Published by Actually Sleeping · Reviewed by Dr. Samantha Abrahamson, PharmD · Review policy · Updated 2026-11-10

How do I keep my baby or toddler sleeping well when we move house?

Make the new home safe for sleep first: set up the crib, or a play yard with only its fitted sheet, never an adult bed or sofa, and anchor dressers and TVs to the wall. Keeping the same crib, sleep sack, routine and bedtime makes the new room feel familiar. Some unsettled nights are common; habits that start during the move are what tend to last.

Make the new room safe

A new home has new hazards, and moving week is when furniture is most likely to be left unsecured. The CPSC reports that from 2000 to 2021, 482 children were killed in tip-over incidents, and 88% of them were under 5. It also estimates an average of 19,400 emergency department visits a year for tip-over injuries.

The CPSC advises:

Anchor TVs and furniture, such as bookcases and dressers, securely to the wall.
Store heavier items on lower shelves or in lower drawers.
Don’t put toys or remotes where children might climb to reach them.
Keep TV and cable cords out of reach.

The AAP adds: use a safety gate at the top of the stairs, and consider one at the bedroom door, so a toddler who gets out of bed can’t wander. Check where the crib sits too: away from windows, blind cords, curtains, lamps and anything your child could pull in. Corded cameras should be at least three feet from the crib, per the CPSC.

Safety comes first in a new home. If sleep does not settle after the move, the habits that started during it are the part Actually Sleeping fixes.

Safe sleep on moving night

If the crib isn’t assembled yet, use a play yard that meets federal requirements, with only its fitted sheet. The CPSC lists cribs, bassinets, play yards and bedside sleepers as products safe for sleep. Not an air mattress, an adult bed, or a sofa, even for one night.

Why a move unsettles sleep

A new room means new sounds, new light, new shadows and new smells. Many toddlers are also unsettled by the packing and the change in routine before the move. More waking, earlier waking or a harder bedtime are common in the first week. The AAP’s advice for a new baby, to make big changes well before or wait until things are settled, makes sense for a move too: switching to a bed, dropping a nap or toilet training in the same month adds to the disruption.

Why it sometimes does not settle

Most of what lasts after a move is not the move. It is what happened to get through it: lying down with your toddler until they fall asleep, bringing them into your bed in the new house, a later bedtime while boxes were unpacked. Each makes sense in a stressful week. A month later, the move is over and the habits are not.

That is the fixable part, and it is what Actually Sleeping does. For babies and toddlers alike, Dr. Sam writes a plan for your child in the new home, with bootcamp-style coaching before the first night and daily 1:1 check-ins. If you are moving soon, the plan can be timed around the move. Hear from families in our 129 client video reviews.

Moving across time zones or into a shared room

If the move also changes the clock, see sleep and time zones. If siblings will share a room in the new house, see a baby and toddler sharing a room.

If you have moved and sleep has not settled, book a free consultation with Actually Sleeping.

Want this fixed for your baby?

Actually Sleeping is 1:1 coaching: a sleep plan written for your baby by Dr. Sam, bootcamp-style coaching before the first night, and daily check-ins until it is working. 700+ families coached, 129 video reviews, and a written guarantee: 8–12 hours through the night within 14 days, or a full refund.

Book your free consultation → See what families say

Frequently asked

How long does it take a toddler to adjust to a new house?

Many children settle within a week or two when the crib, routine and bedtime stay the same. If sleep is still poor after that, it is usually because of habits that started during the move, which is what a Actually Sleeping plan addresses.

Should I move my toddler to a big bed when we move?

It is usually easier to change one thing at a time. Keeping the crib for the move lets your child settle into the new home first, and a bed can come later if it is needed.

Can my baby sleep in our bed for the first few nights in the new house?

No. The AAP does not support bed sharing under any circumstances. Set up the crib first, or use a play yard with only its fitted sheet until the crib is ready.