Kiddipedia
No matter how prepared you think you are, moving home with young kids is going to be a lot harder than doing it with just adults. Don’t believe us? Let us paint you a picture. The moving company just dropped off the last of the boxes you’ve spent weeks packing up. Your kids are racing down the hall, screaming at the top of their lungs. They’re doing what kids do and rummaging through the boxes to try to find their things or knocking into boxes as they explore their new home. The contents are spilling onto the floor. Everything’s a mess, and you’re overly stimulated.
With all of this chaos unfolding around you, it’s completely understandable if a few important things slip through the cracks. Unfortunately, those small oversights can quickly turn into bigger headaches once you’re officially moved in – and that’s the last thing you need during what should be an exciting new chapter. To help make the transition easier, we’ve put together the ultimate move-in checklist for families moving home with young kids.
Catalogue your belongings and make necessary upgrades before you move in
With so many items travelling from point A to point B, it’s easy for things to get misplaced – whether it’s your child’s favourite toy, a stack of books or even your favourite mug. To avoid unnecessary stress, take the time to catalogue what you’re bringing and where it’s packed. This is also the perfect opportunity to assess what’s worth keeping and what could be replaced or upgraded before the move.
For example, old or worn cleaning equipment can be swapped out for fresh, more efficient tools, including upgraded vacuum cleaners designed to make everyday messes easier to manage. When you’re adjusting to a new home and dealing with the inevitable chaos of moving with kids, having reliable, time-saving appliances can make a real difference.
A simple way to stay organised is to pack items by room and clearly label each box. Bathroom essentials go in boxes marked “Bathroom”, kitchen items in “Kitchen”, and so on. This makes it easy to locate what you need, reduces confusion and speeds up unpacking. When everything arrives, you can take each box straight into its designated room, knowing that everything you need is already in one place.
Prioritise the essentials
It can be a bit daunting figuring out what to unpack first, so we recommend unpacking the essentials first and then slowly unpacking the rest. These would be:
- Toiletries and nappies
- Basic kitchen supplies like plates, cups and utensils
- The kids’ bedding and PJs
- Feeding supplies like formula, bibs and breast pump supplies
- Phone chargers and extension cords
Having these essentials all in one box during the move is highly recommended since it’ll make your life a whole lot easier. There’s no need for you to rummage through numerous boxes to find what you need. It also helps reduce stress during the first night in your new home, especially when kids are tired, hungry, or overwhelmed by the change.
Childproof your new home
The last thing any parent wants is for a child-related accident to occur. That’s why it’s imperative that you immediately childproof your new home. You can start by:
- Covering electrical sockets
- Installing silicone guards on sharp edges, like tables and cabinets
- Using magnetic locks to prevent your child from accessing cabinets holding cleaning supplies, medication and sharp tools
- Anchoring furniture like TVs, dressers and bookshelves to the wall
- Keeping knives and scissors in locked drawers
To most efficiently childproof the home, we recommend going room by room. This is because by focusing on one room at a time, you are paying more attention to the room’s details and can spot more dangers. You can do this right when you move in or before moving in.
Stock the kitchen
Moving is a whole-week process. That means the family is bound to get hungry at inconvenient times, especially young kids. And trust us when we say that moving with hungry, crying children is a recipe for disaster. That’s why we recommend planning for meals beforehand, instead of scrambling to come up with a meal on the spot.
We recommend sticking to food your kids are already familiar with. When we tell you moving day is not the time to experiment with new flavours, save that for a few weeks in when you’re comfortable in your new home and kitchen. You should opt for simple meals that are easy to make, reheat and clean up. These can be sandwiches, spaghetti and soup – simple will do the trick. And also don’t forget to prepare some snacks like crackers and apple juice!
Help with the emotional adjustment
Moving into a new, unfamiliar place is already a lot to take in as an adult. It is even more so for a child. So to alleviate their anxieties and help them settle in better, let your child know about the move weeks or even months ahead of time. Don’t do it a few days before because they need time to absorb the information.
You can start by explaining why the family is moving, detailing whether it’s for work or just for a change in environment. Then you can let them know what amazing things are there, like how the backyard is perfect for a treehouse or how their new school is going to be so much fun. Understand that they might be a bit apprehensive about moving, so you need to soothe their fears by letting them know that it will be alright and that you’ll be with them every step of the way. If they have any questions, answer them patiently.
Wrapping Up
Moving into a new home with young kids can be an overwhelming experience. The boxes seem endless, and the kids seem agitated. However, it doesn’t have to be that way. A little preparation goes a long way in turning a chaotic move into a calmer, more manageable transition for the whole family. So, with our prepared move-in checklist, there’s no need to panic. Just follow what we’ve outlined, and your move-in will go by smoothly!
