Moving house is always a challenge, especially if that move involves traversing halfway across the country.

If you’re moving alone, the move is easier to deal with as there’s only so much stuff you need to carry. Even if you’re a serial hoarder, most professional long distance movers should be able to handle the project without sweat, unless of course you plan to get your hands dirty by opting for a DIY move.

When it comes to moving with family, however, it’s a whole different ballgame. Children (and pets) present a different set of challenges to deal with, and you can bet it will be a conundrum to crack if the move involves spending endless hours on the road. Not to mention that you'll probably be bringing tons of stuff with you, thus you might want to buy shipping container for them!

The puzzle will be different depending on the age of your kids, though.

For example, unlike babies, kids above the age of two might need entertainment options or activities to keep them occupied during the long drive.

Similarly, if you’re moving with teenagers, it’s advisable to have them invested in the moving process as you want to have them onboard – something you might not necessarily need to do with younger children who’re happy to go with the flow.

That said, if you have a long distance move on the cards and will be moving with small children (and by small children we mean infants) we have a few tips to help make the move more bearable.

1.     Packing infant items

When packing, pack your baby’s items separately. While you’re at it, you should also divide these into essentials and non-essentials.

The essentials box should contain all the items you’ll need on moving day and right when you arrive at your destination, especially if you’ll be arriving before your stuff does. Having said that, if you’ll be traveling on the mover’s truck and not your car, you might want to choose a family-friendly moving option when booking your mover.

Essentials include everything from breast pumps, to bottles and bottle warmers, wipes, diapers, diaper rash cream, bath soaps, bibs, extra clothing, formula and so on.

The non-essential box contains items that will not be needed on transit or right away and can be packed months or weeks in advance. Think off-season clothing, nursery furniture you don’t use often, and some toys.

Don’t pack all the toys, though, as the child will still need some of them and might get prickly if they don’t find their favorite play items.

2.     Plan the trip

Take time to map out a route. When traveling with a young child, you’ll need more stops for diaper changes and feeding.

Look out for towns with family-friendly rest stops and if you’ll be spending the night in a hotel, you might also want to book your rooms in advance.

The last thing you want when moving with a baby are last-minute surprises and scampering at the eleventh hour in an attempt to find a family-friendly place when everyone is tired.

3.     Stick to routines

Children love routine. Truth is, though, it’s hard to maintain your regular schedule especially in the week leading up to moving day.

Still, try your best to keep your baby’s normal routine, particularly with respect to their eating and sleeping schedules.

It’s also important to keep in mind that all the chaos of moving might make the child anxious, but you can help calm their fears and anxieties by upholding their usual daily activities at the usual intervals.

You can plan to be doing the packing after they go to bed, which might even be easier on your part as you don’t want some eager toddler rummaging through boxes and unpacking every single item you had wrapped and boxed up!

While simple and straightforward, these are tips that should save your sanity when moving with a young child.