Month: July 2025

Moving with toddlers presents unique challenges that require patience, creativity, and plenty of planning. Children this age thrive on routine and familiarity, making the upheaval of relocation particularly unsettling for them. However, with the right strategies, you can help your little one adapt to the transition while maintaining your own sanity during your household move.

Start Conversations Early

Toddlers need time to process big changes, so begin talking about the move weeks before it happens. Use simple, positive language that focuses on the exciting aspects of your new home. Read books about moving together and point out fun elements, such as having a new room to decorate or a different playground to explore.

Create a countdown calendar with pictures that display the number of days remaining until the move. This visual aid helps toddlers understand the timeline and builds anticipation rather than anxiety. Let them mark off each day, making the approaching move feel like an adventure rather than something being done to them.

Involve Them in Age-Appropriate Tasks

Toddlers feel more secure when they have some control over their environment. Give them small jobs during the packing process, such as placing their books in a special box or choosing which stuffed animals to pack first. These tasks make them feel involved while teaching them that their belongings are coming with them to the new house.

Let them decorate their moving boxes with stickers or drawings. This creative activity turns packing into play while helping them identify their belongings more easily. Take photos of them with their packed boxes to create a moving scrapbook they can look at later.

Maintain Familiar Routines

During the chaos of moving, maintaining your toddler’s regular schedule becomes crucial for their emotional stability. Keep meal times, naps, and bedtime routines as consistent as possible. If your toddler usually has a specific snack at 3 PM or takes a bath before bed, stick to these rituals even amid the moving mayhem.

Pack a special “toddler survival kit” with favorite snacks, toys, and comfort items that stay easily accessible throughout the moving process. Having these familiar objects readily available prevents meltdowns when your child needs comfort during stressful moments.

Create a Safe Space on Moving Day

Moving day can bring chaos that overwhelms young children. Designate one room as a quiet zone where your toddler can play safely away from the hustle and bustle. Stock this room with favorite toys, books, and snacks. Consider asking a trusted friend or family member to supervise this space, allowing you to focus on moving logistics without worrying about your child’s safety.

If possible, arrange for your toddler to spend the day with grandparents or close friends on moving day. This removes them from the chaos entirely while ensuring they receive the attention and care they need. Just make sure they understand this is temporary and that you’ll be reunited at the new house.

Pack Strategically for Immediate Needs

Create a “first day” box specifically for your toddler containing everything they’ll need for their first night in the new home. Include pajamas, a few favorite toys, comfort items such as blankets or stuffed animals, and any other necessary bedtime essentials. Having these items immediately accessible prevents bedtime struggles after an already challenging day.

Pack a separate bag with toddler essentials for the actual moving day, including diapers, wipes, snacks, a change of clothes, and entertainment items such as coloring books or small toys. Keep this bag with you rather than loading it on the moving truck.

Make the New House Feel Familiar

Upon arrival at your new home, set up your toddler’s room first if possible. Having their bed, favorite toys, and familiar decorations in place helps them feel secure in the new environment. Let them help arrange their room and choose where their special toys should go.

Establish new routines that incorporate familiar elements. If you used to take evening walks around your old neighborhood, find a similar route in your new area. Point out exciting new discoveries, such as houses with different colors, interesting trees, or nearby parks.

Be Patient with Regression

Don’t be surprised if your toddler temporarily regresses in areas where they had made progress. They might have more frequent tantrums, resist potty training, or wake up more often at night. These behaviors are normal responses to significant life changes and typically resolve once they feel secure in their new environment.

Offer extra comfort and reassurance during this adjustment period. More cuddles, additional bedtime stories, and patience with challenging behaviors help your toddler feel supported as they navigate this big change.

Explore Together

Once you’re settled, make exploring your new neighborhood a fun family activity. Visit the local park, walk to nearby stores, or drive around to familiarize yourselves with the area. Point out positive features like playgrounds, ice cream shops, or interesting buildings that might excite your toddler.

Take photos of these exploration adventures to create a “new neighborhood” album. Looking at these pictures helps your toddler remember positive experiences and builds familiarity with their new surroundings.

