Top tip #1: Make a list of everything that's going in the shipment, and mark the rooms that they came from. It's a pain in the arse but if the worst happened and it all got lost at sea you'll be grateful you did when the claims adjuster doesn't believe you had 5 pairs of Jimmy Choos in a crate next to a bug zapper. Highlight the brands of items that are precious to you and include serial numbers where possible. It also makes it easier when you're unpacking the boxes at the other end as you can check off the items and make sure nothing's missing. Our list ran to 33 pages. Seriously.
Top tip #2: Make some home-made toys that you can leave behind when you finally move. We've been remarkably lucky with DD and she hasn't been too upset that all her toys have disappeared into boxes in preparation for the packers arrival (see top tip #3). I credit the 'new' play house and Maisy figures that I made from a cardboard box. She loves it and I don't need to try and squash it into a case when we leave. I was inspired by the lovely Lorraine over at ikatbag who is seriously talented with cardboard in ways I cannot ever hope to be. (You could just borrow toys from friends too - but this is much more fun!)
Top tip #4: Read all your customs paperwork carefully and make sure you know what you can and can't ship home. We can't have any liquids in our shipment back to the UK. None. All those toiletries I stock-piled because I can't get them here? Yep, in my case or in the bin. If you know you're moving and friends or family are coming to visit before you leave, get them to squirrel a few things into their case for you.
Top tip #5: Collect together your little one's favourite DVDs, take them out of the boxes and put them in a slip case. You can ship the boxes to save weight in your case and they're all in one place when you need to whip 'em out. DD watched DVDs for two days straight while we were trying to get ready for the movers. No, I'm not proud of it, but it was necessary.
Top tip #6: It's kinda scary if you're little and all your most treasured friends and possessions suddenly disappear. If you're little one is old enough explain to them what it happening. Nana came out for a visit not long ago so I used that as a starter for 10, drew a picture of our apartment here and our house in the UK with a wavy blue sea between them and an aeroplane in the sky above. I sat her down and the conversation went something like this...
DD: On aero-plane.
Me: That's right. Nana went on an aeroplane to England.
DD: Ingand.
Me: Yes. Tomorrow a lot of our toys and books are going to go to visit Nana on an aeroplane too.
DD: (looks nonplussed)
Me: And then we're going to go on an aeroplane and visit Nana too! Won't that be fun?!
DD: esss.
During the packing day whenever DD asked for one of her toys that was packed I reminded her of the aeroplane/England/Nana scenario. I expected HUGE tears. But none arrived. She simply repeated 'Nana' a couple of times and pottered on her way. Result.
Top tip #7: Go out for a meal when the packers have left. You will likely have been in your soon-to-be-ex- apartment all day without a break and the place will be a mess. Or at the very least empty and echo'y Tidy up as best you can and then leave. Celebrate the fact that you got through it and have someone else serve you, even if it's just pizza. You deserve it!
Image: nuttakit / FreeDigitalPhotos.net and Salvatore Vuono / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Wow, exciting times for you Menai! Glad you found it helpful. I'd also recommend making a goody bag that the kids can dip into during the trip when they get bored. Just little toys, not expensive, but enough to keep them busy for a while longer while you try to relax :D *Salutes fellow Bod fan*
ReplyFabulous tips. We are just moving from UK to India for a few years - and I'll bookmark for the return home! We also have done lots of playing with toy aeroplanes and have a few books about the plane and airports to read en route (these have been popular with our 2 year old). Ours now states if we can't find anything "Oh, it must be on the way to India"). Off to stockpile more tiny but essential things now...and we were watching Bod only yesterday...
ReplyWow good luck with the rest of the move (I probably shouldn't admit that I thought you were in the UK already...)
ReplyDVDs are definitely key. Nothing so fun for kids to play in after the move than all those empty boxes :)
ReplyOh the cleanse of moving, i love it!! I found with toddlers they wanted to take all the packed things back out again for inspection. Best excuse for awful toys & things we no longer love - not making it to thenext house . . . "must have gone missing in the move". Enjoy your new destination, love Posie
ReplyHey, any more is hard with littles, however near or far! Wow, can't believe you managed all on your own - good for you! Thanks for your kind words :D x
ReplyGreat tips. I recently moved 200 mils, so OK not across seas but it was hard enough with a 4 and 7 year old and no-one to help as t'other half had already started his job and they wouldn't let him have the day off to move so I had to co-ordinate everything myself. The boxes were the biggest thing to keep my 2 amused as well, but I wish I had of seen your list then for other useful tips. Good luck with the move I
ReplyWe're still here actually. Not long now though. Finding it hard to find the time to blog. Thanks for your kind words - looking forward to being on Twitter in the right timezone! :D
ReplyThanks Tamsyn! Would be lovely to move to France but we're going back home to the UK :D Can't believe you've moved so often - I would have gone mad by now! Much respect in your direction xx
ReplyThanks Michelloui, coming from you that's a real compliment - you always seem so together! I'm with you though, once we land back home I'm not moving for long time (I hope) x
ReplyHey thanks so much! Any Bod lover is most welcome here *waves*. (Don't tell anyone but I still love him too :D ).
Replyhiya!! where u moving??? france??!! these are fandabidozy tips, and i shall be putting them into play on our next move-we've moved 10 times in 9 yrs, although we are staying put now, the kids are settled, and it's a whole different ball game moving and uprooting kids isn't it?
Replygreat post, good luck, safe traveling and hope everything arrives safely the other side...
love tamsyn xx
Ohh exciting times. Where are you now then? In transic as I type?
ReplyHope you settle back in really smoothly.
Mich x
Oh wow. Really, oh wow! Good luck with the move, much MUCH admiration--after about 5 moves in as many years I hope to not move again for a lonnnng time. You sound like you have it very much under control! Good list. and good luck with it all. x
ReplyI just found your blog, I loved Bod too. still do actually, ahem. Good luck with the move..x
ReplyThank you :)
ReplyAwww thanks Mari, she certainly is :D
ReplyOooo, hope you had a nice time. It will all be fine (I hope) :D
ReplyThanks hun, I know it will be :D
ReplyOh I hear you - it's over 12 hours for us *gulp*. Hope all goes well x
ReplyStill waiting for confirmation, but let's just say the plane ride is going to be much longer than the hour and a half from home it is now (damn it, my blog title will have to change too!!)... Emma :)
ReplyYes, exhausted!! Dinner out with wine would be perfect after all that. I'm happy DD took the packing so well. She's a sweetie.
ReplyI feel exhausted just reading that. Sorry I've not been about (been on holiday). Hope the move goes well for you lovely x
Replygood luck x (it will be fine)
ReplyOoooo! Where are you off to? Glad you found it useful :D
ReplyThanks so much, some great tips there that I will be taking on board in the next few months, as we prepare for our next destination... Emma :)
ReplyTee hee! Thanks Kate. We've been back and forward for three years but now we're finally going to be home for good :D
ReplyActually you're so right. I asked the movers to leave us an extra box and yesterday we made it into a car :D
ReplyUmmmm.. *looks sheepish* ... one or two old toys might not have made it into the boxes... Thanks Posie :D
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