A Restful Transition: Nurturing Your Child's Sleep Through a Move
Embarking on a journey to a new home is an exciting chapter for your family, but it can be a bit daunting when it comes to ensuring a smooth transition for your little ones, especially in the realm of sleep. Whether your child is already an independent sleeper or just beginning their journey to peaceful nights, this guide is here to provide you with comprehensive tips on preserving healthy sleep routines during a move, ensuring both you and your kid(s) navigate the change with ease and comfort.
Understanding Sleep Challenges During a Move
Moving to a new place may pose a temporary challenge even for the most seasoned sleepers. It's essential to acknowledge that there might be a transition period as your child adjusts to their new environment. If your child doesn’t have strong sleep skills yet, they may be more affected by a move (but the good news is that a new house can mean new routines…use the move to your advantage once you settle in). For infants, the stress primarily arises from the disruption of routine, lacking any emotional or psychological elements. Toddlers and preschoolers, although experiencing the stress of a move similarly to adults, often struggle to articulate their feelings, leading to various expressions of anxiety, such as:
increased clinginess
regressive behaviours (with potty training, bedwetting, thumb sucking, coming into your room in the middle of the night instead of staying in their bed, etc.)
decreased appetite or complaints of stomach aches
anxious habits (licking lips, twirling hair, etc.)
unusual behaviour (increased shyness, increased aggressiveness, being whiny, etc.)
changes in their sleeping patterns (have shorter naps or earlier morning wakeups)
having nightmares
It can be easy to get caught up in packing and all the final details preparing for the move and loose track of time, but do your best to keep your child’s regular sleep schedule for naps and nights to avoid overtiredness.
Tips for a Smooth Transition
Don't Keep the Move a Secret:
Avoid springing the move on your child the day of the move. Make time to ask them if they have any questions. They may have questions such as, why you are moving, will they still see their friends and family as often, will they go to a new school or not. Provide clear and straight forward answers to these questions. Ensure they understand their favourite toys, blankets, and cherished items are coming along with you to the new house. This will help alleviate their anxiety and gives them time to process the changes.
Tour the New House:
Tailor your approach to the distance of the move. If moving locally, physically visit the new house and show them where their room will be. Show them new features in the new house that your old house didn’t have. Explore the neighbourhood, school, parks and other fun things to do in the area.
For long-distance moves, utilize photos to paint a vivid picture of the house, their new room, the neighbourhood and what it has to offer. Emphasize the positive aspects like proximity to family or exciting features of the new location. Discuss the fun activities you will do once you are unpacked.
Get Your Child Involved:
Depending on age, involve your child in packing. Toddlers and preschoolers can contribute by putting their toys and books into boxes, decorating them in their unique way with stickers and markers. Older children can participate in the same way as well as creating checklists for packing and farewell activities to say goodbye to the old house (say goodbye to friends, go on the swing in the backyard one last time, look in the closet to make sure nothing was missed, etc.). Checking off items on the list can help provide them with a sense of closure.
Special Goodbye:
Encourage your child to express what they'll miss about their old house and town. Make farewells special by honoring traditions (for example Friday Family movie night one last time in the old house), visiting favourite places (favourite ice cream shop and getting double scoop for a special last time), and inviting friends for a farewell playdate. Continue these traditions in the new house to maintain a sense of familiarity.
Keep Calm:
Acknowledge the stress of moving and proactively manage it. Your child is perceptive to your mood, so if you are stressed it will cause them to be anxious as well. Enlist the help of family members or a babysitter during the packing process to maintain a calm atmosphere. Dedicate time each day for relaxation, employing deep breathing exercises to maintain a calm environment. Turn the moving process into a fun adventure for your kid(s) with jokes, creative games, or even making imaginative structures from moving boxes. Provide lots of hugs and reassurance to your child.
Moving Day
Don't Wash Bedding Before the Move:
Preserve familiarity by not washing your child's bedding before the move. This ensures their bedding retains a comforting scent when they lay down in their new room for the first time.
Set Clear Expectations:
Communicate clearly to your child(ren) about what to expect on moving day. Let them know when the moving truck will arrive, where they will be during the move and where they will sleep the first night. Maintain a familiar routine and keep their favorite sleep items easily accessible.
Saying Goodbye
Walk through the house one last time and let your child say goodbye to everything they love in the house. Share favourite memories of the house. This will help with closure.
