Moving with kids and pets

Children and animals did not choose to move, and they often feel the disruption more than anyone. A little planning around them makes the whole day easier, including for the adults trying to direct a crew down the hallway.

Talk to children early

Tell children about the move as soon as it is certain, in terms that suit their age. Younger children mostly want to know where they will sleep and whether their things are coming too. Older children want to know about school and friends.

• Show them the new house, the street and the nearest park, in person or in photos.
• Let them decide something about their new room, such as where the bed goes.
• Keep bedtime and mealtime routines the same through the weeks of packing.
• Give them a carton of their own to pack and decorate. Being part of it helps.

Timing around school

If you have a choice, school holidays are the easiest time to move with school-age children. They can finish a term with their friends and start somewhere new fresh, and the move does not compete with homework and weekend sport.

Contact the new school early, especially if you are moving interstate, where curriculum, uniforms and term dates can differ. Ask what they need from the current school, and when.

Moving day with children

A house full of open doors, heavy furniture and busy people is not a safe place for toddlers. If you can, arrange for young children to spend the day with family or friends. If not, set up one room as a quiet zone with snacks, toys or a tablet, and keep the door closed.

Pack an overnight bag for each child with pyjamas, a change of clothes, a favourite toy and whatever they need to get to sleep. It travels in the car, not the truck.

Dogs

Dogs notice packing long before moving day. Keep walks and feeding at the usual times, and try not to leave them alone with piles of cartons they might chew or knock over.

• Keep dogs well away from the action on the day. Doors will be propped open for hours, and a dog that slips out onto an unfamiliar street is a real risk.
• Book day care, or ask a friend to have them for the day.
• Update your pet's microchip details with the new address and phone number before you move.
• Walk the new yard and check for gaps in the fence before letting them explore.

Cats

Cats tend to find moving harder than most animals. Before anyone arrives, shut the cat in a quiet room with its bed, litter tray, food and water, and put a sign on the door so it stays closed all day.

At the new home, keep the cat in one room for the first few days, then let it explore the house gradually. It is widely recommended to keep cats indoors for a couple of weeks before letting them outside, so they learn the new territory. Check your new council's rules as well, as some areas require cats to be contained.

Other animals

• For a short trip, fish can travel in sealed bags or lidded buckets of their own tank water. For a longer move, ask an aquarium specialist.
• Birds, reptiles and small animals should travel with you in a secure, ventilated carrier, never in a removal truck.
• Moving interstate with animals can involve state rules, so check before you go.

Long drives with pets

For a long drive, plan rest stops, bring water, bowls and a lead, and never leave an animal in a parked car in warm weather. If your pets are flying or going with a pet transport company, book early. They get busy during the same school holidays as everyone else.

A plan everyone knows

Whatever the distance, the easiest moving day for children and pets is one where the adults are not improvising. Decide in advance who is looking after whom, where the quiet room is, and what goes in the car.

It also helps when the crew knows the plan before they arrive. You can tell us about your household, and anything we should keep an eye on, when you request a quote.