First Night Box Checklist

It is always better to be safe than sorry when packing your personal valuables before moving to a new house. Such items that require additional security or special access are better kept in your personal vehicle during a move.

Earthrelo understands that the first night in your new home is exciting and busy and maybe even a bit overwhelming. The last thing we need is to panic, and panic causes chaos. After all you want to feel relaxed and enjoy new start in your new house, which is why you will want to have all your essentials handy on the first night. A first night moving kit may be the single most important box in your move. 

Earthrelo moving experts have created some suggestions to help you plan your first night moving box and ease some of the stress that could come from digging through endless boxes just to find your toothbrush or bedsheets.

One important thing to remember is keeping your first night moving box with you and your family if you are reaching your new house before the movers with all your other belongings. 

The purpose of the first night box is to have what you need to get to it easily when you need it.

What Is A First Night Box?

The first night box is a container that contains everything you will possibly need and want a quick, easy access on the first day and night at your new home. The first night box container can be anything. It can be a box or a suitcase, a big plastic tub with a lid.

The first night box will help you take charge of things on your first 24 hours and create a relaxing, enjoyable experience in your new home. 

Moving to the new home with children and/or pets is more likely to be a little restless and panicky. Hence it is important to be prepared for your first night at a new home well ahead of time.

First night box will help you organize and separately pack the personal items and few essential households, which will dramatically reduce the stress level. It will be easier for you to quickly find your kid’s sacred sleep time teddy bear or your dog’s calming toy after you’ve just moved. 

The checklist we have developed for your first night box covers almost everything from your chargers for electronics to personal toiletries.

Earthrelo has carefully listed things for you so you can continue enjoying moving into your new home and feeling the accomplishment.

Also be sure to pack your first night box with needs based on you and your family’s personal needs and circumstances. You may include all the items as per our list or add a few more unique things to it, but in the end, make sure you have everything nearby and in one place.

First Night Box Moving Kit Checklist

Packing Personal Items

Aside from food essentials, your personal items will need to be packed. Have your toothpaste and toothbrush, soap and shampoo, a brush or comb packed in your personal bag(s), and your pajamas and next-day clothing. But you’ll need more than that to get comfortable and settle in. 

Of course, if you’re embarking on an interstate move, and your movers aren’t going to arrive for another week, you’re going to need to pack enough clothing and personal essentials to last you during that time. Your “first night” bag should really be more of a “first week” suitcase.

We suggest these additional personal items to pack in your first night kit:

• Bath towels, washcloths
• Chargers for computers, phones and other electronics
• Clothing and outerwear for the first couple of days
• Cosmetics and other beauty items
• Extra underwear
• First aid kit
• Medications
• Pajamas
• Personal electronic devices
• Shoes
• Sleeping accessories such as a breathing machine 
• Sleeping sound machine (if moving to a noisy city)
• Toilet paper and paper hand towels
• Toiletries
• Toothbrushes and toothpaste
• Wallet and credit cards

Packing for Family Essentials

• A change of clothing and towel for each member of the family.
• All-purpose cleaner (unopened)
• All-purpose cutting knife
• Beverages
• Coffee maker and coffee
• Dish soap
• Dishtowel and dishcloth
• Flashlight/candles/matches
• Garbage bags
• Important records such as medical records, passports, leases, financial information, etc
• Jar of pasta sauce and pasta (or some easy food item for one dinner and lunch)
• Mug, plate, fork, knife, spoon for each member of the family
• Pet food and dishes
• Portable tool kit
• Scissors or craft knife (to open the rest of your boxes)
• Shampoo, conditioner, soap, toothbrush, floss, and paste
• Shower curtain (nothing worse than forgetting this one!)
• Small emergency kit
• Snacks
• Toaster or small toaster oven
• Toilet Paper (Thanks to reader, Laura, for this essential item!)
• Unopened small jar of jam/peanut butter

Toiletries

• Body soap
• Comb or hairbrush
• Hand soap
• Hand towel
• Ponytail holder
• Razor
• Shampoo & conditioner
• Shower curtain and hooks (if your new shower doesn’t have doors)
• Toilet paper
• Washcloth (one per person)

Linens

• A blanket or comforter (pack multiple if moving in winter)
• Bath towel (one per person)
• Bathmat
• Mattress cover (get this on right away to avoid bedbugs and dirt)
• Pillows
• Sheets

Pack a home essential in first night box

While packing a first night bag for you and your family, it is good to pack all of your home essentials for the first few days. If the move is going to take a week or two, we recommend taking these home essentials with you on the move.

Pack following things for your home essentials: 

• Bath towels
• Bottled water
• Can opener
• Essential cleaning supplies
• Extra batteries
• Flashlight
• Lightbulbs
• Paper plates, utensils and cups
• Sheets and pillows for the beds
• Shower curtain (if needed)
• Small bottle of laundry detergent
• Snacks, a few canned goods and sandwich basics
• Toilet paper and a roll of paper towels
• Trash bags

Pack first night moving kit for kids

Moving to a new home with kids can make moving into a new home more challenging. Hence it would be great to pack an overnight bag with all the essential needs of your kids. 

Here’s what to consider when packing an overnight bag for your kids:

• Favorite toy or blanket
• Bath items
• Books or an iPad to play games
• Breast pump and breastfeeding pillow
• Clothing and pajamas
• Diapers and bag for dirty diapers
• Medications and first aid kit
• Nighttime necessities
• Pacifiers
• Sippy cups or bottles
• Snacks, formula, juice, food, etc.
• Stroller and carrier
• Wipes

Pack first night moving kit for kids

Don’t forget Fidwo or fluffy! Here’s what to consider when packing for our furry friends, our lovable pets:

• Blanket 
• Cat toys
• Collar or harness and leash
• Crate or carrier
• Enough food for a few days.
• Food and water dishes
• Leash
• Poop bags or kitty litter box with scooper
• Toys and bones for your dog to chew on

Of course, having easy access to personal items for your kiddos is key to a smooth transition. Moving can be disruptive to your family’s routine, and you’ll be thankful you packed soothing, comforting items to help with the adjustments of moving day.

Last but not least, you will need a first aid kit, complete with:

• Pain killers
• Bandages and ointments
• Anti-itch cream

Which items to unpack on first night

While preparing your first night box, it is good to start planning about which items to unpack on the move-in day. Moving in a new place is can be exhausting, and no one really expects to unpack things right away on the first night. 

But if you are planning to unpack, we suggest you start from the bedrooms and if you have children and pets then it would be a good idea to start unpacking the essential items for them first. Later you can unpack things for bed, kitchen and initially needed things like forks, knives, plates, mugs, coffee machine, etc. which are needed for the first week.