10 Ways to Help Your Toddler During a Move

Are you moving to a new house or apartment with a toddler? My friend Chrystal Paull is back with another guest post, all about her recent move. If you’re looking for tips on how to help your toddler during a move to a new house, these 10 tips are for you!

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Moving is already stressful enough. Throw a toddler in the mix and you’ve got a whole other challenge.

I recently moved with my 2 year old and did a lot of things to prepare him for this big change. Some kids don’t handle it well, so I was worried. In the end, I was surprised how easy the transition was for him. So, what worked? Well, that’s why you’re here. Let’s start off with a lot of talking.

Talk About The Move

The first thing I did was have a conversation. And many more conversations. Keep it really simple and positive. I told him that we were about to move to a new house and he would have his own bedroom and playroom. I even spoke about how the entire house would soon be a mess, covered with boxes and added more hype about him getting his own room. That got him really excited. This prepares your child for the changes ahead. From boxes all over the house to packing up their toys, you’re giving your child an idea of what to expect. Not a surprise, which could lead to some stress.

Wait To Pack Toys

I did pack some toys up too early and he would ask where this or that was daily. Just wait until two days before or the day before the move to box toys up. This way you don’t have to re-box the same toys over and over again. If your new home is a long drive away, be sure to have a small basket of toys ready for the car ride.

Get Your Toddler’s Help

Seriously, my son loved packing up boxes…for a few minutes anyways. He inevitably just wanted to play with boxes; making tunnels and huts. Still, for few minutes each day he was helping me pack boxes. I sometimes forget that at 2 years old, my son can do a lot. He’s not a baby and is capable of actually helping out. It’s not perfect, but just think about the value they’ll get out of it. They’re working on their own autonomy, problem solving skills, and their imagination. All you need to do is let them “help” a little bit.

Don’t Stress About Routine

This was hard. I needed to pack and he is always around, getting into something. The routine quickly went out the window. Some will suggest you stick to a routine to help minimize stress for your child, but come on, it was unrealistic. Not worrying about keeping my son’s routine and having him “help” pack, cut down on the stress for everyone. 

Screens Are Your Friend

Look, you’ve got to pack. Toddlers are always on the move and you need something to grab their attention for an hour or so. Put on a show or a movie and get to work. Don’t feel guilty. Do what you got to do. What I had to do was put on a movie every day, so I could focus on packing. It needed to be done or I would have to sacrifice sleep by packing when he went to bed. No way was I doing that.

Tour the area of your new home

Another great way to get your little one prepared for this big step is to tour the area around your new home. I took my son to the playground, the store, and the library. Also, check out any cool landmarks near by. Help them get used to the new normal. 

Unpack your child’s room first

There was nothing like the smile on our son’s face when he saw his bed in his own room for the first time. It was the first room that was unpacked and situated, and wasn’t filled with a bunch of boxes or messy. It felt like a bedroom. A place to be calm and rest. If there were boxes everywhere, I’m sure getting him to bed would have been more of a challenge. Heck, when I started packing, he stopped napping all together. So, of all the rooms you need to unpack first, do your child’s room first and help them get comfortable in their new space.

You need help on moving day   

You cannot do moving day without help. As I said before, toddlers are always on the move, but a movie won’t cut it on this day. There is too much going on. You’re focused on loading the truck and moving things out. They’ll likely want to get in the way just because they’re curious about what’s going on. Talk about stress… If you can, have a friend or relative watch your little one. Be sure to have some activities and toys available so they are entertained. I’m so thankful to my bestie Allison (the author of the blog you’re on right now), for entertaining our 2 year old while we loaded the rental truck with all our stuff. Without her, it would have been chaos.

Say Good-bye 

After all the talk and the boxes and the truck being loaded up, saying goodbye is a great way to close the chapter on this change for your little one and you. We left the house where we started our family. Belle, our german shepard mix, was the first addition, and in 2 years, we would bring home our son from the hospital. That home witnessed it all, even the day my son first walked to me on his own when I got home from work. It was emotional. Take the time to say goodbye. 

Embrace All The Emotions

Speaking of emotions, keep in mind that moves are stressful for everyone. Your little one is going to experience a ton of emotions through this process, just like you. I embraced this by talking about it. I would share how stressed I was or how tired I was of packing. Showing your emotions to your child is the best way to teach them how to deal with theirs. Modeling the way, so to speak.

It will be a lot, but soon you’ll be making memories in your new home. You got this my friend.

Written by Chrystal Paull for The Nutmeg Diaries

Read more posts by Chrystal:

• How to Save Money on Christmas
• Is Thrive Market Worth It?
• Fun, Easy, and Cheap Christmas Activities for Your Toddler

Make sure you follow all of Chrystal’s social media accounts!