Buying a New House with a 28-Month-old; Baby #2 Due in June--are We Nuts??

We moved when my daughter was 11 months old and I was 6 months pregnant. It was no sweat....well, the work was a sweat, but the transition wasn't. Also, we moved again for a job transfer when my daughter was 30 months old and my son was 15 months old, and that was a move from Indiana to Colorado....once again, hard work, but no sweat on the transition

We moved across country with a 6 month old, a 3 yo a, 6 yo, and 12 yo. Talk about nuts. THen we moved back again 2.5 years later.
In fact we have moved 4 times with a 2 or 3 year old, 6 times total Thank you Marine Corps.
Have your family help out. Can Grandma take the toddler for a while? My mom took one 3 year old once and then again took the girls for one move.
Are you doing it yourself? Or hiring a company?
Have everything set in zones. Have all your pictures off the walls and decorative shelves in one spot.
Moving companies do not move paint, liquids of any kind, including soaps, shampoos, etc. They will move dry goods. Put your flour and sugar in gallon ziplocs and seal them in the canister.
Get the boxes and packing paper from UHaul or some other moving company. Do not use newspaper. It leaches onto everything.
HIre a few teens or college kids if possible.
Take mirrors off dressers. Take any legs off piano benches.
YOu can start packing things like linen closets now.
If you have to sell the house you are in, get a storage unit for unneeded items, the bookshelves and books, extra chairs, lamps, take out one piece of furniture in each room to show the house.
PIctures and dishes need to be packed standing up so as not to break. Do not lay them flat.
Start using paper plates about a week before, paper cups too. It just cuts down on the work you have to do.
When you get to the new house unpack your kitchen and your daugher's room first. Get hep from your family and friends.
Actually the first piece of furniture in the new house should be a bassinet if you already have the baby when you move.
Your two year old will bounce back. THe first month or so atfter all this will be pretty traumatic but she will be OK. If she is potty trained expect her to regress for a while. Try to keep her eating and nap routine as normal as possible. If Grandma has her she can keep her away from all the hooyah going on.
Now take a deep breath and try to relax. You will get it unpacked, it just may take a couple years. :o)

I say go for it! Our son was a little bit older when we moved, and he did a whole lot better than I thought he would (and we moved 7 hrs. away from home). There was no little sibling soon after, but again, it was a HUGE move! I think our kids are much more resilient than we give them credit for. Also, I would much rather be moving with a big belly and a toddler than with a newborn and a toddler (just my opinion). Good luck with whatever you decide!

We moved a few years ago (same city, but larger house, in different school district) with a 17, 13, 9, 9, 6, 4, and 1 yr old. Younger kids handle it fine. It is the older kids, who may leave friends and a familiar school, who have the most issues.

We moved the first time when my son was 2. Actually the movers came the day after his second birthday! He adjusted well. we moved to a rental house in the same town as grandma and grandpa, so there was some familarity. We also did not set up the crib. when we got to our rental, we sat up a twin bed for him. He thought he was so big! However, Six weeks after we moved to the rental we had the move out. the owners sold the house right out from under us. then we moved to an apartment. We were in the process of building a new house so our moving was not over. We stayed in the apartment approx. six months. then finally to our new house!! I guess I am making this long, but my point is I think that kids feed off mom and dad. So, we were calm and cool about it, and so was he. i wouldn't worry too much, kids have a way of adapting to their environment. Oh, btw, I got pregnant with number two while in the rental house. so I was pregnant during our final two moves. Everything was fine, and I wouldnt worry. We had been in our new house about 1 month when I had the baby. And actually I think it worked out well. New house, new room, new baby!!! Good Luck!!

I have three children and my husband is active duty air force, so we have moved frequently with the kids at different ages. I found that between the ages of two to four kids can get a little scared about a move. But we were always moving far away where we didn't know anyone and were leaving friends behind,along with everything else familiar. My kids at that age would want to sleep near me in the new house for a while until they got used to it. Just give lots of love and support and understanding. Unpack and get her room ready as soon as you can. Try to keep your stress level down as much as possible, because they pick up on that. Make it an exciting adventure. Most of all though, go for it. It will all work out fine.

We just did that exact same thing and there have been no problems. My 2.5 yr old loves her new house. We also decided to move her into a new bed at the same time and that went perfect as well. Good luck!

L., I was in a quite similar situation. My son was due in Oct, and we moved in March, with an 17 month old baby girl. My friends and husband helped me pack. It was not a bad experience, at all. My daughter took it quite well. She was excited about getting her big girl room. We made this into an adventure. We explored the new house and neighborhood together discovering new things. With being pregnant, please let others do most of the lifting and moving. You can be the overseer. LOL. Telling everyone where to put things. This is an exciting time, don't pass it up because you will not have as much time when the baby is born. Good Luck

I dont thinky our kid will mind too much if you made it fun. dont miss this great opportunity to get a nice home. Make up your childs room withtheir help/decisions. Include them and make it exciting! Easy transitions are done with positive thinking and attitudes. Expalin to your child they are keeping all their stuff just a diffrent house to live in. Let them help set up the baby room! Im about to sell mine and move and I already told my 3 yr old in the most happy way what we are doing. shes really excited to find a new place and knows her toys and bed arent going anywhere. However the new kid thing, you cant help that their going to hate the new baby or love it, but again positive thoughts/actions for the child already here.