We are moving from NY to Seattle at the end of the month. I was wondering if anyone has any ideas of how to help ease the transition for my 22 month old son. We have been talking about moving trucks and how mommy, daddy and son are going to a new house together. But obviously he doesn't fully understand that. Anyway...any tips for anything about moving appreciated. Thanks!
Thanks for all of the advice - and for easing my mind!
It's all about us...the parents. We act normal, they act normal. Kids, especially at this age, go with the flow and take their cues from us. As they get older, there are challenges with friends, school, etc. But at this age, home really is where Mom and Dad is and a favorite blanket or stiffed animal. My advice, don't complicate something that is relatively simple. Enjoy discovering the new environment together.
make it a "happy" move & he'll be okay. We moved when my son was 3 & he did fine!
All of the other posters had excellent ideas. & try to find an actual moving truck toy & book for him....put it in his "moving" bag & he'll be happy!
I have moved so many times, its not funny. My daughter is 2.5 and we have moved 3 times since she was born. Kids are surprisingly resilient. As long as you and his daddy are there, he will feel right at home. Set his room up first thing and try to keep him on the same schedule he was on before, and I bet he will be just fine. My daughter never skipped a beat during all our moves. She just adapted perfectly to each new home. We got so worried before every move, and she was just fine. Good luck!
I have moved with that age before. He won't get it until you are at the new place. Then will compare the two which will be very cute. Just make sure once you are there you explore and fine all the "cool things" about the new place. He will be fine.
You can read books and talk but at his age it will not really kick in until you make the move, just try to find a good book that explains all his toys and books are going with. We like the bearnstein bears moving day book the best here. We just moved from Seattle to the Midwest after just doing the midwest to seattle move 4 years prior so we have done this a few times.
New room is put together like it was in the old house if possible and a few un opened presents on the bed with some new stuff.
I don't have any advice, but wanted to say I'm VERY jealous! I'm from the great Northwest and miss it sooooo much! Don't get out to visit much since I got married and had kids. It's beautiful out there! Good luck with the move.
Take care,
Lynsey
We have moved with toddlers. They don't care where they are as long as they are with you and daddy. I would rather move with a toddler than a teen any day. Teens give you grief for the rest of your life.
Try to follow his schedule otherwise he could be quite cracky and constipated, but other than that he'll do fine.
Encourage him to help pack so that he can see his things are going with you. Have him put together a special bag that will go with him personally, so that he knows his "special friends" will be there too. Take pictures of your current home, the outside, the living room, the kitchen, the hall way, his room, etc. That way if he has issues you can make him a little photo album, so that he can be reassured by seeing his familiar surroundings. When my son was 2 yrs old we move to a different state. This is what I did but we never needed to photo album so I never put it together, it was a "just in case" solution. My son really did not care where we were as long as mommy, daddy and his sister were with him (along with his snuggle item).
He'll be fine. Just monitor your own stress - communication is only 10 per cent words - kids are always watching how you treat each other - keep being affectionate.
Who is moving you? We were robbed by our movers in NY and it seems to be a big deal in NY. So, make sure their estimate is correct, that they label every box with a number (1-100 or whatever - so you can count the boxes out and count them in to your house in Seattle) - and that you have a list which you both sign - that agrees on the number of boxes. Have labels of your name and moving address already printed out that affix to every box. This is just basic common sense (which we did not use).
As far as he is concerned, wherever you are is home to him. I would not
worry about it. You will be surprised how flexible little ones are. I always
find, the more you talk about it, the more problems you create. Love
Seattle, enjoy.
He's too young for you to understand what you are telling him ahead of time, kids under 2 don't know the concept of moving house. My nephew and his wife just moved to a new place with their 20 month old, and she spent the first several days asking to go home, even though her toys, bed, cat, etc were in the new apartment. The important thing when you get there is to be sure to keep the same routine for him as he settles in. Good luck!
