Moving with a 2 Year Old

Updated on July 27, 2011
S.H. asks from Akron, OH
6 answers

My husband and I just signed the loan application for a new house yesterday and plan to close the end of this month. We have a 2 year old boy who will be 3 in October and a baby girl on the way in November. My question is this - what advice do you have as we begin to pack and prepare for the move? I moved out of my parents' house when we got married and we have been in our first home ever since. We only have 2 bedrooms and need more space. Since I haven't moved an entire house before, especially not with a little one I would like any advice you may have. We have already been talking to our son and showing him the house so he understands a little bit about what is happening but I'm not sure how much he fully gets until we begin to actually move everything and stay at the new house. Any suggestions for packing would be helpful! Thanks!
- We are moving locally so distance isn't an issue and family members and friends will be helping with the move.

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

So What Happened?

Thank you all so much for the great advice! I appreciate it and will take it all to heart! We are moving forward with the paperwork and started getting boxes to pack, so now the fun begins! We are all very excited! I am hoping for a smooth transition prior to the start of school :)

More Answers

C.B.

answers from Kansas City on

don't stress about it, make it fun. don't talk about it too much, until maybe a week or so before (as long as you can put off packing his things - do his room last), then when you do start with his things, have him help you and make it very positive. mine (we did move when he was 2 - actually we had to because of a fire - our apartment was fine but it was structurally unsound so we had to go) didn't even care about the rest of the rooms being packed up, i just went about my business as if it was completely normal. of course save all his favorite things for last (even the day of or the night before if possible) and my best advice is to have him spend the night with grandma or someone else that he loves and trusts, on moving day. when he goes with them, prepare him, maybe have him say good bye to his room, and tell him that (in my son's case), Giraffie, Buzz Lightyear, his race cars, his trains, all of them are going to go with us to the new house and we will see them there. it can be upsetting, i'm sure, but when we moved, he was the least of our worries - he was totally fine. either i got a great kid (well obviously hehehe) or it was in how we handled it. the less stressed you get, i believe, the better off everyone will be. good luck and congrats!

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.H.

answers from Seattle on

I waited to pack most of my sons stuff for as long as a could. then a day or so before we moved I packed his room. Kept some of his toys out and just threw them in like a hamper or whatever at the last minute. but them in a place that they would be out first.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.K.

answers from Cleveland on

I think the hardest part is putting things in the new place where you can find them, so when packing kitchens, dressers, anything multidrawer, label a box then work from the bottom up, empty a drawer, put down a layer of newspaper then the next drawer, etc. Refilling the dresser is easy and things will not be all mixed up together. Do as much as you can yourself with soft goods like linen closets. We moved several times and I was astounded by opening boxes the packers packed where baby clothes were mixed with junk from the tool table in the basement.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.B.

answers from Canton on

We just moved a few months ago, and I have 2 and 3 year-old-boys. The older one asked a lot of questions, which I answered honestly and simply. We let them visit the new house a few times, and they got to run around in it. We were really positive about it and talked about all the new things we liked about the house. We talked a LOT about how Daddy, Mommy, Dominic, and Zachary are all moving to a new house and we're taking all of our stuff with us, and kept emphasizing how we would all be together. He will definitely take your lead - keep it light because the most important thing for him is that you'll be with him! Even though my older son is a little worrier, he did great and adjusted really quickly. My 2-year-old is more easygoing, but they both slept great from the first night on and seem very happy!
As for packing, good luck! I did most of that while they were sleeping, and saved their room/their stuff until the last possible moment. I think the most helpful thing was just labeling boxes very specifically! Oh, and I did let them pack a (tiny) box or two of their stuff, and then they got to draw on the boxes. They loved that and were very proud to help!
I think the best thing we did was have my mom watch them overnight at her house the day of & after the move. By the time she brought them to our new house, I had their bedroom decorated, their toys out, and the house in reasonable order. (Okay, so yes, I was exhausted and put in a few 18 hours which I wouldn't recommend in your condition - so get help from friends/family if you can!) But it was worth it - they loved their new house and especially their new yard!
Also, especially since you are pregnant, I would imagine that people will be asking what they can do to help. LET THEM HELP - and let them know specifically how they can help, such as providing meals, sitting with your kids for an hour or two, getting you boxes, etc.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.F.

answers from Columbus on

We moved when my son was 4. He was very upset when we packed his stuff from his room. He thought we were getting rid of it. He didn't understand that it was going to the new house - even though we had possession for several weeks before we actually moved. I would recommend taking his favorite things in the car with him so he knows they aren't going to disappear.

K.M.

answers from Chicago on

Firstly, have the kids with someone who can take care of them while you are moving ... you want them to walk into a house that is not in shambles. Secondly do what you can to keep their rooms in tact until moving day or the day/night before and set their rooms up first. I moved with my son twice now and we keep as much of his stuff accessable to him at all times and leave his stuff for last min. It seems crazy but it seemed to have helped 1. get his room set up faster 2. ease his transition. Good Luck

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions