How do you move house with kids?!?!

[MsHopey]

Me and DH have moved house too many times.
Privately rented for a long time do in our 9 years together we have moved house 5 times!
We've just gotten a lovely council house 🙌🏻! Literally got the keys yesterday morning, 4 days before Christmas, so hectic.
Obviously were currently now paying rent on both properties so the sooner we're moved the better.
But since many moves we've now got a 16mo and I'm 21 weeks pregnant with no help childcare wise.
I can't work out how we're going to paint, decorate and move an entire house in a few weeks with a 16mo with us.

It will be fine. One room at a time. I moved thousands of miles away with a baby and while pregnant. It was fine. Happy Xmas in your new house, how exciting!

Getting movers in is expensive, but and paying them to pack is only a small amount on top, so if getting removals people in is an option, get them to pack for you if you possibly can. If you're moving yourselves you are going to need friends to help. Packers are amazing. Channel them, don't think or group things much, just mechanically pack stuff from one corner of the room. 50% of packing is the kitchen.

Ideally decorate the living room before you move (maybe skip the woodwork) and possibly whack some paint up in any children's bedrooms. The rest will have to wait until the children are older, unless it's really dire. This might be a bit idealistic but if possible leave a room empty, or even a wall empty,. You can decorate this then move stuff round to free up the next wall/room. Clearing rooms to start decorating is one of the hardest bits.

Ooh and huge congratulations on your new home!

Pay for movers. As many threads on MN will testify, worth every penny and will save a couple more days rent if you did it yourself.
The toddler will love the stacks of boxes - if you prioritise their bed and favourite toys when unpacking, then worry about decorating later, it'll be fine. Helps if you can do carpets before moving or at least unpacking, but it's not impossible to do a room at a time after. Enjoy your new home!

Buy a travel cot. You can then have a safe space to leave 16 month old with some toys to play whilst the doors are being opened, and they can use to sleep in a few days before and after whilst bed taken apart. You can use for baby in the garden next year and travelling so small cost.

Otherwise I would pack yourselves each evening. Charity anything you don't need in advance so you aren't moving unneeded stuff. then pay for movers to move the actual boxes and furniture on the day.

Definitely pay for packing. Best £200 you'll ever spend

I would normally recommend removers but I'm assuming if you are in a council property you don't have a high income? We paid a grand for our last move including packing (this year) and that was the lowest quote we got (good local company, much cheaper than Pickfords) to move a mile from a 3 to 4 bed house. If you can't afford movers (and the calculation for double rent vs removers costs is a sensible one, you could move in a couple of days with removers vs the weeks you are saying) then call in every favour going, and bribe friends and family with food and alcohol (and plead your belly, you can't do any heavy lifting in your state) to help. It will be hell but you will manage it and once you move it will be so much better. Decluttering before you move might be sensible but I've found it much easier to do while unpacking and we have more space now which ironically makes decluttering easier!

DH and I have moved over 14 times (including 3 different countries) in 9 years.
Once with a 6 month old, once with a 17 month old at 32 weeks pregnant, once with a 2.5 year old and a 9 month old, once with a 3 year old and 2 year old and once with a 4 year old and 3 year old (phew!). We won’t be moving again for a while .
We just did everything when they were in bed to be honest. Lots of late nights. We never used movers, not because we couldn’t afford to, we just didn’t really see the need. I know people do find it useful though.

lots of treats, putting up with screams because they are exhausted
When I last moved my DD was 6 months old, still had many naps and still ebf.
Just had to stop every little while to play with her, feed her and nappy changes.
Also, her room was the last thing we packed and the first thing we got sorted when we moved so she had her familiar place

I don't think you can paint, decorate and move in 3 weeks if you're pregnant. Please don't put your health at risk by trying to shift boxes.

I guess your choices are either to get help or scale back what you're trying to do in the time.

Do you have people who can help with moving and/or decorating? Friends / family / can you afford to pay professionals?

Could you have a decorating party? Get someone to look after the toddler, invite all your family and friends and see how much you can get done in a day with all hands on deck? Reward them with a big meal and booze at the end of the day. (Obviously only works if you have friends and family who are willing and able to get stuck in.)

If you don't have help, then you need to think about prioritising rooms. Is it 2 or 3 bed? Do you have a dining room? Is there a way of living in it while decorating? If so, which rooms do you need to do do first?

Travel cot is a great suggestion.