Terrific Tips For Moving With Toddlers

Babble tackles the seemingly insurmountable task of moving when you have toddlers. The've put together a really helpful list of tips to help you get it done.

I'm storing these away for the future. (Just in case we win the lottery and buy a mansion! I can dream right?)

1. Take plenty of breaks

Even though moving is stressful and a lot of work for the adults, it's important to remember that children are processing it all in their own way too. Our to-do lists were long,and there were many boxes still left to pack, but we made sure to take plenty of breaks for both our own sanity and to keep Cullen's work feeling relatively familiar. We spent our last evening in our old neighborhood enjoying the Friday night farmer's market and letting Cullen take a final ride on the swings!

2. Enlist help

This is probably my biggest tip. My mom ended up flying out to help us with our move, and in hindsight I don\'t know what we would have done without her. Cullen was so excited to have here there that he barely noticed all the madness happening around him. She was able to totally focus on him and keep him happy, while Casey and I ran around and packed and cleaned like maniacs. We cashed in all of our skymiles to get her out to Seattle, and it was more than worth it — priceless!

3. Consider a moving day treat

I knew that moving day was going to be chaos and Cullen was going to need extra things to occupy him while our space was so disheveled. A few days before the fun began, I ordered him a new little Sesame Street play set on Amazon. I knew he would love it, and that something new would keep him happy and entertained while the space around him was packed up and carried out. It was a huge success, and he's still loving it a week later. (Eternity in toddler time!)

4. Have a plan for moving day

Even though the week before the move was busy, we were able to do a lot during nap times and in the evening, so we didn't have to worry quite as much about what to do with Cullen while we packed. But moving day itself was another story. I scheduled the movers to come as early as possible (8 AM), in hopes that we could get as much as possible done before nap time. While furniture was being carted out and all our exterior doors were wide open, Cullen was being entertained by Grandma. I'd kept out his new play set, his favorite lovey blanket, and the iPad — all of which kept him happy for several hours. You definitely want to plan ahead and make sure you have some familiar items available and easily accessible once the move itself starts!

I'm all about having a plan, but sometimes my type A personality makes it difficult for me to let myself take breaks. The thing about being a mom is that I have to remember that my kids need those breaks way more than I do, so they just have to happen. Besides, I'll probably feel better after a break in the back yard with a special moving day treat too. Ice creams anyone?

What are your moving tips? Have you tried to move with toddlers? What worked for you? Share your wisdom in the comment section. Then get more great tips from Babble on moving with toddlers.