Moving to a new home is both an exciting and a stressful time, especially if you have children and pets to consider. Not only do you have to juggle the complexities of packing up your entire life and moving to a new place, but you also have to care for pets and little ones who may not understand what’s happening.
The good news is that both can be adaptable with the right preparation, and you’ll be ready to enjoy your new NYC home in no time.
Below, we’ll cover practical ways to plan a smoother, less stressful move, including tips to help you plan ahead and suggestions on when to call in the professionals to make the transition easier for your entire family.
Moving Tips with Kids and Pets
It’s never too early to start planning your move. The more time you give your children and pets to get familiar with the idea of moving, the more seamlessly they will settle into their new space.
Create a Timeline
Unless it’s an emergency, you have time to plan your move, so use it wisely. Start with your move out/in date, and create a timeline to help make the moving process feel more manageable.
Here’s a simple timeline you can use if you have four weeks to move.
- Four weeks before: Gather moving supplies, including boxes, tape, markers, and bubble wrap. Inventory your home, listing each room and area that needs care.
- Two to three weeks before: Starting with the rooms you use the least, sort through your belongings. Decide which items you will keep, donate, sell, or throw away. Depending on how old your children are, you can engage them in the process to make them feel included. Pack what you don’t immediately need in clearly labeled boxes that include the room and basic items for ease of reference. Clean as you go.
- One week before: Begin to pack the essentials, ensuring you have easy access to items you may need to use daily. This can include your children’s favorite toys or your pet’s treats. Keep the most-used items in an open box and leave them there when you’re not using them. Deep clean the rooms as they are fully packed.
- Moving day: Place all final items in boxes to move, including children’s bedding, pet food and medication, and more. Do one final sweep through to ensure no items are left behind. Sweep the floors and wipe down counters one more time to finalize your move-out clean. Take pictures of the cleaned rooms for your records.
During the packing and purging phase, determine how many rooms you need to do per day to finish on time. To make it more manageable, spend a little time each day packing. Engage your children to help put things in boxes or let your pet get used to the boxes little by little before they clutter your entire space.
Pack in Stages
Packing in stages can help your pets or children get used to the idea of moving without changing their home overnight.
- Start with the rooms that are least used. Your guest bathroom may not see as much traffic now that you’re moving, so pack that before the living room. It will prevent you from packing and unpacking the same items over and over again.
- Clean as you go. If you have emptied a cabinet, wipe it down after. That will streamline the moving process.
- Label everything. Write on the boxes where they go or what is inside them. Keep important documents together and make sure your essentials are easily reachable.
Use moving as an opportunity to declutter. Don’t be afraid to get rid of items if they no longer serve a purpose in your life.
Involve Your Children
Children are curious, so explain what’s happening during the moving process and be patient as you answer their questions. Involve them in the process in age-appropriate ways. Examples of this include:
- Packing boxes
- Decorating their moving boxes
- Sorting through toys to donate
- Choosing new items for their rooms
Pack their most-used items last, including stuffed animals, bedding, medicine, etc. Secure and remove boxes from their rooms to prevent them from unpacking the items before it’s time to move.
Keep Daily Essentials Accessible
There are items in your New York City home that you’ll need to access both up to moving day and immediately after you settle into your new home. Do not pack them away until absolutely necessary.
Keep daily essentials like pet food, snacks, medicine, and personal care items easily accessible. If you’re afraid you’re going to leave them behind, keep them in an unsealed box in the applicable room.
These items will be boxed so they are ready to go, but still within reach so you won’t need to search or unseal boxes to get to them.
Maintain Routines
Routines are critical for both pets and children, so do what you can to maintain stability during the move.
- Protect meal times. Whether you’re feeding your pets or having dinner with the family, if you regularly eat at a certain time each day, keep it up.
- Take walks as expected. Your dog doesn’t care that you’re packing if you take him out every day at 4 p.m. Do it or risk accidents, which can be annoying to clean up.
- Maintain naptime and bedtime schedules. This consistency will help your little ones feel safe in their new home.
Prioritize keeping to your schedule to help your kids and pets feel comfortable during the move.
Set Up Safe Spaces during Moving
Moving day can be hectic, so take steps to care for your children and pets.
- Secure your animals. Doors are opened and shut a lot as you move boxes in and out, so make sure that your cats, dogs, and other pets are in a cage, room, or secured backyard. Keep items your pets are comfortable with in the space to make them feel safe during the move.
- Set aside a spot for your children. Lay down a blanket in the corner with their favorite stuffed animal or tablet. Your children should be visible but out of the way to prevent accidents.
- Check on them regularly. Make sure they have food and water and use the bathroom. Care for their basic needs during moving day to help ensure they don’t feel forgotten.
Your children or pets may need additional comfort since there is a lot of change happening in a short amount of time.
Prepare a First-night Box
That first night in your new home is going to be exciting and overwhelming. A first-night box includes all the essentials you’ll need to get through the first night – and it may be the last boxes you packed the night before.
- Pet and children’s bedding
- Clothes
- Favorite toys and electronics
- Personal care items like toothbrushes, hair care and soap
- Medication
- Pet food and treats
The first-night box or boxes should be the first things you unpack and everything that you’ll need to get through that first night in your new home.
Plan For What Comes Next
You’ll have to update your address – among other things – when you move to a new home. Here are some items to consider.
- Children: Update schools, daycares, and other activities with your new address as needed. If you’re moving to a new city, you’ll need to find a new pediatrician.
- Pets: Update your pet’s tags and vet with your new address. If they are microchipped, make sure that you update the system with the latest information in case they get lost.
- Family: Locate nearby parks and resources to enjoy with your children, including new restaurants and experiences. Update your billing address, utilities, and other important tactical information.
The more you plan, the more successful your move will be.
Let the Professionals Handle the Cleaning
A move-out clean is more complex than simply wiping down surfaces after you’ve removed all your items. The longer you’ve been in your home, the deeper you’ll need to clean to get your security deposit back.
Let White Glove Cleaner help with all your home cleaning service needs in NYC. We offer move-out and move-in cleaning, weekly maintenance cleans, deep cleaning services, and more.
Contact us today to learn more about why we are the premier cleaning service in New York City.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I Hire Professional Movers?
Professional movers will help pack up your space and relocate your items to your new home. They may even unpack them for you, which can reduce the stress of moving. If you don’t want to prolong the packing process, it may be beneficial to hire professionals.
Why Do I Need a Move-Out Clean?
Move-out cleans help ensure you get your security deposit back, removing the mess that comes from living in any space. If you have lived in the same home for several years, it can be especially beneficial. You can focus on packing and leave the cleaning to the professionals.
How Can I Make My Pet More Comfortable?
Introduce the boxes to them so they can sniff and explore them. Bring them to the new home if available to get them familiar with the space. You can increase the time they are there with you over time to help with the transition. Keep familiar items like the toys, treats, and bedding to help them associate the new space with home.
Will Moving Impact My Child(ren) Psychologically?
Some children may find it hard to cope during the moving process. You can help by engaging them in the moving process, trying to excite them about the new home, and exploring opportunities that interest them in the new area. Listen to their concerns without judgment.