Every removals coordinator has the same advice: get the kids and pets somewhere else on the day. Here's the fuller picture for planning around them.
Children — age by age
Under 3
Genuinely easier than older children — they don't understand the transition. Arrange full-day childcare with a grandparent or friend. Bring their favourite toy and cot bedding to the new house first thing so their room feels familiar by bedtime.
3–7
The trickiest age. Old enough to notice, young enough to melt down. Two-week countdown calendar. Visit the new house at least twice before move day. Let them pack their own "special box" of chosen toys. Book grandparents or a trusted friend for the whole day.
8–12
Give them a real job — labelling boxes, packing their own room, taking photos of the old house. Feeling useful reduces anxiety. Explain the timeline clearly. Have their bedroom set up first at the new address.
Teenagers
Explain the WiFi arrival plan. Genuinely. Also: their bedroom set up first, their friends invited round the same weekend to see the new place. Consider letting them pick their own paint colour — cheap way to buy goodwill.
Cats
- Book into a cattery for move day itself — dramatically reduces stress
- If you must keep them home, one room with door shut, litter, water, food and a familiar blanket
- At the new address, keep them indoors for 2–3 weeks minimum before letting out
- Feliway diffuser plugged in a week before and after the move
Dogs
- Kennels or day-care for move day
- Walk them in the new area a week before if possible
- Bring their bed to the new house first thing so it smells right
- Stick to the exact same food and routine for the first 2 weeks
Small pets (rabbits, hamsters, birds, fish)
- Rabbits & hamsters: transport in a small pet carrier in your car, not the lorry
- Birds: cover the cage with a light cloth, carry personally
- Fish: half-fill the tank, transport in your car; fully restock the tank at the new address using conditioner
What to tell your Apex crew
Mention pets and kids at the quote stage. Crews adjust — quieter dismantling in bedrooms, keeping doors closed to contain pets, avoiding certain rooms at nap time.
Related reading
Frequently asked questions
- How do I move house with young children?
- Book full-day childcare so they're out of the house on move day. Give them a countdown calendar in the fortnight before, let them pack their own "special box" of favourite toys, and set up their bedroom first at the new address so they have a familiar space by bedtime.
- Should I move my cat myself or use a pet transporter?
- For local moves, transport in your own car in a proper carrier — much less stressful for the cat than the lorry. For long-distance or international moves, use a professional pet transporter. Never put pets in a removals lorry.
- How long should I keep my cat indoors after moving?
- Minimum 2 weeks, ideally 3, so they scent-mark the new house and recognise it as home. Letting them out sooner risks them trying to return to the old address. A Feliway diffuser and their familiar bed help them settle.
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