How to prep a toddler for moving?

[gagin37]

We're about 9 weeks out from moving, and beginning to pack.  I'm wondering how to talk to my 2.5 year old ds about the upcoming move.  How to help him through this transition.  Are there any good books we can read?  I'm having a lot of guilt about all the big transitions he's going to have to deal with.  We're leaving the only home he's ever known, and then less than a month later he's getting a baby sister.  We're almost weaned, and really close to being potty trained too.  I wish all this stuff wasn't happening at the same time on him, but some of it can't be helped.  We've been talking about the baby a lot, but I have no clue how to address the move.  Anyone been there done that?  

[SarahDC]

Can't offer advice but I'll be watching this thread, we're moving this summer with DD who will be 18 months.  Nervous that her sleep will go to crap!

[KJunebug]

My DD has moved 3 times now, once at 6 months, once at 14 months, and once at 30 months, and that last was was just after getting a new sister a few months before. She has taken it in stride each time, though this last time she seemed to know what was going on.  We talked about her "New House in Virginia" a lot.  I moved her to a friend's house before I packed her room, and had her room all the way unpacked by the time she got to the new house (we did this last step at least for the move at 14 months, both time her room was literally the first one unpacked).  I think it was key that she always had a safe place to play throughout the move, and I imagine she took some comfort is seeing her things all set up in the new house.... same floor tiles, same bed, same toys, etc.  I even kept the layout as similar as possible in the new room.

I will say she really went through a rough patch about 2 months later, which could have just been a 2 year old thing, or could have been her adjusting to all the change....  but all in all, they are amazingly resiliant.

[justKate]

I'm worried about the same thing.  DD will be just over 2 when we move in May, and we are getting rid of A LOT of things before the move, trying to minimize.  It's also going to interrupt her pottying, I fear, which is going great at the moment. *big sigh* I worry that she will miss her friends, or not understand why she doesn't see them anymore...

[gagin37]

Originally Posted by justKate 

I'm worried about the same thing.  DD will be just over 2 when we move in May, and we are getting rid of A LOT of things before the move, trying to minimize.  It's also going to interrupt her pottying, I fear, which is going great at the moment. *big sigh* I worry that she will miss her friends, or not understand why she doesn't see them anymore...

Trying to pack has been hard, because we're doing the same thing- getting rid of a lot of stuff.  He's recently become so aware of and excited about all the places we go, and our routines that surround seeing friends and going to stores, parks, and restaurants.  I feel so bad about taking him away from all that.  

I do like the idea of trying to get his room set up first, and making it as familiar as possible.  Because we have to move by a certain date, whether or not our house has sold yet, we don't know for sure if we'll be moving into a temporary housing situation, or something more permanent.  I'd really hate to have to move him twice.