Moving is never easy. You have boxes and bags to pack, mail to forward, new neighbors to meet, and so much more on your plate. Having kids and pets in tow adds more stress to the situation, with numerous obstacles to tackle along the way. With a few tips and tricks, you can make the moving process easier while keeping your children and animals occupied.
Obstacle 1: Costly Moves
The expenses associated with moving are often outrageous. With prices so high, you may wonder how you’re going to afford to make the transition at all. After all, you have numerous mouths to feed and bills to pay still. Rather than cutting down on your food budget, which isn’t an easy feat with kids and pets in the household, you can find ways to save on moving. Hire a long-distance mover that is easy on the budget, such as North American Van Lines. You can choose to self-pack and simply have the moving company transport your belongings to the new location.
Obstacle 2: Keeping Kids Occupied
Children almost never seem to stay occupied for long. If you want to keep them busy while you’re packing, you’ll have to provide them with their favorite activities. Let them play a game or watch a movie on your tablet. Get a few activity books or notepads from the dollar store. These ideas also work while you’re driving. If you are moving long distance, chances are the kids will get bored while on the road. Bring along plenty to keep them busy so they won’t notice the time it takes to arrive at their new home. Snacks also help. Save money by bringing snacks and sandwiches from home rather than stopping for fast food along the way.
Obstacle 3: Keeping Kids Safe
While you’re packing, your home can look a lot more like a tornado than a put-together house. With boxes and bags all over the place, little ones tend to trip, fall, and hurt themselves. The last thing you need during the moving process is a trip to the E.R. The same goes for the car ride. You never know what your kids could hurt on or what could happen. Childproofing is the best way to ensure no mishaps occurs. While still at home, this means keeping your childproof locks in place until the last day. Pack those items last. Also be sure to keep kids occupied in their own bedroom rather than letting them roam the house.
While traveling, you can childproof by being sure to keep the doors locked at all times, keep a first aid kit in the glove box, and take along basic medicines that could be needed, such as Tylenol for headaches or something for motion sickness. Another tip is to avoid noisy toys. Your kids may love them, but they can be a major distraction for the driver. You wouldn’t want an accident to happen simply because you became overly annoyed with a loud toy your kids were playing with on the trip.
Obstacle 4: Preventing Pets From Getting Car Sick
Not many pets travel by car regularly. They often stay at home unless it’s time to take a short trip the vet. A long drive across the country can lead to many animals getting car sick. You don’t want to have to stop to deal with your dog’s vomit in your vehicle. It is best to keep your animal in the front by you if possible. The back tends to be more bumpy, which can cause sickness to occur. Also be sure to start the drive on an empty stomach so there is nothing to throw up should they feel the need to. Place your dog or cat in a carrier as well so they cannot roam the vehicle.
Moving is already a difficult process. Add kids and pets to the mix and you have a disaster waiting to happen. By implementing a few tricks, you can overcome the many obstacles you have to face along the way and ensure your move goes as planned.
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