This is a sponsored guest post.
Moving cross country can be an exciting journey to make. After all, you’re going to be in a new place with its own diverse set of sights to explore, people to interact with, and lovely places to visit. Not only that, but having a house or an apartment in another state can make for quite the exciting next chapter of your life. This is especially the case if you have a baby, as you can now focus on their growth in a completely new environment. Before you get excited, though, just how can you make the cross-country move enjoyable for your baby?
Cross Country Moving: How Do You Make It Work For Your Baby?
It may help to learn more about moving in general before proceeding to the tips. If you’ve decided to move, you’re not exactly alone. In fact, you’re part of the 35.5 million Americans in the United States that move within the country every year. On average, costs of an in-state move is around $2,300, while interstate moves generally cost $4,300. Much of the reasons cited for moving include wanting a better home or apartment, establishing a household, starting a new job, or a desire for cheaper housing.
Having a baby can be one of the most delightful events of your life, and moving to a new house can also be a world full of excitement for your child. However, cross country moving may become a bit more complicated with a baby. Perhaps it might help if you’re on the top of your game — here’s how to get there:
- Discuss the move with your toddler: If your baby is a toddler, try talking with them about your upcoming move. You might be surprised, but toddlers and older babies may have actually developed faculties enough for them to understand the basics of what you’re saying. Use simple words and make it seem as though moving sounds like an adventure. If you’re moving with a baby or a newborn, try keeping yourself calm, as babies can easily sense if their parents are stressed.
- Arrange packages with labels, proper lists, and with a strategy: When you start packing your things, make sure you’re not just putting things inside boxes one after the other— make sure you have labels and lists of things you’re packing for every box. This at least allows you to be on the know-how when it comes to the things you’re bringing with you on your move. Try to wrap things and put them in your boxes in a way you’d think is most comfortable when unpacking. This can be stressful at first, but it can be extremely practical in the long run.
- Pack non-essentials for your baby in a box: Instead of stressing out while hunting for packed toys and pacifiers, make sure non-essential items are packed in boxes first. Try creating a “Nursery” box, and include things such as clothes, blankets, and extra toys you won’t need until after the move.
- Get essentials for your baby in a box to carry with you: Collect the important items and place them either in separate bags or boxes. These are the items you’ll be carrying yourself during the move. These include wipes and diapers, pajamas and clothing, bouncy seats or high chairs, favorite animals and toys, snacks and food, bottles and sippy cups, bath items, a car seat, and medical items you may need throughout the journey.
- Keep dangerous items away from your children throughout the process: Various safety risks exist throughout the moving journey — especially for babies. During the planning and packing process, keep things such as furniture with sharp edges, cleaning supplies, and scissors away from your babies. While you move, make sure someone is always watching over them while you’re busy. If possible, it may help to have your baby take a “vacation” elsewhere, perhaps to a relative’s house, while you move.
- Try to make the routine as consistent as possible to ease them in the move: When you’re moving with a baby, it’s important to maintain a consistent routine so as to not disrupt any habits you’ve developed. Consistency helps give your baby the impression that they’re secure and safe, and that what you’re doing isn’t stressful. Not to mention, if you keep your baby on a schedule, it can also make planning much easier on your end.
- Consider a mover to remove the hassle of having to carry luggage: If you’re moving, the mere idea of having your furniture and luggage with you can be overwhelming. Imagine having to think about all of this with a baby on board! Perhaps consider cross country moving with actual movers, like North American Van Lines. This at least allows you to rely on a service that’s capable of giving you the comfort of moving without having to get your things crammed with you.
Make Cross Country Moving A Delight For Your Baby!
Cross country moving might seem both exciting and daunting. However, if there’s anything to take away from this article, it’s that there are actually a lot of things that are involved in cross country moving. Knowing the basics of cross country moving can make the endeavor much better for you to handle. Always remember that cross country moving has a lot to do with more than just packing your things and moving them around.