If you’ve become a parent recently and you want or need to change homes, you might be wondering how to manage all the packing with a little one that needs your full attention all the time. Having a child is every parent’s most joyful moment in life, but moving with a newborn is a complex undertaking that shouldn’t be taken lightly.
A lot of things are happening simultaneously, so you’ll need to be up to the task. Here are the most important pieces of advice you should have in mind before you relocate – keep your eyes wide open and follow these simple instructions for a safe move to your brand-new home with a newborn.
First of all, congratulations on your new baby and choosing a new home to raise your kid. Regardless of whether you are moving by yourself or with a partner, this is quite a huge step to take. Having a newborn is an endless source of love and joy for the family and a significant change in your life, but you’re probably aware by now of how tiresome it can be. Your sleeping schedule and free time are close to non-existent, so it would be best to get as much help as you can from your family and friends. If none of them are currently around, find a trustful and reliable babysitter to help you manage all the business and responsibility that a long-distance move demands.
The chances that someone you know has already gone through all of this aren’t small. Ask around if anybody from your family had a similar challenge in life, or ask some of the new moms and dads you know if they have useful information on how to manage both the kid and the move.
Nanny’s, doctors, paperwork, and all other crucial things for the child should be already prepared when you move to another city or state. Arranging everything in a timely fashion will keep your stress levels at bay and spare you of doing things in haste. If you already have kids, there is a certain link between stressful life events such as changing homes and anxiety in early childhood, so keep that in mind as well.
To provide the smoothest possible transition, pack a baby bag upfront so that you’ll have all the necessary things with you all the time. Just in case, make sure to pack the bag with enough stuff for a few days.
Having a baby doesn’t leave very much room for moving and packing by yourself, so if you make the right choice when it comes to professional movers, a significant portion of the stress will be taken off your shoulders. Movers can help you pack your boxes and carry your items where you want them, and also unpack when you arrive at the new place. Truly professional movers will even offer you free storage for a certain period and help you if you want to ship your car, as well.
On the other hand, an unreliable and unprofessional moving company can only cause additional nervousness and make this whole trip a lot harder. That’s why you have to keep your eyes open and avoid being scammed by movers. You’ll be all over the place, so the last thing you need is a third party making problems.
Booking your spot on a mover’s schedule in advance is a smart move. Your time management will instantly improve, and you won’t have to worry about chasing affordable moving services a few days before the big day while having a child to take care of.
The atmosphere while moving can be very stressful and tense, and you should brace yourself for that. Even with perfect preparation, relocating a household is still a job that requires human effort. And human mistakes are always possible, even if you’re working with the best company in the world. It is imperative to mentally prepare yourself for a chaotic atmosphere because your mood can easily spill over to your child.
Unpacking can be messy sometimes, so be cautious and check if there’s anything that might put your baby in danger, such as a pair of scissors or small pieces like screws and bolts. To make it easier for you, check out some tips for easy and efficient unpacking after the move.
It would be best if the newborn can be away from the house until the cleaning, dusting, and unpacking of the boxes are over with. Lifting heavy furniture and having one eye on the kid in the other room doesn’t sound pretty doable, doesn’t it?
If you detect some sharp edges, small pieces of furniture, or anything that could potentially hurt the newborn or cause choking, immediately remove it or put it somewhere where the child can’t reach it while crawling around the house. The same applies to chemicals, alcohol, gasoline, or any dangerous substance that could attract the baby’s attention.
Give yourself some credit, you just got a child, and you’re managing a long-distance move. It’s all really exciting, and there’s a lot of changes going on, so take a deep breath and relax for a moment.
There’s no room for panic; everything will be fine in the end, so overcome the relocation stress and don’t overthink. The newborns are easier than you might think – they just have to be fed, kept warm and dry, and they won’t even notice they’ve moved.
