Moving with a 2 Yr Old

Do you have to move while she is away at Grandma's? I just moved with my 2 1/2 year old a few months ago and one of teh biggest reason's for her smooth transition was the fact that she was mommy's helper all day and was there to help me set up all of her toys/crib and unpacked everything. Get her excited about the move, have her room 100% ready teh first night she sleeps in it, and have something special waiting for her in her new room such as a new decoration(those stiker wall decals are great) or something to make it special.

I had to move a bit too when my son was young. One of the things that we always did was set up his room EXACTLY the same as it was at the old place, or as close as possible. That way he felt compfortable in his new room. And if possible let her see the old place empty so that she doesn't think that any of her stuff was left there

we had to move also right afte my son turned three and my daughter 15 months, we kept our three year old with us, actually we had him help pack up his toys and even help carry some to the car, and then when we got to the new place he was able to take the same things to his new room, he then actually chose to stay at the new house while the older boys made a few trips it was exciting to be in the new house and he got to help put things away in all the rooms this way he saw furniture and other items he remebered from the old house in the new house, it does help though if grandma can be ther to keep the extra eyes on your child that way you can still move around the house quickly and still get things done,
actually my son and his grandma made his bed and helped set up his room, it was help for me and he loved the time with his grandmother it made him feel like he was in charge...
hope this helped
ps i have to go through it again when our new house gets built....

Hi M.,

We recently bought our first house. We also have a two year old. What helped us in the transition was to talk up the new place. Draw pictures of it, take pictures of it (if you can, outside, inside, whatever) tell her where her new room will be and just make it sound like the biggest deal ever!

We did just that with our daughter and the first night here she slept in her new room (the upstairs sleeping loft so no doors...) without a hitch! She loves it here and has never asked about her old house. Every now and then we'll drive by the old apartment and she'll make some comment of "I used to live there when I was little but now that I'm bigger we have a new house!"

I agree as well with letting her be in control of some of her packing.

I wish you luck and make it fun!

Kate

I would definitely let her be involved with the move, as much as a two year old can be. Let her "pack" a box of some of her favorite stuffed animals, toys, books, etc. and take that box with her to grandma's house. After the big move into your new place, allow her "unpack" her things into her new room and let her claim it as her own. Kids are pretty resilient, but she may have a night or two of transition in the new house. My little guy (he's just 17 months) has had many moves in his short life (New Mexico to Colorado (temporarily) to a cross-country trek to New Jersey, temporary apartment and soon a house!) and he's always done very well. We've had one or two rough nights while he's gotten used to his new surroundings, but all in all he's been a trooper.

Good luck!

M.,

Flylady.net will help with the logistics at least - she has a journal for moving that is download-able.

As far as your little one, it may help to take pictures of her room as it is now, all nice and neat, and then take pictures of the new room, all nice and neat, show her that all her stuff (or at least what is on the surface: bed, dresser, shelves, etc) is not only there, but safe and sound, and in a solid place (not just 'at the new place', as talked about).

Bring the pix to grandma's when you pick her up - maybe keep the photos out so she can look at them at her leisure, and stay the night at Grandma's also, so you can wake up in the morning and she'll have a second chance to see the photos and connect.

Good Luck!
M.

Hi M.,
We just went through the same thing with our son. I found he transitioned beautifully because the first think we did was set up his crib and had it all ready for him the first night. Good luck!!!

we moved our 4 yr. old to an inferior place...one without even her own bedroom...she needed to camp out in the living room for awhile before we set up some kind of wall unit divider thing with loft bed. Before she arrived I decorated her space with ballooms and party ribbons and set up her bed with her favorite stuffed animals and made signs that said WELCOME HOME...we had a little candlelight dinner to celebrate the move. Good luck.

why don't you let her help decorate or buy her a new bedding set or a toy she has been wanting. try to divert her energy with something.

When we moved to a smaller place this past December, I thought I was going to have trouble with my daughter being in a new place and her own room. I made sure I took her to the new place a few times before we actually moved in. She liked it. I wasn't sure about her sleeping very well in her own room for the first time so I slept in hers the first night and had her sleep in mine the next. She did great.

Nanc

Definitely include her! Have her help you unpack and put things away - ask her where she wants her stuff...

The reason why I say that is I had that issue when I needed to move my 2 yo daughter from the nursery to her new bedroom. I needed to explain to her that she is moving rooms...and had her move things from one room to another - that simple act helped her realize that "change" is happening...

Good luck! :)

When we moved, I built the new house up really well. I talked about it in an excited tone.. talked about the possibilities of new friends and what a nice house it was going to be.

My little one was about 2 at the time... so this might work for your situation. I agree about letting her help decorate once you get there. Make it a surprise and let her feel as though you are giving her this as a gift. If you stay positive and upbeat, so will your child.

As for the first night there, sleep with her in her new room as a treat. She will love it. Buy a few "new" books for her new room that are going to be special bedtime stories for her new house, etc. The first night will be "special".

Good luck with your move! Speaking of moving, I had better "move" and get off the computer before I'm late again LOL

Hi M.,

At two, the idea of moving house is really not within their understanding. I think the best tbing to do in the new place is to set it up as close to your old home as possible - if she still has her own room, put the funiture, toys, etc in there arranged like they were in the old room, set up your living room as close to the way it was in the old house, etc. I wouldn't redecorate her room or change things around, the security of it seeming familiar will help her to make this transition.

Good luck.

I would try to start out by creating a "familiar" environment for her, same bed, surrounded by same toys/animals/dolls. After settling in, get her to help with ideas to decorate her space. This will help make a "new" space into her "personal" space that she helped create.

The only thing I'd like to add, is that maybe she should be involved with some phase of the move.. Perhaps when she comes to the new home from grandma's house, rather than finding a "new Word", she could have some sense of control over the change...Maybe she could help move her stuffed animals into her new room? I agree with the other ladies to keep it upbeat, and an exciting adventure. There are a lot of books on the market about the subject. maybe you could cruise a bookstore for good picture books about moving...

Hi M.,
I would let her help with the move of her toys and things, and whatever else she can carry (pillows, a book, a plastic bowl...set some things aside especially for her). Take an afternoon and dedicate it to letting her help you move. Get box/bag for her to pack her dolls/toys/stuff, drive over to the new place (if its not too far) and let her unpack her stuff. Let her feel empowered in this transition by giving her chances to help too. Kids at this age love to help, so let her succeed in helping you. She will feel like a big girl that she is able to help you, it will also help her to feel somewhat in control and she will feel more ownership in helping to create the setting of her new home.
Good Luck
N.

I have moved twice- and they were to different states - with kids about that age. They are very resiliant and she should be just fine, especially since you will still have all her stuff. I think we just tried to make it exciting - "wow, isn't your new room great!" And our lsst move was from a great house we built to one that needed a lot of work because of the change in cost of living. So, in short, I think she will be just fine. Also, if you can keep her routine if she has one the same that will help.

I haven't had to move with my kids but we do travel regularly. One thing I have found that helps with sleeping in a new place DON'T WASH THE BLANKETS just before the move. Let her sleep in then a couple nights so they smell like her and when she climbs into bed the first night the smell will be familier even if the house isn't. Also make sure you have a couple cherished toys available. Pack them last, unpack them first kind of thing. When going on vacation this seems to work so hopefuly it will moving! A.