What Should I Do With Pets and Children on Moving Day?

Moving day is controlled chaos: doors propped open, furniture on the move, and people carrying heavy things through the house all day. Our crews work carefully and safely, but an active moving site is a lot for a small child or a nervous pet, and an open door is exactly how a curious dog or a toddler ends up somewhere they should not be. The fix is a simple plan made ahead of time. Here is what works.

Kids on moving day

The goal with children is to keep them comfortable and out of the traffic lanes without making them feel shoved aside.

If you can swing it, the easiest option is to have them somewhere else for the day. A grandparent, a friend, or a sitter taking the kids to a park or their house lets you focus on the move while the kids get a fun day away from the noise.

If they are staying home, set up one room as their spot, ideally one that is already empty or will be packed last. Stock it with a tablet and a movie, coloring books, snacks, and a favorite toy or two, and let it be their zone for the day. Packing each child a small bag of their own essentials, a comfort blanket, a stuffed animal, the snacks they like, gives them a sense of normal while the rest of the house disappears into boxes. And a quick, friendly introduction to the crew goes a long way, since kids relax a lot faster once the strangers in the house are just the nice movers.

Pets on moving day

Pets read the room, and on moving day the room is chaos. Disappearing furniture and a front door that keeps opening can spike a pet's anxiety and, more urgently, create an easy escape route. Preventing that comes first.

Set your pet up in a quiet room the crew will not need to enter, a bathroom or a finished basement works well, with their bed, water, and a favorite toy. Then put a clear sign on the door: "DO NOT OPEN, PET INSIDE." Our crews watch for those, and it is the single best way to prevent an accidental dash out an open door. For a high-energy dog or an easily stressed cat, a day at daycare or with a sitter removes the stress entirely, which is often the kindest option for everyone.

Whatever you choose, try to keep their normal feeding and walking schedule. Routine is an anchor for an anxious animal. A calming pheromone spray or some soft music in their room can help cover the thumps and footsteps too.

Helping everyone settle in

The transition does not end when the truck pulls away. At the new place, set up the anchors of familiarity first: your kids' beds, and your pet's bowls, bed, and crate. Having those ready right away helps everyone feel at home faster than a perfectly arranged living room would.

Then get outside. A short walk around your new neighborhood, a nearby park, the lakefront, or somewhere like Oz Park if you land near Lincoln Park, helps both kids and dogs start learning their new territory and burns off some nervous energy before the first night.

Moving is a big change for the smallest members of the family, and a little planning makes it a lot gentler on them. If you want to talk through the logistics of your move, call (773) 275-4100 or email info@wcmoving.com, or read more in our FAQ.