# Moving House With a Baby or Toddler: Preparing Kids and Babyproofing

> How to prepare young children for a move, get through moving day, and make the new home safe fast.

Stage: family - Topic: Family life - Page: https://www.askcladle.com/guides/parents/moving-house-with-young-kids

Grounded in: AAP HealthyChildren guidance on helping children cope with a move and on home safety, CPSC guidance on furniture tip-overs and window covering cords, and CDC guidance on lead in older homes. Summarized in Cradle's own words; none of these sources endorse Cradle. General information.

Reviewed: 2026-11

## TLDR

- Tell toddlers a week or two ahead, reassure them their bed and toys are coming, and expect sleep and behavior to wobble for a few weeks.
- On moving day, have someone watch young children, and pack a first-night bag; set up the sleep space first.
- In the new home, anchor furniture and TVs, use cordless blinds, add window guards and stair gates, and keep the old routine.

## How moves feel to young children

- Babies mostly notice your stress and their routine. Toddlers and preschoolers may worry their toys,
  bed or pet won't come, or that you will leave them behind.
- Sleep, eating, potty training and behavior often wobble for a few weeks. That's normal, and it
  usually settles once the new routine feels familiar.

## Before the move

- **Tell toddlers and preschoolers a week or two ahead**, in simple words: "We're moving to a new
  home. Your bed, your toys and Kitty are coming too."
- Show photos or visit the new home and neighborhood if you can. Find the new park or library.
- Read picture books about moving, and play "moving day" with boxes and toy trucks.
- Let them pack a box of a few favorite things and decorate it.
- Don't add other big changes at the same time if you can avoid it: starting potty training,
  moving to a toddler bed or weaning can wait a few weeks.

## Moving day

- Ask a friend, relative or sitter to look after young children, either away from the house or in
  one cleared room. Moving day is a common time for injuries: open doors, stairs, heavy items, and
  small objects or cleaning products within reach.
- Pack a "first night" bag: pajamas, comfort object, bedtime books, sound machine, diapers,
  snacks, medicines, night light, and a portable crib or the crib parts and tools.
- Set up the child's sleep space first, then their play area.

## Safety in the new home, in the first days

- **Anchor dressers, bookshelves and TVs** to the wall before unpacking toys. Tip-overs injure young
  children every year.
- **Window coverings:** choose cordless, or tie cords well out of reach. Move cribs away from windows.
- **Windows and stairs:** window guards or stops on upper floors (screens don't stop falls), and
  gates at stairs.
- **Water heater** at 120°F (49°C) or lower. Check smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
- **Homes built before 1978** may have lead paint. Keep children away from peeling paint and
  renovation dust, and ask about lead testing at the next checkup.
- Look for a pool, pond or hot tub on or near the property and fence it off. See the babyproofing
  guide and the toddler water and outdoor safety guide.

## Settling in

- Keep the old routine as close as you can: same bedtime, same songs, same breakfast.
- Expect setbacks and extra need for closeness. Answer clinginess with time, not hurry.
- Transfer medical records, find a new pediatrician, and update daycare and emergency contacts.
- Moving to a new country or language? See the bilingual and multicultural families guide. For
  moving because of a separation, see the co-parenting and divorce guides.

## When to check in

- Bring up sleep or behavior changes that last more than a month or two at the next visit.
- Ask about lead screening if your new home is older or you're unsure.
- If a child gets into medicines or cleaning products during the chaos, call Poison Control at
  1-800-222-1222. If they are not breathing or are unresponsive, call 911.