Short answer: moving house with children and pets goes more smoothly when you keep their routines as normal as possible, give them a safe space on moving day, and set up their bedroom or bed first in the new home. Pet owners in the UK also need to update their pet's microchip details with the database once they have a new address.
Before the move
- Tell children early. Explain where you are going and why, in words they understand, and answer questions honestly.
- Let them help. Younger children can pack a box of their own toys and decorate it. Older children can label boxes or choose how their new room is arranged.
- Visit if you can. A walk around the new area, a look at the new school or a first trip to the local park makes the change feel less abrupt.
- Keep routines going. Meals, bedtimes and walks that stay at the same time give children and pets something steady while everything else changes.
- Book vet and school tasks. Register with a new GP and a new vet if you are moving far, and tell your child's school or nursery your new address and dates.
Your pet's microchip
Microchipping is a legal requirement for dogs and cats in England. According to GOV.UK:
- Dogs must be microchipped and registered by 8 weeks old, and cats by 20 weeks old, including cats that mainly stay indoors.
- You are responsible for keeping your pet's microchip information up to date.
- When you move, contact the company running the database where your pet is registered to update your details. You may be charged a fee.
- You can be fined up to £500 if your pet is not microchipped when required, or not registered on an approved database.
Update your details as soon as you have your new address. It is the step most often forgotten, and it matters most if a pet slips out in an unfamiliar place.
Moving day
- Choose a safe place. Put pets in a quiet, closed room, or have a friend or relative look after them, and leave a clear note on the door. Open doors and people carrying furniture are a common way for pets to get out.
- Think about the children. Small children can get in the way during loading. A trusted adult for the day, or a closed-off room with something to do, keeps them safe and calmer.
- Make an essentials box that travels with you: food, bowls, bedding and medication for pets, and pyjamas, favourite toys, snacks and a night light for children.
- Travel safely. Dogs and cats should travel in a secure crate or carrier. Plan breaks on a long journey.
The first night and first week
- Set up the bedrooms first. A familiar bed, toys and a lamp make the new place feel like home faster.
- Keep cats indoors at first. Ask your vet how long to keep a cat in before letting them out, and make sure the microchip is updated before they do.
- Walk the new area on a lead with your dog before letting them off.
- Keep pet food and bowls in the same place from the start.
- Go easy on the unpacking. The rest of the house can wait. Our first-week checklist lists what to do and in what order.
Let someone else carry the boxes
A move with children and animals is easier when you are not also doing all the packing and lifting. Our packing guide shows how to label boxes room by room, and our UK house moving checklist covers the paperwork and the change of address.
Where Chayce fits
Chayce Properties is a moving and relocation service based in Northampton and arranging moves across the UK. Our service is designed with older people in mind and is open to anyone, including families. Bronze Essentials, £995, includes packing, a fully insured removal, furniture reassembly and light cleaning, so you can focus on the children and pets. A Discovery Consultation, £150, gives you a move plan, timeline and budget. To talk it over, get in touch.
