you can't afford packers! Sorry 🤦🏼‍♀️

How is the stuff being moved? By a company in the day are you doing it yourselves? Do you have everything you need like blixes and do you have a car and can get out?

If it was me I'd look to be eating all the food and decluttering by giving it away, selling stuff or taking it to charity shops.

If you can come up and write plans for packing each room, area, while you're holding baby that will mean you have a strategy and can direct DP.

I feel for you, I've moved many times and packing is a nightmare.

Packers. There is no other magical solution. Can you cut back anywhere else to find the money? It’d certainly be cheaper than the fall out if you fail to get everything done on time and have to delay completion (friends were recently on the receiving end of this).

I have always, and will always, have the removals do the packing ... a few hundred quid and stress free.

Sorry, blixes should be boxes.

It's already been mentioned, but some removal people do a packing service but it's not that cheap. Might be worth getting a few quotes?
Moving is stressful , good luck with it all op

If you can't afford packets then I second what @Datdamndamp and @KindleGirlie have said. Have you actually asked anyone?

You mention packing for a friend when you were pregnant and she hasn't offered. People are oblivious and also sometimes they don't want to interfere. Packing someone's house can be quite personal and some people are self conscious of others handling their possessions and seeing all their crap. You need to ask, if they say no then you know never to help them again!! But if you don't ask you don't know.

Tbh this sounds like your husband needs to step up and do a lot more!

I had exactly this kind of baby, there's no way I could have packed up a house while alone with her, she used to cry every time she was put down and only enjoyed TV (dancing fruits, Cocomelon etc) for a couple of mins at a time. Woke up if I put her down when she was asleep.

Your DH needs to do some packing every evening. He may be tired but it's just this one week and then it's done. Either that or he needs to look after the baby in the evening so you can do some packing. Can your older children be in the same room and help entertain the baby for a little while so one of you can pack?

Also it's ridiculous that he hasn't seen his kids since Christmas and yet it's imperative that he has them the weekend before you move house instead of the last weekend or the one after!!