Ask most people and they will agree that moving house is one of the most challenging things to deal with.
Let’s be real, apart from the excitement that lies from the promise of starting life anew on the other side – assuming our reason for moving is a positive one in the first place, such as for instance, starting a new job or moving in with a SO – the actual process itself is a pain.
But if you thought moving alone was work, you haven’t tried a family move with everyone including young children and pets in tow. These necessitate a special rethinking of the entire move since, well, we can’t leave them behind.
This is why it makes sense to work with a reputable long-distance or local moving company (depending on where you’re going) so they can ease the burden of the move for you – and all the better if you opt for a full-service as opposed to partial or labor-only service.
But even then, we now have the Covid-19 to think about.
Since it struck in early 2020, the novel coronavirus has meant we factor it in into everything we plan on doing. On the upside, the vaccination drive is in full gear, with the United States leading the way in terms of the number of individuals vaccinated.
At the time of publishing, at least half of the population has received the first dose of the vaccine, with those who have been fully vaccinated accounting for north of 30%, according to the Coronavirus vaccine progress tracker.
Worth noting is that children have not been vaccinated for the simple reason that most Covid-19 infections have been diagnosed in adults. However, that doesn’t mean kids are completely immune from the virus.
According to an earlier report by the American Academy of Pediatrics, 11% of those diagnosed with Covid-19 during the first wave were children. The difference is that most children only experience mild symptoms or illness, although worth stating is that some babies and children have gotten very sick from the virus.
You certainly don’t want to risk your baby when moving.
This is why while masks are not particularly a must-have for children under two years of age (due to their smaller airways), it’s worth taking precautionary measures to protect your little one throughout the move.
A lot of these measures do not deviate much from the safety guidelines issued by the CDC really. It’s all about adapting them to your move.
Opt for a virtual estimate – If you’re going to hire a moving company, as professional as they might be and conscientious in following Covid safety protocols, it’s better to request moving estimates virtually as opposed to having a representative of the company come into your home (‘cos social distancing?). Video estimates can still give you a pretty accurate quote and have in fact become the norm since the pandemic hit.
Wearing of masks – Everyone involved in the move should wear a proper face mask throughout. Doesn’t matter if they have been vaccinated. Before you sign up with a mover, this is one aspect you need to be on the same page about.
Opt for new boxes – You can bet a toddler will be all over those boxes the moment you get the boxes into that door. For this reason, it’s advisable (as has been the norm during the entirety of the pandemic) to purchase new moving boxes instead of sourcing second-hand in a bid to keep costs down, or whatever the motivation is. According to research, the coronavirus can survive for up to 24 hours on cardboard boxes, the material used on regular moving boxes.
Wipe everything down – Goes without saying. In addition to washing hands and wearing face masks, sanitizing should be a given on both hands and surfaces. It’s become second-nature for us all by now anyway, and just because most people have received the jab shouldn’t be an excuse to drop the ball. Sanitizing of hands applies to your child as well, not to mention various surfaces. These include everything from door handles (of course, the baby won’t reach them but someone else will), armrests, cup holders, seat belts and buckles, you name it. If you’re moving into a house that was previously occupied, ensure the house is thoroughly cleaned and sanitized before you move in.
Follow these simple standard measures when moving house and you and your family should be home and dry when all is said and done.
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