Updated October 11, 2026
Moving with a baby or a toddler is two jobs at once: the move has to fit around naps and meals, and the new home has to be safe on the first night. The plan that works for most families is simple. The nursery is packed last, comes off the truck first, and is set up before anything else.
Two weeks before
- Ask a relative or a sitter to watch your child on moving day. Movers carry heavy furniture through doors and down stairs, and a curious toddler underfoot is a real risk.
- Pick a start time that fits your child’s nap, and tell your movers which room is the nursery.
- Start packing toys and clothes your child has outgrown first. Leave favorite toys and the bedtime things for the last day. Our bedroom packing guide has more room-by-room tips.
- Order fitted sheets, outlet covers and furniture anchors now, so they are ready in the new home.
Pack a first-night bag that rides with you
Keep this bag in your car, not on the truck:
- Diapers, wipes, a changing pad and a change of clothes.
- Formula, bottles, snacks, water and a bowl and spoon.
- Medicine, the thermometer and your doctor’s phone number.
- A fitted crib sheet, sleep sack, night light and a favorite toy.
- Birth certificate, insurance cards and medical records.
The crib: take it apart carefully, set it up right
Put all the screws and bolts in a zip bag, label it and tape it to the headboard. Keep the instructions, or look them up online by model number before the move. When you set it up again, follow the instructions step by step.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) says not to use a crib with missing, broken or loose parts, to tighten the hardware from time to time, and never to try to repair a crib side. Federal crib standards took effect on June 28, 2011, and they ended the making and selling of traditional drop-side cribs. If your crib is older than that, check it before you move it.
On a busy moving night it is tempting to let the baby sleep on the couch or your bed. Safe to Sleep, run by the National Institutes of Health, says to put a baby on their back for every sleep, on a surface that is firm, flat and level, covered only by a fitted sheet, with nothing else in the sleep area. It warns that soft surfaces, such as couches and sofas, are not safe for baby sleep (Safe to Sleep).
The car seat stays with you
Do not pack the car seat on the truck; you need it for the drive. If your car is in a crash during the move, read the seat’s manual. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommends replacing a car seat after a moderate or severe crash (NHTSA).
Childproof before you unpack the boxes
- Anchor furniture and TVs. CPSC’s Anchor It! campaign asks parents to anchor dressers, bookcases and TVs to the wall, put heavy things on low shelves and in low drawers, and keep TVs on sturdy, low furniture, pushed back (CPSC). Anchors are sold at hardware stores and take minutes to put in.
- Window guards in New York City. If you live in a building with at least three apartments and a child 10 or younger lives with you, you must have window guards. Ask your landlord to install them before you move in; if the landlord does not, you can file a complaint or call 311. Screens are not a substitute (NYC Health).
- Cover outlets, put gates at stairs, and keep cleaning supplies and medicine up high. Boxes of box cutters, tape and packing paper also belong out of reach.
Moving day, step by step
- Morning: the crib and the nursery boxes go on the truck last.
- At the new home: the nursery comes off first. Set up the crib, check every bolt, put on the fitted sheet.
- Then the kitchen basics, then everything else.
- Before bed: walk the room at your child’s height and look for cords, open boxes and loose furniture.
For the rest of the house, our essential moving checklist covers the weeks before the move.
Common questions
Should my baby be at the move?
If you can, ask a relative or sitter to watch your child during loading and unloading. Movers carry heavy furniture through doors and stairs, and it is safer for a small child to be away.
Can I reuse an older crib after the move?
Check it first. CPSC says not to use a crib with missing, broken or loose parts and not to repair a crib side. Federal crib standards took effect on June 28, 2011 and ended the sale of traditional drop-side cribs.
Where should my baby sleep the first night?
In the crib or bassinet, set up following the instructions, on their back, on a firm, flat surface with only a fitted sheet. Safe to Sleep says couches are not safe for baby sleep.
When must a New York City landlord install window guards?
NYC Health says you must have window guards if your building has at least three apartments and a child 10 or younger lives in your apartment. Ask the landlord, or call 311.
How do I get a free written estimate from you?
Call (929) 339-6014 or use the quote form on our home page.
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We checked the official links on this page on October 11, 2026. Rules change, so confirm on the linked page before you rely on them.