Little VIPs: Moving with Kids and Pets, the Red Carpet Way

Expert Guidance from 30+ Years of Moving Families

Moving is more than relocating fine art, grand pianos and curated wardrobes. It’s moving the heart of your household: your children and your pets.

For more than 30 years, we’ve helped families settle into new homes. And, while adults understand the opportunity a move represents, children and pets simply experience the stress brought about by change. Boxes. Noise. Strangers. Disruption to routine. New surroundings.

That’s why at NorthStar Moving, our red carpet service extends far beyond packing boxes. We care for the entire family with thoughtful planning, white-glove coordination and bespoke support designed to protect both your possessions and your peace of mind.

“Moving carries tremendous emotion,” said NorthStar Moving’s Newport Beach Office Owner Danilo Salgueiro. “Our Newport Beach families trust us to safeguard what matters most, from their children’s treasures to their pets’ well-being. We approach every move with empathy, discretion and care.”

With that in mind, here are our time-tested tips, to ensure your littlest VIPs transition smoothly:

Moving with Children

Timing is Everything: When moving with children, timing is the most important detail.

If possible, schedule your move during a school break. Summer offers the added benefit of giving children time to adjust before starting at a new school. If you have a child entering a natural transition year, such as middle school, it may be the ideal moment to relocate. For older teens about to enter their senior year, consider whether finishing school with their current classmates makes the most sense. Every family’s situation is unique.

Make the New House Feel Like Home Before You Arrive:  Children crave a sense of ownership and control. Whenever possible, involve them in the process early. The first way to involve your kids is to walk them through the new home. Let them choose their bedroom. Discuss paint colors. Ask questions like, “Where should your bed go?” or “Where will your trophies be displayed?”Some families even draw floor plans and let children arrange “paper doll furniture” to design their space ahead of time.

Let them Pack: The second way to give your kids a sense of control is to let them pack-up their cherished belongings. Allow each child to pack a personal “First Night” suitcase with pajamas, a toothbrush, favorite stuffed animal, bedtime story and essentials. (Medications should always travel with parents, never on the moving truck). Encourage them to label their boxes with custom color codes or fun stickers for their new room. And, during the moving process, avoid tying the experience to loss. For instance, don’t declutter their belongings at the same time you introduce the move. Reinforce that their favorite toys, books and treasures are coming with them. Once their role is complete, we can coordinate nanny services for moving day, through our vetted Family Care partnerships, ensuring children are cared for and happily occupied while our team handles the logistics.

Communicate & Connect: Ask your kids what excites them about the move. What will they miss? What worries them? Address concerns with solutions. Before departure, arrange video calls or special get-togethers with close friends. Maintaining those connections provides reassurance that friendships don’t disappear with a change of address.

Set the Stage for a Beautiful Beginning: The first weeks in a new home can shape the entire experience. Host a pool party, pizza night or casual cookout early on to introduce your children to neighbors their age. Drive by their new school, the local ice cream shop, nearby parks or dance studios. Arrange a private tour of the school before classes begin. If you arrive at the start of summer, enroll children in local camps or activities. It builds friendships quickly. A thoughtful introduction sets the tone for an extraordinary new chapter.

Moving with Pets

Now imagine the move from your pet’s perspective, while kids can verbalize their concerns, pets experience change silently. They can’t read the labels on the boxes or understand why their home feels chaotic. They only sense change…and your stress.

Over the years, we’ve worked closely with veterinarians and pet care experts to refine a seamless approach to moving with animals. Here are the essential steps:

Prepare Well in Advance

Research HOA rules, leash laws and licensing requirements in your new community. Confirm vaccination requirements. Speak with your current veterinarian about travel strategies or calming techniques. Microchipping your pet and updating identification tags with your new address is critical. Secure medical records and identify the nearest emergency animal hospital in your new area.

Keep Their Routine Stable

Avoid last-minute packing marathons. Gradual packing maintains normalcy. Bring out carriers weeks in advance for cats and place treats inside to build positive associations. And never pack their essentials: food, medication, water bowls and favorite toys should travel with you.

Remove Pets from Moving Day Activity

The safest approach is arranging private pet care, a trusted sitter or a luxury pet hotel during loading and unloading on moving day. Keeping pets away from noise and unfamiliar movers reduces stress and prevents accidental escapes. Through our premium Pet Care partnerships, NorthStar Moving can coordinate trusted professionals to ensure your furry companions are comfortable and secure on moving day.

Travel Thoughtfully

Whenever possible, drive your pet yourself to the new home to provide reassurance. Practice short trips in the car ahead of time if they are not used to car rides. If flying privately or commercially, confirm regulations well ahead of time and keep all required documentation easily accessible. Or let our partner, Starwood Pet Travel, the industry leader in cross-country pet transport and international pet shipping, handle those details for you.

Ease Into the New Environment

Upon arrival, keep pets indoors initially. Walk dogs on a leash to familiarize them with their new surroundings. Cats should remain inside until fully acclimated. Stress can cause even the most loyal pet to run. Only once they recognize their territory should they explore independently. Check with your new neighbors about coyotes, busy roads and decide if cats should remain indoor only pets. 

Caring for the Entire Family

At NorthStar Moving, luxury means caring for everything and everyone under your roof. In addition to coordinating nanny services and pet specialists, we have luxury partnerships with home organizers, designers and more so that every detail is handled with discretion and precision.

After more than three decades of moving families, one truth remains constant: when children feel secure and pets feel safe, the entire household settles beautifully.

our home may change, but working together, we can make sure the feeling of home always remains.

Discover bespoke relocation services at northstarmoving.com and experience white-glove moving designed for your whole family. We’ve been Moving Happiness Home™ since 1994.