The arrival of a child in a family is always a major upheaval. It can even be the trigger for a move. As the family expands, the apartment becomes too small, and you may need to move to a larger home. If you're moving with a baby, you'll need to prepare your child for the move, while taking all the necessary steps. It's not easy being on all fronts and looking after baby's well-being. How can you talk to your baby about the move and reassure him about this new experience? How can you best organize and manage the move with a baby? Here are a few tips to help you move with peace of mind.
How to prepare baby for a move?
To feel secure and thrive, a baby needs a sense of security and stability. This is quite the opposite of moving house, which represents a major change of environment for toddlers! To limit the stress of moving, you need to keep your baby's belongings as intact as possible, and prepare him or her psychologically.
Keep as many of your baby's everyday objects as possible
The loss of sensory cues (visual, tactile, olfactory) can prove to be a major handicap.
disturbing for a child. This is particularly true for very young children, whose sense of smell is very sensitive. To reassure your baby during
to keep as much as possible of what reminds him of his everyday life: the do
udou, of course, and the bottle, but also
bed or furniture...
When packing, be sure to keep a few toys close by, so that your child can have them with him that evening. This will make it easier for him to fall asleep with objects that remind him of his old surroundings.
Talk to him about the move in advance to prepare the ground
Your child will find it easier to adapt to his new environment if you talk to him before the move and share your emotions with him. You can take him to your new home before the move, so he can familiarize himself with the place. Just explain why you're moving, and don't try to hide things and present him with a fait accompli on moving day. Children are capable of adapting easily to change. It's the worry that makes them more fragile. Depending on your baby's age, you can involve him in the move by letting him take his toys out of the boxes, for example.
How do you prepare for baby's arrival in complete safety?
If you're not organized, your home can become a real construction site during the preparations.
To avoid putting your child at risk
f you're faced with a messy environment, plan ahead. Before packing your boxes, sort through any personal belongings you no longer need. That's one less thing you'll have to move on the big day. This does not apply to your baby's belongings, who should be able to find as many things as possible in your new home.
With a little forethought, you can approach the move with greater serenity. This is very important to help your child tackle the situation calmly. More than the change itself, it's your doubts and worries that can upset your baby. The more stressed you are about the move, the more nervous your child will be. So take the time you need to move into a fully prepared home, and prepare the boxes methodically, without rushing.
How do you plan for the big day?
If possible, entrust your baby to a relative rather than keeping him with you on moving day. It'll be more pleasant for your baby, and less stressful for you! This is the most delicate moment for everyone.
If you have to babysit, explain the situation to your baby. And try to make the day as pleasant as possible for him, so that he doesn't feel stressed by the comings and goings. Set aside a few moments during the day to spend time with your child and leave him with the feeling of a pleasant day.
To enable your child to sleep well in his own bed that evening, you need to start by reinstalling his bedroom.
e first. Like you, he'll probably need some time to get used to his new home and find his feet.
After moving house: how can you help your baby settle into his new room?
As far as possible, plan for the new room to be fitted out identically to the old one. The baby's room is obviously the first room to be reinstalled, so that your child can return to his or her own environment as quickly as possible.
Your child should be able to return to his bed, his toys, and an environment as close as possible to his usual surroundings. This will make it easier for your baby to find his bearings and resume a regular, reassuring rhythm.
To this end, it's important to maintain the same rituals before and after the move: keep the cuddles and the bedtime story, preferably at the same times to maintain habits.
To make moving with a baby easier, the best solution is to entrust the task to a professional who can take care of everything for you. You'll be able to devote yourself fully to your child while the movers fill your boxes, take charge of them and transport them to your new address.
Contact us for a cost estimate. From the most economical Truck with Driver package to the Grand Confort package, where we take care of everything, we offer different levels of service for a worry-free move with a baby.