Unpacking after a move is as exciting as it is exhausting – you have the chance to set up your new place the way you want and create the home of your dreams, but you’re probably too drained from your big move to deal with it all. Yet, you cannot truly relax and enjoy your new home until you’ve taken your things out of the boxes and made the space functional and comfortable.
And if you have children, unpacking becomes even more urgent – so you can ensure your little ones’ well-being, comfort, and happiness and so they can feel at home in the new place. It also becomes much more difficult – especially if your children are still very young.
Small kids are absolutely adorable, but they can quickly become cranky if their needs are not promptly met – even more so when they’re already tired and stressed from the relocation. You need to have the new home all fitted up and ready for them as soon as possible.
At the same time, however, little ones need constant attention and care – they’re curious and unpredictable and you can’t just leave them on their own and focus on unpacking.
No matter how you look at it, unpacking with a toddler is the ultimate challenge when it comes to unpacking with children around- while babies will be safe in their cribs or playpens and older children will get involved in the unpacking process, toddlers will run around the house, putting themselves at all kinds of risks, demanding your attention, and halting your unpacking progress.
You need to find a way to unbox your items – quickly and efficiently – while also keeping your small child safe and happy.
But how can you do that? How to unpack with a toddler in a successful way?
Read on to find out:
First things first – clean and childproof your new home
Come what may, safety should be your top priority when moving – especially when moving with a young child. And a safe home is a clean home – and a hazard-free one.
There is no doubt that the best time to clean a home is while it is still empty, so you need to clean your new place before you unpack and arrange your items – preferably before they even arrive. And before your toddler arrives – you don’t want your little one anywhere near harsh chemicals and other potentially dangerous cleaning supplies.
If you’re moving locally, you may be able to go to your new home and give it a thorough cleaning before the actual relocation. If you’re moving long distance and deep cleaning your new place yourself is not possible prior to your move, it may be a good idea to hire professional cleaning services, so your new home is spotless and germ-less the day your family gets there.
Next, you need to make sure that your new house or apartment is perfectly safe for your little one – toddlers love to explore, which might put them in a lot of danger during the chaotic move-in period, so you need to childproof the home as soon as you arrive:
- Use safety gates to block off potentially dangerous areas of the home;
- Move furniture and boxes away from windows;
- Secure furniture pieces and other household items in place;
- Put child locks on lower cabinets and drawers;
- Install a toilet lid lock;
- Cover all electrical outlets with plastic protectors;
- Don’t leave boxes stacked high;
- Keep fragile items out of reach; etc.
See also: How to babyproof your house after moving
Now that you’ve cleaned and childproofed your new home, you’re ready to start unpacking – and you’re strongly advised to start with the nursery.
Unpack the toddler’s room first
Your little one needs a safe place where to rest and play while you’re unpacking – and they will be safest (and happiest) in their room, surrounded by familiar things and beloved toys. Therefore, it’s best to unpack the toddler’s bedroom – the nursery – first.
Set up your toddler’s bed and take all their essential items – including their favorite toys – out of the boxes. This way, you’ll have easy access to everything you need to take care of your little one, will be able to set your toddler down for a nap when they need it, and will have a safe play area for your child.
Related: How to pack a kid’s room for moving
Try to keep your toddler’s routine unchanged
Young children need consistency and routine to feel safe and calm, so you need to keep your toddler’s routine as close to normal as possible while unpacking – put them to sleep at the same time as always, feed them at the same time as always, let them watch the cartoons they usually watch and play the games they usually play, etc.
In a word – do your best to work around your toddler’s schedule when unpacking after the move.
See also: How moving affects children
Unpack during nap times and after bedtime
Unpacking boxes with a toddler can be quite a challenge – your inquisitive, rambunctious child will demand your attention and your time and you won’t be able to get much work done while they’re up and about.
You’re, therefore, advised to try to unpack as much as possible while your little one is asleep – after their bedtime and during daytime naps. When your toddler is tucked away in bed, you will have peace of mind and will be able to concentrate on your work.
