For a child, the bedroom is the home, and packing it first can feel like a loss. The better order is to leave the room mostly whole until the last days, pack the extras early and make the first night in the new house a short one. Kids who help pack often settle in faster.
Begin with what they will not miss
Pack games, books and clothes from other seasons two to three weeks ahead. Hand-me-downs the child has outgrown can go to a donation bag, with the child's help.
Ask older children to choose ten favorite things to keep in their own backpack. A short list makes decisions easier.
Toys, books and small parts
Sort toys into bins by type, such as blocks, cars and art supplies, and pack each bin in a small carton. Tape the bags of loose pieces to the lid of the game.
Stuffed animals pack soft and light, so they can fill gaps in other cartons. Keep one favorite out.
Cribs, beds and furniture
Cribs come apart with a wrench or an Allen key, and a bag of hardware taped to the rail keeps all the pieces together. Wrap mattresses in a cover; how to pack and move a mattress has the steps.
Bunk beds, desks and dressers also come apart, and the estimator can note what needs to be taken down. Take photos of the bed before taking it apart.
- Keep the crib or bed hardware in a labeled bag.
- Remove drawers from small dressers and carry them separately.
- Wrap changing tables and bookcases in moving pads.
The first-night kit
Fill one backpack with pajamas, a blanket, a toothbrush, a night light, two favorite books and a flashlight. Set it where you can reach it on arrival.
See what goes in a first-night box for the adult version. The new bedroom should be the first one set up, ahead of the rest of the house.
Helping kids through the change
Children handle moves better with a plan they understand. Walk through the new house in photos or a visit, let them pick where things go and give each a box to decorate. For a broader view, moving with kids covers school, friends and the routine.