Moving with a baby

Revez · May 2014

So we put an offer in on our dream house yesterday (cross all your crossables). The plan is to move mid to late July. Now that moving is becoming a reality I'm starting to worry about what the heck we got ourselves into. I'm dreading having to show our house.

I know a lot of you are in the process of moving (or have moved with little ones in the past). Do you have any suggestions? Anything you would have done differently?

MommyKristin88 · May 2014

I've moved 3 times since my first was born.

My biggest advice, unpack the babies stuff first. Completely set up the nursery first if you can. It was easier for my kids to transition if everything in their space still looked the same.

MommyKristin88 · May 2014

starscream said:

I definitely agree with the above, I had all of Wheezy's stuff unpacked the next day. We also hired someone that did all of the work because there was no way I was going to be moving boxes and watching a baby.

Oh yeah, that's a good one, too. Don't try to move all that stuff by yourself (you and your H). Do you have UHaul there? You can get movers for 2-3 for about $150 depending on the ones you choose. It will go much faster, too.

Revez · May 2014

Good idea about baby stuff being the first unpacked!

We're planning on hiring movers. I can't imagine doing it all by ourselves again.

ludali · May 2014

Ditto above...just wanted to say WOOOOOOOOOOOOT! very exciting stuff!!!!

MommyKristin88 · May 2014

Revez said:

Good idea about baby stuff being the first unpacked! We're planning on hiring movers. I can't imagine doing it all by ourselves again.

I moved in February, and we did it ourselves with a few friends.

NEVER. AGAIN.

That was a headache that wasn't worth saving the money.

peteyrisha · May 2014

We are moving the end of this month and I was gonna ask for tips as well.

MIL will be watching LO, we are moving in with her while I finish nursing school. She's great so I'm not too worried. We have friends helping us and might hire MIL's handy man to help. Hopefully it will go smoothly.

Revez · May 2014

MommyKristin88 said:

Revez said:

Good idea about baby stuff being the first unpacked! We're planning on hiring movers. I can't imagine doing it all by ourselves again.

I moved in February, and we did it ourselves with a few friends.

NEVER. AGAIN.

That was a headache that wasn't worth saving the money.

-----------

Exactly! We moved in December with just us and my dad. Worst.experience.ever.

rh10264706 · May 2014

I agree with others that movers are totally worth the expense if it's doable. We moved when I was 7 months pregnant and the movers were great. Good luck with getting the house!

Bunnyfer · May 2014

I just moved yesterday! We basically moved things like her pack n play and high chair and exersaucer. The crib came on the first truck. She finally got a nap around 4 in her new room. We tried to get set up as quickly as possible. She did fine till 4a last night when she refused to sleep in the crib. Just try and keep her routine the best you can

LEMSA · May 2014

Since your LO is pretty mobile, maybe you can strap things on her back like a pack mule. Then put treats in the room you want the stuff in so she'll crawl there. She's gotta earn her keep, right??

amief · May 2014

Some movers will pack for you... while I wouldn't recommend it for like the bathroom and bedrooms... we had them do our kitchen and it was amazing! They come with all boxes, tape, packing materials and they packed our whole kitchen in like 20 mins. The things were probably better packed than I could have done and it saved me a ton of time. We had them do the whole house and in the other rooms it wasn't as great because it is harder stuff to pack I think. The kitchen I would definitely do again.

MommyBolty · May 2014

Yaaaay! Exciting! I pretty much second what everyone has said about unpacking LOs room first.

If I had it to do all over again I would hire packers, movers, and unpackers. Moving with an active baby is not easy at all!

Revez · May 2014

LEMSA said:
Since your LO is pretty mobile, maybe you can strap things on her back like a pack mule. Then put treats in the room you want the stuff in so she'll crawl there. She's gotta earn her keep, right??

That's what H said last night! I should tie boxes to her ankles and she can drag them to the appropriate room for me.

CharmedBAcMF · May 2014

I'm in the process of moving. I just had to confine all of her stuff to the living room and her nursery in order to keep up with everything. I would pick up her stuff each night before bed so that the house would be clean for house inspections/ showing/ etc. I kept up with chores nightly and then did a "solid clean" one day a week.

CharmedBAcMF · May 2014

As for the actual move, her room will be broken down last and then unpacked first. That way she is the least "disturbed" during the transition.

Revez · May 2014

SO who wants to buy our house and move to Canada and be with me!?

peteyrisha · May 2014

@Revez‌ consider your house sold! I keep trying to convince DH that we should move to Canada. He's not convinced though. :P

Revez · May 2014

peteyrisha said:
@Revez‌ consider your house sold! I keep trying to convince DH that we should move to Canada. He's not convinced though. :P

Do it. We get kick ass mat leave.

LBib · May 2014

Ditto PPs suggestions. Also, confine baby stuff to 1-2 rooms for photos and showings. If most of your potential buyers are, kidless too many toys and gear could be a turnoff.

janneann1127 · May 2014

We are in the middle of this process as well. Took us 6 weeks to sell our house. Getting the house ready for showings with kids is no fun! Especially when they want to come during naptime.
My only suggestion is to get a big box that you can use to stuff things in, and throw it in the garage whenever you have a showing.

As far as moving, we are still two months out on that. We moved into this house when DS was 8 months, and we actually had him stay with a friend for the day. It worked out much better than having him underfoot while we were trying to move.

It's a pain but you will make it happen. Good luck on the house!

MyBaby2013 · May 2014

PP have said some great things! I will just add for keeping our house "show" ready I bought baskets and left them in each room of the house. When a showing came up I could throw everything in that room that I didn't feel like completely putting away into the basket and just tuck it somewhere. Made my life SO much easier! As for baby toys I bought an ottoman that opened and was able to put the everyday toys into it when people were coming. That way it looked tidy. Good luck! Keeping everything crossed for you.