Growing Together Through Change

Moving with toddlers requires extra planning and patience, but it also offers opportunities to teach resilience and adaptability. By maintaining routines, involving them in the process, and providing plenty of emotional support, you help your little one develop confidence in handling life’s changes. Remember that adjustment takes time, and maintaining a positive attitude helps your toddler see moving as an exciting adventure rather than something to fear.

Need help making your family move smoother? Our experienced team understands the unique challenges of moving with young children. Contact us today for personalized moving solutions tailored to your entire family’s needs.

Whether you’re downsizing, caught between closing dates, or simply need extra space while settling in, storage becomes an essential part of many household relocations. Finding the right storage solution can transform a potentially chaotic situation into a well-organized transition. Here’s how to make storage work for your specific moving needs.

Assess Your Storage Timeline

Before exploring storage options, determine how long you’ll need extra space. Short-term storage needs might require different solutions than long-term arrangements. If you’re dealing with a gap between move-out and move-in dates, you might only need storage for a few weeks. However, if you’re downsizing significantly, you could require months to decide what to keep permanently.

Understanding your timeline helps you choose between temporary solutions, such as portable storage containers, and more permanent arrangements at traditional storage facilities. It also affects pricing, as many facilities offer discounts for longer commitments.

Choose the Right Type of Storage

Different situations call for different storage approaches. Self-storage units are ideal when you require regular access to your belongings. These facilities offer a variety of unit sizes and often provide climate control for sensitive items, such as electronics or family heirlooms.

Portable storage containers bring convenience directly to your doorstep. Companies deliver the container to your home, where you pack it at your own pace. They then either store it at their facility or deliver it to your new location. This option eliminates the need for multiple trips to a storage facility and reduces the handling of your belongings.

Full-service storage takes convenience a step further. Professional movers pack, transport, and store your items in a warehouse facility. While more expensive, this option works perfectly for valuable items or when you’re too busy to handle the logistics yourself.

Organize Items by Priority

Not everything deserves the same level of storage care. Create three categories: items you’ll need occasionally, seasonal belongings, and things you’re uncertain about keeping. Store frequently needed items in easily accessible spots near the front of your unit.

Seasonal decorations, sporting equipment, and clothing can be stored in the back since you won’t need them immediately. Place questionable items in a separate section—this gives you time to decide their fate without cluttering your new home.

Pack for Easy Retrieval

Smart packing makes storage much more functional. Use clear plastic bins instead of cardboard boxes when possible—they’re waterproof, stackable, and allow you to see the contents without opening them. Label everything clearly, including detailed contents and the room to which each item belongs, in your new home. Check with your professional movers for guidance on storage boxes.

Create a master inventory list with corresponding numbers for each box or bin. Take photos of valuable items before storing them for insurance purposes. This documentation proves invaluable if you need to file a claim or simply want to remember what you stored.

Protect Your Investment

Storage environments can be harsh on belongings. Choose climate-controlled units for anything sensitive to temperature fluctuations—furniture, electronics, documents, and artwork all benefit from stable conditions. Even in climate-controlled spaces, raise items off the floor using pallets or shelving to prevent moisture damage.

Wrap furniture in moving blankets or plastic sheeting to prevent dust accumulation and scratches. Disassemble large furniture pieces to save space and reduce damage risk. Keep all hardware in labeled bags taped to the corresponding furniture piece.

Consider Security Features

Storage facilities vary widely in their security measures. Look for features like gated access, security cameras, individual unit alarms, and on-site management. If you’re storing valuable items, these features justify any additional cost.

Avoid storing highly valuable jewelry, important documents, or irreplaceable family photos in any storage unit. Keep these items with you or in a bank safety deposit box. Insurance policies have limits, and some items simply can’t be replaced.

Storage Made Simple

The proper storage solution eliminates the pressure to make hasty decisions about your belongings while providing the flexibility to settle into your new home comfortably. By matching your storage choice to your specific timeline, access needs, and budget, you create breathing room that makes the entire moving process more manageable.

McLaughlin is your solution for storage needs, whether you’re moving, renovating, or simply require extra space for your belongings. We offer flexible pickup and delivery options, catering to both short-term and long-term needs. Our priority is to work with your schedule while ensuring all your items are handled with the utmost care, guaranteeing they are returned in their original condition. Contact us today to discuss how storage can simplify your relocation.