Big things are happening. A little one is on the way and you’ve decided to move to your new forever home and start afresh. Two very big, yet very scary things. But, moving into a new home where you’ll raise your new child is an exciting experience, filled with new adventures waiting to happen.
Need some guidance?
Here are 18 tips, tricks and steps you can take to move successfully, even with your baby bump.
1) Talk to your doctor
Before you even think of moving, speak to your doctor first. Your healthcare practitioner will be able to help you and advise what is best for you and the baby.
Depending on the state of your pregnancy and how far along you are, your doctor will be able to tell if you can participate in the move and will provide you with guidelines about what you can and cannot do. It is recommended that you complete your move before your third trimester.
2) Get your family and friends together
It takes a lot of people and energy to move a family into a new home, let alone a pregnant mother-to-be. If you have family and friends in your area, ask for their help during this important time in your life. Take some time to have a chat with your people about your idea and make sure everybody is in on the plan.
It’s easy to forget that you can’t do everything alone and that you need to take it easy during your pregnancy. Having some helping hands along the way can take literal weight off your shoulders, easing some of the stress you might endure during this enormous process.
3) Be cautious when lifting or moving around
Being a mom is the equivalent of being a superhero, but unfortunately, super strength is not one of your powers. Picking up boxes or lifting heavy furniture can have a negative impact on your body and the baby you are carrying. Due to the changes your body will experience during the pregnancy, you will be more prone to injuries.
Consider hiring a moving company. Working with a moving company, such as Biggles Removals, will provide you with a team of professionals that have the strength and knowledge to move heavy boxes and furniture safely between your current and new home.
4) Declutter before the big move
When packing up your belongings to move to your new home, you may start to notice just how many things you own. This is the perfect opportunity to clear out any unnecessary things from your home and reduce the load you will be moving.
While packing your things, take some time to declutter your home and personal belongings. Get rid of your old couch just sitting in your office or donate some old clothes you’ve grown out of. Decluttering your home will make your moving load a lot less and will make the move so much easier.
5) Beat your “pregnancy brain”
Being pregnant means thinking about a million things all at once. Do I have all the right clothes for my little one? Did we start packing up the decorations in the living room we don’t use? What are we eating for dinner tonight? Being a mom, and a pregnant one at that, means you get distracted a lot by the small things in your life.
This is where a little notebook, checklist or calendar may come in handy. Write down the things that need to be done and on which days and the times they need to be done. This will help you to keep track of what needs to be packed or arranged for the day of the move.
6) Listen to your body
If you're used to being the one in control and love to handle things by yourself, it’s time to change. Being pregnant means a lot of changes are happening to your body. You may feel more exhausted than ever, and you need to listen to your body.
When arranging to move, listen to your body and the signs it might give you. Be careful not to stretch yourself too much and take a minute or two to rest when you start to feel tired or if you’re experiencing a burst of fatigue. This will help you to keep rested during the move while still being able to participate.
7) Pack your pregnancy essentials bag for the day of the move
Moving day can be long, stressful and exhausting for a mother to be. There’s a lot going on and it’s easy to forget you still need to take care of yourself and your baby.
A week before the big moving day, get together a little care package that will help you stay on your feet. Pack essentials like water, food and vitamins. These small things will make a huge difference in keeping you healthy and your energy up. And don’t forget the toilet paper. We know how moms form a close relationship with their bathrooms while carrying your little one.
8) Be careful of stairs
This can be self-explanatory, but we will always advise pregnant women to be very cautious around stairs. It’s easy to forget how fragile you are during these next few months and we want you and the baby to be as safe as possible. Avoid moving any heavy objects or boxes up and down stairs. These types of things can be done by the men while you focus on preparing or moving smaller objects on the ground floor.
9) Avoid toxic chemicals
People know how some chemicals and fragrances can be dangerous, especially to pregnant women. If you decide on doing some cleaning yourself, take the time to do some research and purchase some pregnancy safe cleaning products to avoid any negative effects.
Another great tip to avoid toxic chemicals is to finish any remaining refurbishments and painting needed in the new house before you move in. This will ensure that you as a mother will be safe and that you will move into a home ready to host a newborn baby.
10) Hire a cleaning company
This falls in line with avoiding toxic chemicals and listening to your body. Cleaning a house is no easy task, and heavy cleaning should be avoided by those who are further along in their pregnancy. The solution: get in touch with a cleaning company.
