Moving House with Kids and Pets: A Step-by-Step Guide

Moving with kids and pets works best when they are kept away from the packing and loading, their routines stay as normal as possible, and one bag of their essentials travels with you. Plan their day before you plan the truck.

This guide is organised by time: what to do in the weeks before, on moving day and in the first week. It includes a school checklist and a pet checklist.

How do I prepare children for a move?

• Tell them early and in simple terms: where, when and why.
• Show them the new home or photos of it, the school and the nearest park.
• Let them pack one box of their own things and decorate it. It will be the first box opened.
• Keep routines: meals, bedtime and classes should carry on until the last day.
• Collect contact details of their friends before you leave.

What school paperwork do I need when shifting?

If you are moving mid-term, ask the new school about the syllabus difference and whether the old school's uniform can be used for the first few weeks.

How do I prepare a dog or cat for shifting?

• Visit the vet two to three weeks before. Update vaccinations and ask for a health certificate if you are travelling by train or air.
• Get the pet used to its carrier or crate by leaving it open at home with a familiar blanket inside.
• Update the ID tag with your mobile number.
• Check the new society's rules on pets before you sign the agreement.
• Keep food the same. A move is not the time to change diet.

For long distances or if you cannot travel with your pet, see our pet relocation service.

What should I do with kids and pets on moving day?

1. Send them elsewhere if you can. A relative's or friend's home is the safest place for young children and pets while doors are open and heavy items are being carried.
2. If they stay, give them one closed room with a sign on the door, cleared last.
3. Pack an essentials bag for each: snacks, water, a change of clothes, medicines, a favourite toy; for pets, food, bowl, leash, waste bags and the blanket.
4. Feed pets lightly a few hours before travel and stop for water breaks.
5. Never put a pet in the goods truck. Pets travel with you or with a pet transport service.

How do I help them settle in the new home?

• Set up the children's room and the pet's corner first, before the kitchen.
• Keep bedtime and meal times as they were.
• Walk the neighbourhood together: school route, park, shops.
• Keep cats indoors for the first two weeks and dogs on a leash until they know the area.
• Find the nearest paediatrician, vet and 24-hour pharmacy in the first few days.
• Expect a few unsettled days. They pass faster when routines return.

What safety points should I watch during packing?

• Keep blades, tape cutters and loose screws out of reach.
• Stack cartons no higher than a child's shoulder in rooms they use.
• Keep medicines and cleaning liquids in a box you carry yourself.
• Close balcony and main doors when movers are not using them.

Frequently asked questions

About the author: Sunil Kumar runs Multishift Packers & Movers Pvt Ltd, a GST-registered relocation company based in Ghansoli, Navi Mumbai. He oversees home, office and vehicle moves across Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane and Pune, and writes these guides from what the crews see on real jobs.