How does moving affect LO?

rjeller32 · May 2013

DD is 2.5, and we are moving this weekend. We haven't moved around too much since she's been born, only once and she was really young. This weekend, she is going up to her grandma's, while we move all of our stuff to our new house, so when she comes back we'll be in the new house.

Today, I was finishing up clearing out her playroom and carpet cleaning during her nap, and when she woke up she ran in there, and was rambling on and on about how much she loves her playroom, and loves our house. I tried to explain the whole situation, but she didn't really get it, and now my sensitive little heart is broken.

I just want to know if anyone has experience with moving, and how much it affected your LO? I know it will most likely upset her sleeping, being in a new room and all, but how long did it last for you, or did that not happen at all? I just need some dead honesty on how it affected your precious toddles.

Cherryblossoms07 · May 2013

Honestly, it didn't. I was expecting some sleep issues, especially since it took us three days of driving to get to our new house, but neither had any problems. They are kids; they adjust really easily. Keep your attitude positive because they will largely base theirs on how they see you reacting. Get them back into their old routine at the new house as soon as possible (back on their nap schedule, back into normal activities, etc.) Also, set up their areas (bedrooms and playrooms) as quickly as possible when you arrive and let them have a little say in their room (we let DD pick out her bedding). Good luck!

logoz80 · May 2013

we moved 2 months ago and Emma did great. We were able to come and move things in early and made sure that her room was done and ready first. She liked playing in it from day one. We moved her from a toddler bed to a twin and the only issue we had the 1st night was getting her to actually fall asleep. I think she thought that we were leaving her there alone, lol. It took almost an hour to get her down, but she slept through the night and have had 0 problems since. She loves her new room and did very well in the move.

pitterpatter129 · May 2013

We moved about 3 months ago (right before the baby was born!) and he really didn't care. He was just happy to have all his toys unpacked and a garage door to push the open/close button. He transitioned right into a new daycare like a champ too. He actually sleeps 100X better here too. I think because it's a much newer house (built this decade vs the 1920s), it's much quieter and temp controlled. I think the grown-ups are having a harder time because we left out support network, where his (being us) moved with him.

rjeller32 · May 2013

Cherryblossoms07:
Honestly, it didn't. I was expecting some sleep issues, especially since it took us three days of driving to get to our new house, but neither had any problems. They are kids; they adjust really easily. Keep your attitude positive because they will largely base theirs on how they see you reacting. Get them back into their old routine at the new house as soon as possible (back on their nap schedule, back into normal activities, etc.) Also, set up their areas (bedrooms and playrooms) as quickly as possible when you arrive and let them have a little say in their room (we let DD pick out her bedding). Good luck!

Perfect. Exactly what I was hoping to hear! And great tips

brettsmama · May 2013

We moved 1500 miles in December, 2 months before DS turned 3. He did great. We just explained every day that we were moving to a new house and allof his things would go to the new house. We also had some pictures of the new house and showed him his room, our room, etc so it would seem familiar when we got there. The day We moved he went to preschool, we he got home the moving truck was loaded and the house was empty. We let him see the empty house and told him all his things were on the moving truck. At the new house the first couple of days nights before bed we practiced how he could get to our room from his, since we were now on opposite sides of the house. We also left night lights on in the hall. He transitioned so much easier than i expected.

Wulfgar · May 2013

My parents moved us around a lot when my sister and I were very young. She had night terrors but we were moving long distances including to different States. We also bounced into and out of relatives homes during this period.

It effects children differently hopefully she will get over it quickly.

moonfaerie · May 2013

We moved last month, and my girls were fine with it. We'd been talking up our new house and got them excited to have a new room and a big playroom and a big yard, and had showed them pics of the house online, so they were pretty excited. The first night here, took them a while to settle down and go to sleep, and my 3 1/2 year old sleepwalked for the first (and hopefully only) time, which I guess was a reaction to stress or being over tired, but that was it.

I hope your move went smoothly!

ETA: I also had my girls "help" pack their things, which they really got into and made them super excited to open their boxes up and see toys they hadn't seen for a couple of weeks.

I definitely agree that attitude is everything. Be positive and reassure your LO that they and all of their belongings are coming with you. Make sure they feel secure, and all should go smoothly. My 2 1/2 year old gets anxious is new situations and when there are big changes, but since we prepped her by packing and showing her pictures and talking about how the move would benefit her, she adjusted really well. (Ok probably also because her older sister was so excited, too, but we did what we could to ease/prevent anxiety, and it paid off.)

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