Take the time to arrange with a company to clean both your new home as well as your old residence. The tenants taking over your old home will appreciate the gesture and your family will love the idea of leaving the cleaning to someone else after spending the day moving boxes and furniture around.
11) Get a sitter for the little ones if you’re not a first-time mom
Moving with small children can seem like a difficult task and moving with little ones while pregnant might seem like the next mission impossible. To make things easier on you, the movers and to keep your children safe during the move, consider asking a trusted family member, friend or professional sitter to take care of your children during moving day.
Having your children in a safe space can help you to focus on the task at hand and help you to complete your move successfully. If you are moving long distances, take some time to research babysitters in your new area and arrange for them to take care of your children ahead of time. That’s one less thing to worry about on your moving day.
12) Have a set plan when moving into your new home
While the others are handling the heavy lifting, you can be the guiding voice during this chaotic day. Create a set plan on how you want to handle the official moving day so that everything goes according to plan, like moving the living room couches before unpacking the clothing boxes.
Having a set plan will help everyone to get on the same page of what must be moved first and where everything has to be placed, ensuring everything fits together in their designated spaces. Don’t be scared to say when something is wrong. Being clear on where everything must be will ensure the move is done right the first time, leaving nothing to be moved at a later day.
13) Buy your baby’s gear after moving in
It’s exciting to think about buying new and shiny things for your little prince or princess, but it’s best to hold off on buying your baby’s necessities until after you move into your new home. Babies may be small, but they really do require a lot of things to keep going. Pile those on top of all your current belongings and furniture, then the list of things to move will never end.
Hold off on any baby showers or shopping sprees until you are settled in and know how to work with your new space. Having a feel of the baby's new room before going out to buy everything will make things a lot easier on your time, effort and savings. It will also make the moving process a lot easier, given that you will have more space in your moving truck for your current possessions.
14) Label your moving boxes
If you love organizing and colour coding, this is your time to shine. You never really realize how much you own until you have to pack every little nick nack into a moving box.
Collect some boxes, and start packing each room specifically. While packing, label your boxes to ensure your things are organized into their respective rooms or categories. For example, when packing up your bedroom, label your boxes such as “clothing” or “bedding” by either marking them or assigning a colour like blue to the box through stickers or tape. This way, when things are being loaded on the moving truck the movers will catch onto your idea and move all of the blue boxes to the bedroom and the boxes named ‘cutlery’ to the kitchen.
15) Research your new area
It can be daunting moving into a new town, with new people and new places. But, it also presents an opportunity to make new friends and explore new places. Take a day off from work and plan to go through your new town with your partner.
This will help both of you to get a feel of the new area and to see what your new surroundings will be like. Take note of your local daycare centers, schools and hospitals. This will help you to become familiar with what is around you and will help you adjust and create a new routine much quicker.
16) Talk to about changing your healthcare providers
No matter where you end up, you’re going to need a doctor to help you deliver the baby. Before moving to your new home and the new location, speak to your current healthcare providers about changing doctors and if they would recommend anyone in your new area.
Arranging for a new doctor in your new area is essential in making sure both your family and the new baby will be cared for. Once you have selected and met a doctor you're happy with, arrange for your current doctor to forward any important information and documentation to your new doctor. This will ensure that on the day of the baby’s delivery, both the new doctor and hospital will have all of your information and past examinations on hand.
17) Prepare to make your new home baby proof
Babies are small and smart. Like little magicians. You leave them alone for one moment and poof, they have disappeared into your kitchen cupboards, trying to get into their favourite pack of cookies.
When moving into your new home, take a look around at what might be dangerous for your little one, and baby proof it that even your little magician can’t figure it out. Add a gate at the top of your stairs or get safety covers for all of your electrical outputs. It’s time consuming, but baby-proofing your new home will give a new mom the peace of mind that her baby is safe from any harm.
18) Take some well-deserved time off
Whether you are old, young, single or expecting, moving will take a lot out of you. The time and energy put into moving is well worth the rest you’ll need after everything.
After you’ve settled in your new home and the cleaning company has tidied up, take a few days to rest and recuperate after such a huge event in your life. This is the perfect opportunity to take in your new home, rest, and think about the next step of preparing your new home for the little one on the way.
Writer: Biggles Removals