Keep Essentials Easy To Find
Make sure to keep their favourite sleep toy or blanket unpacked so you can easily find it when you get to the new house. Same goes for their bath time items such as bath toys, soap and shampoo and of course their toothbrush and toothpaste. If you pack these in boxes, make sure you clearly label the boxes with their bedtime and bath time items so they are easily found when you get to the new house. Same goes for boxes with their favourite bedtime books to read.
Set Up Your Child's Room First:
Prioritize setting up your child's room during the unpacking process. Whether you choose to replicate the old room's colours and style (which can help children who struggle with change feel more comfortable) or introduce exciting new elements (can make the process more fun and exciting for children less sensitive to change), the key is to create a sense of comfort. The key to having a new sleeping environment in a new house is to introduce it to your child well before bedtime, if at all possible.
Set up the crib or bed with the familiar unwashed sheets, set up blackout curtains, sound machine, and baby monitor if used. If you have a rocking chair or glider where you read stories before sleep time, set that up too. Arrange their clothes in the dresser and closet.
If you are looking for some great black out curtains, I highly recommend Blackout EZ window coverings. They are my favourite.
Keep safety in mind when setting up the new room. Ensure the crib or bed is at least 3 feet away from all windows and at least 1 inch away from any other furniture. In the event that anything such as storms, trees, or spontaneous events cause the window to shatter, your child will be protected and their crib will be far enough away from furniture to prevent entrapment or their ability to climb onto other furniture and fall down.
If you are unable to unpack every box, remove the unpacked boxes from the room or put them in the closet if possible so your child won't see them. You want their room to have as many familiar things as possible and the boxes will be a reminder the move is still in process.
The First Night in the New House
Go the extra mile by explaining any new sounds in the new house, such as airplanes or creaking pipes. If you previously used a white noise machine, continue to do so in the new house, as it will help block out some of the unfamiliar sounds.
If dealing with jet lag, ensure your child gets ample sunlight to aid in resetting their body clock. Consider adjusting nap times gradually instead of keeping them awake to prevent overtiredness at bedtime.
Keep an eye on the clock as you unpack to ensure you stick to your child's regular bedtime. If they become overtired it will be harder for them to fall asleep.
When it's bedtime, follow the same routine you always have and this should be easy to do if you clearly labeled the boxes containing the items needed for the routine such as bath items and books and sleep items.
Same Rules Apply
Children may test boundaries in a new environment, but consistency is the key to helping your child feel secure in their new environment. Uphold the same rules and routines from the old house, whether it's sleeping arrangements or bedtime rituals. Don’t start to allow things in the new house that weren’t allowed in the old house. Boundaries, consistency and predictability help children thrive and feel secure.
The Transition Period
Consider taking some time off work for the first few days in the new house to be there for your child as they adjust. Stay home as much as you can.
It can take anywhere from 1 to 2 weeks for your child to adjust to their new home, so avoid making any other big changes during those weeks.
Relocating can bring about new sleep challenges for your child, introducing phenomena like confusion arousals, sleep talking, sleepwalking, nightmares, or even night terrors. Research suggests that a child's sleep may process changes in their home environment. Being aware of the potential for these sleep alterations might ease your worry if they manifest. Witnessing your child grapple with confusion arousals, nightmares, or night terrors can be unsettling, as it may be hard to believe they are truly asleep. Children often wake up with no memory of these occurrences, and your primary role is to ensure their safety and provide comfort if they seem distressed. While these sleep issues usually pass, seeking professional help is advisable if persistent concerns arise.
Transitioning to a new home with children is a multifaceted journey that demands patience, understanding, and a touch of creativity. By actively involving your child in the process, prioritizing their comfort on moving day, and maintaining consistent routines, you're laying the foundation for your child to adjust smoothly to their new space. While sleep challenges during the transition are normal, your supportive approach will guide your child towards peaceful nights in their new home. Here's to peaceful nights and exciting new beginnings!
If you have been struggling with your child’s sleep and are looking to make changes, such as sleep training, remember it can take 1-2 weeks for your child to adjust to the new house. I recommend waiting 2 weeks before starting any type of sleep changes, but if you are desperate for good sleep, you can start after 1 week.
If it has been 2 weeks since you moved into your new house and you are needing help navigating your child’s sleep, you can book a FREE 15 minute sleep assessment call with me so we can determine how we can work together to reach your sleep goals.
This blog contains an affiliate link to blackout curtains. I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
