How Does Moving House Affect a Toddler?

Moving a home with a toddler entails navigating a shift in their sense of security and understanding that the relocation may influence their emotions and behaviors. The child may exhibit increased clinginess and sleep disruption as a response to the change caused by house relocation. At High Stream Moving, we share how moving house affects a toddler.

How Will Your Toddler React to a House Relocation?

Below are common reactions that you should look out for:

• Emotional outbursts or tantrums are a way for the child to express frustration. They may cry more frequently or react strongly than usual to minor inconveniences like not finding their favorite doll or toy amidst packed items.
• Struggle with sleep or disruption in the child's sleep patterns. They'll either wake up frequently, have a hard time falling asleep or insist on sleeping on your bed for them to feel a sense of comfort.
• The toddler may show regressive behaviors, such as reverting to earlier developmental stages due to the stress caused during relocation. An example is going back to the habits they had outgrown, such as thumb-sucking and bedwetting.
• Increased clinginess because the move might affect their sense of security. The toddler may constantly seek reassurance from you, follow you around the new home, refuse to play independently or cry when separated.
• Your toddler will have a change in appetite, and they will refuse to eat certain foods, turn away from their favorite meal, or even eat less than usual because they feel unsettled and overstimulated.
• Increased quietness, withdrawal, and shyness are caused by moving far from familiar faces and surroundings. This may result in mental health issues and affect the child's social life and general well-being.

How to Prepare Your Toddler for the Move?

Talk about the Move in Advance Using Age-Appropriate Language

Since your toddler may not fully comprehend the details of the move, it's crucial to explain to them using simple language and terms what's happening early on before the move begins. You can say, "We are going to live in a new house soon, but we will bring all your toys and your bed with us." 

You can also use visual aids, read them a children's book about moving and show them pictures of the new house and neighborhood to reduce surprises, confusion and anxiety.

Allow Them to Help with Various Tasks of the Move

You can let them decorate the box they want to put their toys in and ask them questions such as "What do you want us to pack first in the box you decorated?". This will make the child feel involved in the process and keep them entertained.

Acknowledge and Validate Your Toddler's Emotions

Doing this will teach them that it's okay to feel upset or frustrated, help them process their feelings and enable them to become more open to moving houses. After validating their emotions, you can talk to them about the fun things you will do in the new house; that way, they'll start looking forward to moving.

How to Support Your Toddler During the Move?

Pack a Comfort Bag for Them 

Having a comfort bag for your toddler with their favorite blanket, snacks, toys, drinks or items such as diapers, extra clothes, and wipes is a way to provide immediate emotional support and comfort. 

Whenever the move gets overwhelming, your toddler can easily access their favorite items in the comfort bag without searching through the packed boxes. 

Offer Extra Verbal Reassurance 

The verbal reassurance will help calm their anxieties and remind them that they are safe and loved even amid the transition. If the child expresses concern or frustration, you can say things like, "I'm right here with you. We will do this together, and everything will be okay." 

Let the child know that the new house will feel like a familiar place and that their favorite items, such as toys, will be with them during the move.

Keep Some Normalcy in Their Day

Maintain your child's regular meal and nap times or their usual routine. Allow them to take short breaks to snack, play or relax in the middle of the packing process to ensure their schedule is not disrupted and thus reduce stress.

How to Adapt Your Toddler to the New House

• Encourage the child to play in the new house: After the move, take them to the backyard and let them interact with the space through fun activities such as playing with their toys or coloring. 
• Walk your toddler around the house and introduce them to each room: This helps build a sense of ownership and may involve tasks such as showing them their new playroom and asking them to put their toys there.
• Allow your child to assist in unpacking their room’s items: It can be as simple as letting them remove their teddy bear from the moving box and placing it on the bed, which will make them feel included, empowered and accustomed to the new space. 
• Create a sense of familiarity immediately: Use the same furniture, toys or bedding or put their bed in the same position it was in the old room to increase the feeling of familiarity, which will help them slowly warm up to the new house.

Choosing the Right Movers for Families

When choosing movers for families, you need to consider their experience with family moves, especially with toddlers, transparency regarding pricing, special services offered for families with toddlers and customer testimonials. 

High Stream Moving is the right choice for families because we have moving prices with no hidden costs, positive customer reviews, we provide local moving, long-distance moving, personalized special services like a dedicated moving truck and a record of over 50 successfully completed family relocations, which shows that we are a good choice for family moves.