Moving home with a newborn is one of the most demanding logistical and emotional challenges imaginable. The first months are already intense on their own (feeding, broken sleep, family visits), and layering on the chaos of boxes, a change of surroundings and transport multiplies the exhaustion. This guide explains how to plan a removal with a baby aged 0–12 months while minimising stress for both parents and little one.
Is it a good time to move with a newborn?
The honest answer: it is almost never a good time, but sometimes it is unavoidable (job change, the flat is too small, lease ending, relocating to the Canary Islands for climate or family reasons). What you can control is WHEN during the first year of life and HOW. The least disruptive ages are:
- 0–3 months: the baby sleeps a lot and has not yet become attached to specific environments. Hard on the parents due to exhaustion, but the baby adapts without trauma
- 4–6 months: the baby is settled, not yet moving around independently, and has no pronounced separation anxiety
- NOT recommended: 8–14 months: peak separation anxiety, active crawling, sleep regression
Before the move: planning with a baby
Paediatrician and vaccinations
Make sure your baby is up to date with vaccinations. If you are moving to another region or to the Canary Islands, request:
- A printed full medical history to hand to the new paediatrician
- Up-to-date vaccination record
- If you use formula milk: a prescription for the brand/type so the pharmacy at your destination can supply it without delays
- Your baby's regular medication (infant paracetamol, saline solution, etc.) stocked for 2 weeks
Essential supplies in STOCK
The first 48–72 hours in the new home are chaotic (boxes everywhere, nothing to be found). Have these ready before the move:
- Nappies: 1 large pack (50+) extra of your usual brand
- Baby wipes: 2–3 packs
- Formula milk (if applicable): 2 large tins
- Low-mineral bottled water for preparing bottles: 4–6 large bottles
- Nappy cream, gentle soap, baby shampoo
- Clothing for 4–5 days in a separate bag (not in boxes)
- Babygrows and muslin cloths, already washed
The baby's space: priority number one
Set up the baby's room or area FIRST
The first space you should set up in the new home is the baby's:
- Cot or Moses basket assembled with clean sheets
- Changing station with nappies, wipes and creams within reach
- Breastfeeding area (comfortable armchair, nursing pillow, water for mum)
- Steriliser and clean bottles (if applicable)
- Baby thermometer and basic first aid kit
Ideally, someone (a family member or friend) can set this up 1–2 days before you arrive, so that when you get there with the baby you find a welcoming space ready and waiting.
Keep familiar objects for the baby
Do NOT wash the baby's sheet or soft toy before the move. The familiar smell is reassuring in a new environment. The same applies to the baby's blanket, dummy or anything else they are attached to.
Moving day with a newborn
Option A: the baby is NOT at home
The recommended option. Have the baby spend the day with the grandparents, a trusted friend or at a relative's home. You or your partner go with them. Once everything is loaded and the old place is empty, you all go to the new home together.
Option B: the baby is at home
If there is no alternative, designate one closed room as the "baby zone" — it should be the FIRST room to be packed so that it is empty and isolated from the noise afterwards. One adult stays with the baby in another area (garden, terrace, balcony) while the rest is being loaded. Make sure you have:
- Pram or baby carrier available
- Blanket, sunshade if it is sunny
- Baby food ready
- Portable changing mat
The journey to the new home
If the new home is nearby, transporting the baby by car with an approved car seat is best. For a long-distance move (mainland Spain–Canary Islands):
- By plane: the quickest option. The baby travels in the cabin with one parent (free of charge up to age 2). Take the pushchair to the aircraft door.
- By boat with a cabin: an alternative for mainland Spain–Canary Islands moves by sea. Private cabin, space for a travel cot.
Settling in during the first weeks
Keep routines strictly
Even though everything around you is chaos, keep the baby's routines exactly the same:
- Feeding times or breastfeeding schedule
- Bath and bedtime routine
- Daily walk at the same time
- Music or lullaby before sleep
This is the only constant the baby has in a world that has changed overnight.
Babies and moving to the Canary Islands specifically
If you are relocating to the Canary Islands with a baby:
- The warm, stable climate is exceptionally beneficial for babies (fewer respiratory infections, sunshine and fresh air all year round)
- Register on the municipal roll immediately to get a Canarian health card and an assigned paediatrician
- The 75% residents' discount on flights will make family visits to the mainland much easier
- Buy baby-specific sun creams (high protection, SPF 50+) — the Canarian sun is strong even in winter
Frequently asked questions about moving with a baby
Is moving with a newborn traumatic?
For the baby, NO, provided routines, familiar smells (sheets, blanket, toys) and their parents are maintained. What affects the baby most is the parents' stress, not the change of home itself. If the parents are calm, the baby will be calm.
Is it worth hiring professional packers with a baby?
Yes, without hesitation. A full packing service (200–600 € extra) saves you 1–2 days of exhausting work, lets you rest and gives you time for the baby. It is one of the best investments you can make in this situation. More at: how to choose a professional company.
How do I stop the baby's sleep regressing after the move?
It is normal for the baby to wake up more at night or struggle with naps in the first 7–14 days. This is their way of "processing" the change. Stick to the routines, familiar smells and as much calm as possible. Within 2 weeks they usually return to their usual pattern.
Are there specific products for moving with a baby?
There are no specific "kits", but we recommend: a carry-on bag with nappies and a change of clothes for 24 hours, a travel cot if you cannot assemble the main cot on the first day, a portable travel steriliser if you bottle-feed, and a compact pushchair for use during the chaos of the move.
What if I am due to give birth soon and need to move beforehand?
If you are pregnant and the move is unavoidable, plan it for between weeks 28–34 (not so early that nothing is ready, and not so late that you are very uncomfortable). After week 34, no physical effort or long journey is advisable. Book a full packing service and do NOT lift anything heavy.
Can I use temporary storage while I settle into the new home with the baby?
Yes. It is a very useful option. You bring only the essentials for the baby and the two of you to live on for 1–2 weeks, and the rest stays in storage. Once the home is ready and the baby has settled, you bring the rest in a second phase.
Request a full-service quote
At Horizont Atlantic we have extensive experience with removals for families with babies. We offer a full service including packing, assembly at destination and prioritised scheduling to keep the "chaos" period to an absolute minimum. Request a quote, letting us know the move involves a baby, and we will tailor the proposal accordingly.
