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Housekeeping

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Original poster

Moving House with 2 young children, any tips?

18 replies

CDeer · 13/04/2017 18:56

Hi everyone,

I'm moving house in a month or so with two young boys (one 6 the other 4) and was wondering if anyone had any tips for making things go smoothly with them? The youngest is quite nervous and shy around new people/things so i'm a bit concerned about his reaction on the day and afterwards.

I've found a couple of guides on the web about it findmymanandvan.co.uk/moving-house-tips/moving-home-with-children-tips and kidshealth.org/en/parents/move.html# but any other resources and advice would be appreciated

OP posts:

continues · 13/04/2017 19:43

Pay for a packing service.

Pay for cleaners for old place and new.

Stock up on wine

Original poster

CDeer · 13/04/2017 20:01

The wine is already packed

OP posts:

continues · 13/04/2017 20:29

Pack more

Justmadeperfectflapjacks · 13/04/2017 20:31

Remember it's an adventure and involve them however you can!!

user1474462227 · 13/04/2017 20:32

Pack a bag with clothes for 2 days for you all and toiletries and snacks for the kids for the day after in your car ( hand luggage!!!)
All your clothes will be in boxes and it will be difficult to find everything in the morning.

strongandlong · 13/04/2017 20:35

I second continue's advice- pay for a packing service. Best ~£300 I've ever spent!

SparkyBlue · 13/04/2017 20:35

Just gone through it. Don't worry the kids will be absolutely fine but you will need lots of wine and other comfort foods. It's bloody stressful. Best of luck in your new home. It's also very exciting

NellysKnickers · 13/04/2017 20:35

Empty their rooms last and get them sorted out first in the new house. Rope in as many helpers/babysitter as possible. Let them play with empty boxes, and put them in a large box with felt tips or crayons, honestly, you can get loads done while they are occupied doing this. Good luck

Lovewatchingrainfall · 13/04/2017 20:38

I recently moved with a 3year old and a 2week old best thing was hiring someone to move it all plus pack a box for the kids so toys etc so you have these to hand in the new place. If someone could take the kids while the stuff is being loaded this may help as my 3year old could not really understand what was going on and got very upset. If you need to stay around with them then maybe the older one might like a little disposable camera as they find it exciting and nervous.

BernardsarenotalwaysSaints · 13/04/2017 20:42

More wine. Or a tesco order containing only champagne to the new address .

Honestly I've not got a clue last time we moved dc 1 & 2 were only 19 months & 5 months.

PatsyMount · 13/04/2017 20:43

Alternatively, get DCs to help you pack and unpack.

We moved when DS1 was 3 and a half. He and i stripped his bedroom together, he chose which toys and posters were more important etc. He helped me pack the box and put his own stickers on the box etc. This was mini-Patsys box

Then at the new house he unpacked his own box and put his books and toys away i-tidied them the next day when he was at nursery

I just think involving the DVs as much as possible really helps.

Oh yes - and lots of wine!!

PatsyMount · 13/04/2017 20:44

Sorry typo - Involving the DCs

BubbleBed · 13/04/2017 20:45

Ditto what Nelly's said. Empty their room last, and fix it first at the other end. Order pizza for dinner, and get a TV set up with a DVD player for entertainment when you get there. Bunk in with them if you need to, but do their room first - made all our house moves go smoothly, even DS1 with ASD.

sugarmonster64 · 13/04/2017 20:50

We kept our DC in nursery moving day so the plan was they said goodbye to house when it still had stuff in and welcomed new one when we'd semi unpacked that evening. Things went unexpectedly awry so didn't quite happen but next day we made sure their beds were ready first thing and they had some toys set aside to play with. They were fine with move from what I remember. I on the other hand.....

Original poster

CDeer · 15/04/2017 11:22

Thank you all for your input! Seems the general consensus is plenty of wine for me, toys for the children and get their rooms set up first

OP posts:

ellam97 · 12/10/2020 13:53

I really sympathise - moving house with kids is exhausting and stressful. Some removal companies are more sympathetic about having kids around than others. If you read these customer reviews it can help you gauge a better idea! sirelo.co.uk/removal-company/

kyledyer · 05/09/2021 12:57

Hi, i have 3 kids and with 3 children its stressful job to move house. but i hire a company for my moving and packing everything. i forget the name its may be a "ally " or something like that you may check this out. prosheffieldremovals.co.uk/
thanks

FlipFlops4Me · 05/09/2021 16:00

I was an air force brat and every time we moved house (and we moved a lot) mum and dad did my DS and my room first. Our bedroom was always ready to go to sleep in with the furniture arranged as near as possible as in the old house. The bedding was the same, the toys were out and the room felt like home. We had our oasis and it helped us a lot.

We always packed our own toys and were let keep two things out of the boxes to have on the journey.

The parents kind of alternated which of them had charge of us while the other one cracked on. After a couple of hours they swapped roles.

Takeout for dinner! Hot bubbly baths, and proper story time.

There's always tomorrow to carry on unpacking.

Flip