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Original poster

Need some tips on moving and kids in gardens e.t.c

18 replies

nutcracker · 07/06/2004 11:17

Well the house should be finnished at the end of this week, so i'm looking for any tips that you guys have that will help me move smoothly.

The other thing is the garden. Any tips to stop me having to run to casualty within the first week would be grateful. Ds spent yesterday in my friends garden and my dads garden and now has a split lip (wlked in front of the swing) and a grazed head (fell of the garden chair and down the back step).

Oh and how do hang the washing out, do i have to take ds with me everytime ?? I can see a battle getting him back in then though.

TIA Nutty xxx

OP posts:
Original poster
nutcracker · 07/06/2004 11:51

No one

What about if i beg

OP posts:
misdee · 07/06/2004 11:55

how old is ds? can u just leave the back door open and let him run in and out as he wishes? h regards to safety. jsut make sure its a safe as can be, u cant stop every accident.

if moving yourselves, then get banana boxes from safeway or somewhere. they are strong and big and have holes to help carry them.

zubb · 07/06/2004 11:58

Hi Nutcracker! I think the main tip given for a smooth move is to make sure that everything is well labelled, so that you know where every box should go when you get to the new house, and you know where all the essentials are.
As for the garden, no tips really. Ds1 is 2.5 and is covered in cuts / bruises from playing in the garden. Minimise the dangers if possible - chairs away from steps, maybe have kids chairs.
How old is your ds?

jampot · 07/06/2004 12:00

yeah beggings good

Tips on moving - get someone to look after the kids for the WHOLE weekend.

Don't mix boxes with different "rooms" ie. don't put kitchen things in the kids toy boxes along with coat hangers. Keep boxes specifically for kitchen, lounge, dining room, kid1 bed, kid2 bed etc.

Use the opportunity to sort out wisely and be ruthless in what you throw out/send to charity shop. Don't think "I'll keep that and sellit on ebay" cos you won't.

GARDEN: make sure the fences/hedges etc are intact and kids can't escape.

When hanging laundry out kids should be okay (depending on age). Get a rotary dryer as you can take it down if you need and it means the whole street doesn't have to see your laundry!! and watch out for pervert knicker thieves!!

Install a sun lounger in the garden and tell dp that "you've been watching the kids all day" when he wonders why you haven't unpacked!

Fio2 · 07/06/2004 12:04

i wont give you any advice on moving because I am rubbish at it, but i just wanted to say I AM SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO EXCITED FOR YOU

coppertop · 07/06/2004 12:05

When you get there, do a thorough check of the garden. Look for things like:

how secure is the garden gate?
Are there any stinging nettles/prickly bushes?
Do any of the plants/bushes have small berries that a child could eat?
Cat poo and broken glass in the garden, as well as other people's rubbish?

Those were the main problems that we found when childproofing the garden. HTH

LIZS · 07/06/2004 12:05

It is a while since we had a garden but don't remember ever taking ds out with me to hang up washing unless he just wandered after me. Just make sure there are no obvious dangers indoors and that he can't lock you out !!

I agree with misdee - you can't and won't prevent every accident. Look out for hazards such as uneven and sharp surfaces, wobbly steps, secure fences and gates and opportunities to climb. Also if you have a patio or concrete area do make sure that you don't allow any moss or algae to build up as this gets really slippery when wet or even damp.

Original poster
nutcracker · 07/06/2004 12:06

thanks guys.

I have started packing and so far have been labelling all boxes and not mixing rooms. Still loads to do though.

Ds is 18mths with no fear .
Think i may have to put off getting the swing, cos ther is no way he will NOT walk in front of it everytime the Dd's are on it.

So now it's just the sandpit, slide, pool, playhouse, bikes, trampoline e.t.c. that i have to buy .

Actually apart from the garden i think the main attraction for the first few days will be running up and down the stairs. My Dd1 stayed over at my friends house on sat night, and she said "yeah, i will be able to come down the stairs when i get up"

OP posts:
jampot · 07/06/2004 12:07

Oh yes - get a plant encyclopaedia 'cos so many plants are poisonous - laburnum is one such and frigging well grows everywhere

Original poster
nutcracker · 07/06/2004 12:09

Oooh thanks Jampot, hadn't thought of that. Am secretly hoping that there aren't any plants as i'm a crap gardener

OP posts:
katzguk · 07/06/2004 12:12

one answer would be to dig the whole garden up and replace it with playbark!!

Original poster
nutcracker · 07/06/2004 12:18

LOL Katzguk

Actually thats a good idea .

OP posts:
SoupDragon · 07/06/2004 12:21

WRT the poisonous plants - don't worry too much. We just removed the laburnum tree and taught DSs that they are not, under any circumstances, to eat anything in the garden or put anything in their mouths. I don't buy anything that it obviously poisonous but hopefully the "don't eat" rule will protect them from odd plants and other people's gardens.

WRT moving - if you can lose the children for the day, do it!

Original poster
nutcracker · 07/06/2004 12:23

Am hoping that my mom will be having the kids, but if not my new next door but one neighbour (who i already know) will be having them for me.

OP posts:
hatter · 07/06/2004 12:45

Hello,

re washing - my two have always loved helping me hang washing out. If I didn't actually want the washing all over the grass I would give them the peg bag and ask them to pass me pegs of specific colours. 10 minutes of getting housework done while simultaneously entertaining the kids.

Re safety - we've never really had any problems but I would say that main hazards are being able to escape and gardening equipment: we're lucky in having a garage where we can store stuff safely and which also means there is no access at all to the street from the garden. I also never get the paddling pool out unless I can stay outside with them. We have cats that do tend to poo in the garden but neither girl has ever picked anything up (and obviously I clear it up regularly) Neither have they ever attempted to eat anything from the garden - we've drummed it into them and it seems to have worked. It's lovely having a garden I'm sure you'll enjoy it. My two constantly go round smelling flowers (wonder where they got that from) they usually smell of honey. apparently.

Demented · 07/06/2004 13:36

My tip about the garden would be to make sure there is no way your DS can escape and then as someone else said leave the back door open so he can come in and out and just keep an eye on him. My kitchen looks over our back garden which is handy as I can potter about and watch the kids, although DS2 can scream so loud that he can be heard in the next street so I tend to know if something is wrong.

Agree about labeling everything and also, if you can, get a removal company or at least a man with a van to help with the move.

All the best!

agy · 07/06/2004 13:48

Stop Worrying Nutty! You'll make it up as you along and it'll be fine!

AlanP · 07/06/2004 13:54

Pack drinks (Tea, Coffee etc) last and unpack them first!

The removal men seem to work better with a cuppa inside them!

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