Yet, you won’t be able to unpack all your belongings during nap times – your items will stay in their moving boxes for months if you unpack only while your little one is asleep. And that won’t do – you’re going to need your things and your new place won’t feel like a home as long as there are boxes scattered everywhere. You will need to finish unpacking sooner than later, so you will have to find a way to do some work while your toddler is awake and active.
Keep your toddler occupied in a safe place
To be able to focus on unpacking, you need to keep your small child busy somewhere safe.
The nursery (that you have set up first and babyproofed as best you can) will be the perfect place for your toddler to play away from the unpacking chaos, but you can create safe areas in other parts of the house too – make sure the floor is covered with a soft carpet or rug and all potential dangers are eliminated from the area and use safety gates to keep your toddler contained in the safe zone. This way, your little one will be able to safely play in the room you’re currently unpacking – and you will be able to keep an eye on them all the time.
Give your toddler their favorite toys (dolls, stuffed animals, wooden blocks, etc.) and get down to work. When your little one loses interest in their usual playthings, surprise them with a new interesting toy – it will keep them happily occupied for quite some time, so you’ll be able to make a lot of progress.
It is also a good idea to fill several small bins with different kinds of toys and switch them out every 20-30 minutes to keep your little one constantly engaged. (See also: How to pack toys for moving)
Bonus tips for unpacking with a toddler:
1. Give your toddler their soft toys to unpack. Your toddler may be too young to help with unpacking but you can still involve them in the process – open a box of soft toys and give it to your child. The little one will be excited to see what’s inside – and will be quite delighted to find their plush toys in the box. Taking the stuffed animals out of the packing container will keep your toddler occupied for some time and once all the plushies are out, your little angel is very likely to start playing with them too. It’s a win-win – you will have one less box to unpack and your toddler will stay busy for an hour or so, giving you precious time to work. (Related: How to pack plush toys for moving)
2. Let your toddler play with an empty box. The novelty of a cardboard box will keep your little one entertained for a while – and the carton will be fun to play with. Just make sure you remove any packing peanuts, bubble wrap, packing tape, and other packing materials that could be a safety hazard for young children from the box before giving it to your toddler.
3. Keep snacks handy. As already mentioned, you should try to keep your toddler’s usual schedule for mealtimes, but some extra snacks during the day won’t go amiss. Treats are always welcome and will help you keep your little one happy and distracted while you’re unpacking.
4. Be careful what you leave on the floor! When unpacking,you may be tempted to just put things on the floor and leave them there until you decide where to put them. Keep in mind though that if you leave something on the floor and your toddler is wandering around, they will likely pick up the item – and may either break it or hurt themselves with it, or both.
See also: How to unpack quickly after moving
Get help
While the above strategies will make unpacking with a toddler feasible, it will be best to have someone look after your little one while you complete the task.
The best case scenario would be to take your child to their grandparents’ – you will be able to focus on your work knowing that your little angel is safe and well cared for, your child will be out of harm’s way and will be happy to stay with people they know well in a place they know well, and the grandparents will be glad to spend some quality time with their grandchild.
If that is not an option, you can ask a family member or a trusted friend to come over and watch over your child while you unpack. Having an extra set of eyes on the toddler will allow you to be much more efficient in your work.
It may also be a good idea to hire a babysitter to look after your toddler during the first days after the move – the experienced caregiver will keep your little one entertained and out of danger and will tend to their needs, so you can focus on unpacking without worrying about your child.
Use professional unpacking services
All things considered, your easiest option – and your best bet – when unpacking with a toddler is to leave the job to the professionals. Most moving companies offer unpacking services – and the right thing to do when moving house with toddlers is to hire a reputable moving company for your relocation – so you can simply have your movers unpack for you. If you have hired full-service movers, they will take care of your move from start to finish – unpacking included. If not, you will have to specifically request unpacking services from your chosen movers. (See also: What additional services do movers offer).
The experienced professionals will complete the job in the safest and most efficient way possible – your items will be unpacked in record time and your new home will be all set up from day one. And that’s just what you want when moving with toddlers (or with babies, or with children at any age at all).
Must-read: How to move house with toddlers
