moving house - how does it affect children

[milkybarkid]

Have moved twice since having children, they are both under 2. Have been invited to move in with a friend as I can't afford the rent whre I am now but am worried it won't work out and I will end up coming back here. How unsettling is it for the children? Will it affect them or not. The two other moves have been proper moves ie removals van, loads of packing and unpacking which I found stressful; obviously it won't be like that this time, as I have nothing really to take so I shouldn't get stressed myself but will it be likely to bother them?

I've had house moving blamed for my eldest one's temper by the haleht visitors but I know hats the terrible twos come early and moving hosue hasn't bothered either of mine, the only eeffcet is seems to have had is make them sleepwell the night of the move. Anyway they never say that going on holiday for a few days harms the children do they?

thanks ckmum, anyone else

We moved twice before dd was 1. She's now 2 and we'll probably be moving again soon. The first move was international. She coped very well, even though she was very small I always explained what was going on and why. At the end of the day, you will move if you have to and as long as the kids feel secure with you and have some of their favourite things around them, they should be OK.

thanks caribbean queen, how do you explain what sgoing on to a child that age though and get them to understand?

I don't think they do understand really mbk, but I just like to explain things anyway - makes me feel better!!

milkybarkid, I have moved a lot since my dd was born 16 years ago. I am about to move to the fourth house my ds will have lived in (he is just 5) To be honest although I wish I hadn't had to move so often I don't think the moves themselves have been detrimental to the children. What is detrimental, imo, is frequently moving schools and being uprooted from one area to the next away from friends and family and a 'settled' life.