• Children are sensitive to a new environment, so handle with care
Just as a newborn gives loud wails when they come out of the only home they have known after 10 luxurious months of eating and sleeping, babies similarly know when they are not in familiar surroundings. Other than the occasional visits to my sister’s house, my son spends most of his life at home.
Our babies are more familiar with their environment than we give them credit for. He knows the inside and outside of our home. He knows in which room he will find someone or something he is looking for. He is confident enough to walk into different areas of the house by himself. For some reason, I thought this was part of who he is; confident, explorative, daring and independent.
I imagined that he would be the same no matter where we go. My husband and I often rent out vacation homes to have some time away. Since this was the second time we were doing it with our son since he was born, we figured he would be fine with it just as he was before. Boy were we wrong!
We spent the entire weekend with a fussy baby, who would not even take two steps without crying! He would not eat or play as he would at home. He was irritable; he clung to me and breastfed all the time to make himself better. I completely overlooked the fact that his confidence and drive stem from his familiarity with surroundings. The parental guilt is strong when your child lets you know that you have yanked him from the only safe zone or home he has ever known.
Luckily, I knew that my son needed some things he was accustomed to in the new home and carried most of his belongings. I created a play nook with all his favourite things from home. I laid down his favourite play mat and assembled his toy in one corner. Whenever he had a tantrum, I would show him his toys and he would calm down a little as he engaged with his favourite toys.
He also loves being outdoors and interacting with nature, which means that we spent the first couple of days trekking up and down the stairs as we took him outside for a dose of fresh air and sun. Lastly, the most important lesson I learnt during this move is, always to stick to routine! A move is hard enough for a child to process; they therefore need to be surrounded by as many familiar items as possible. Eat the same food, play with the same toys and stick to the same bedtime routine!
As we started to see some progress on the third day, I, too, saw some enlightenment in parenting. Babies are sensitive to new environments and it is up to us to help them transition smoothly in a period that is testing for them. I know that this is one of the many moves we will make as a family, but at least now I am conscious of the steps to take to allow a smooth transition for my child.