Moving During a Pandemic (with a Baby)

No one expected the pandemic was going to hit when it did. No one expected that the country would shut down when it did. No one anticipated that hospitals would be overflowing and #firstresponders literally becoming our lifeline to survival. However, this became our reality and therefore many things changed overnight.

While so much of life was put on pause, so much of life continued on as normal. In my last post, (“Groover Movers Strike Again!”), I spoke about #MatchDay and how on this day our trajectory for #residency led us to Columbus, Ohio. This happened just days after the entire country was sent home due to the #Covid19 #pandemic.

To further put this into perspective, allow me to illustrate the timing a little bit more. We were told we would be moving states during a time of complete anxiety. This was a time when most Americans were still wiping down their groceries with #Cloroxwipes, during a disinfectant wipe shortage. Everyone was being asked to wear a mask, and yet no one had one. This was also during a time when most people were still avoiding takeout food, grocery stores, and almost anything that seemed normal. Boy, have we come a long way in 12 months!

Needless to say, we faced a lot of questions approaching our move to #Ohio from #Michigan. However, we are some of the lucky individuals that knew a move was coming, we had gone through this before, and had the support of our family. So, how did we do it, how did we move during a pandemic with a baby? Here are our tips and tricks of moving during a pandemic:

1. Our 4 month old basically lived in her baby carrier.

Anytime there was a lot going on or she was unsettled - baby carrier. The closeness to one of her parents brought enough stability to help her keep facing the challenges and changes ahead. We also actively used a bouncer/bumbo seat to let her see everything from a different angle.

2. We kept to nap times!

We used and still use the app Huckleberry to help track sleep patterns and this warned us of upcoming cranky times. Tip 1: Have the pack ‘n’ play at the ready so that you can set up a sleep station when you need it. Tip 2: If you use a sound machine, keep it unpacked or with your overnight bag. (Be sure to have extra batteries in the diaper bag.) Tip 3: BE FLEXIBLE! A baby taking 2 naps, may need 3. A baby taking 3 naps, may be overstimulated and only want to miss the action for 1-2 nap times. This too shall pass!

3. To find our next apartment we had to rely SOLELY on photos.

Photos can leave a lot to be desired as you do not always get the full picture of the neighborhood or area, the exact apartment, or even the parking situation. Google maps can be your friend in this realm. We also were able to use family nearby to help explore our new neighborhood to help us “get a feel” for the area. Ask someone you trust if they are able to take a drive through of the neighborhood on your behalf (this eased our minds greatly). A lot of companies also have virtual walkthroughs available. Lastly, smells are something to consider when moving into a new place you have not been able to visit yet. If moving into an apartment, ask if the apartment complex can use the O2 cleaner to clean out any unwanted smells from the last tenant.

4. Cleaning supplies were limited at the time of our move.

We were rationing our supplies to be able to use our disinfectant wipes for our new apartment due to ease. Even though this may be the most convenient option, it is not the only option for cleaning. Paper towels and disinfectant sprays can also be a great alternative! After doing a final sweep through of our apartment we threw all the cleaning supplies either in the go-bag or the trash can to be locked into the moving truck.

5. Getting help during a time of crisis can be difficult.

This probably goes without saying, but at the time we were uncertain of if we would have help moving due to the country-wide shutdown during #Covid19. As usual, we sent out our “Moving Invite” (which I will talk more about in a later blog post about Packing Tips). In this invitation we let friends and family know the date and time we would need help moving, the request for all to follow the mask mandate provided by the state, and to do what they felt most comfortable with! Being open about this and having amazing friends, allowed for our small group from church to come without hesitation to help on our big move day!

When moving from Michigan to Ohio, our family from Indiana was anxious to come help us move into our new apartment; however at the time travel advisories appeared to be changing by the day. We kept an eager watch on these advisories in order to be in compliance. Thankfully family was able to help us move into our new apartment in Ohio while friends helped us move out of Michigan.

During such a time of anxiety, uncertainty, and unknown - it all worked out. Even though the pandemic threw us a lot of curveballs that we had to navigate in the process, we were able to move through it all. Isaiah 41:10 says, “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”

Now, onto the next move! Your friend, Jordi