The First Night Box: What to Pack

Moving to a new home can be a pretty chaotic time in anyone’s life. After you arrive at your new home and your moving company unloads your belongings, you will likely have boxes everywhere, which can make finding essential items next to impossible. So, how can you avoid playing a game of hide and seek with simple things like your tooth brush, body wash, and favorite foods? Well, packing a first night box will help you to manage this issue and avoid chaos the first night in your new home. The following check list will show you which items you should place in your first night box to make your first night experience an enjoyable one.

Air Mattress. When you arrive in your new home, it is likely that you will not have your bed assembled. Therefore, you will need somewhere to sleep on your first night. This is where an air mattress will come in handy. This option may not be as comfortable as your own bed, but after a long day of moving, you will be more than happy to have somewhere to lay your head.
Blankets and pillows. Along with your air mattress, you will need a blanket and pillow. This will keep you warm and relaxed during the first night in your home. Make sure to pack enough materials for your entire family.
Pajamas. At the end of your moving day, you want to be as comfy as possible. Make sure to pack a set of pajamas to ensure that you and your family will have something cozy to sleep in.
Other sleeping accessories. Some people require various accessories when they sleep, such as a breathing machine or sleeping cap. If you require such items, pack these essentials into your first night box in order to have a good night of sleep.

Toiletries

Tooth brush and tooth paste. One of the last things you want to do when you move into your new home is have to search for your tooth brush and tooth paste. Packing these items will ensure that you stay on top of your daily hygiene routine and won’t skip a beat.
Soap, shampoo and conditioner. After a long day of moving, you may need to shower and wash your hair. Keeping these items close by will keep you from searching through every box in your house or running out to the store to purchase items you already own.
Bathroom essentials. For the first night in your home, you will need items like towels and tissue. Including these items in your first night box will save you both time and money. This will also make you feel comfortable in such a new space.

Kitchen Necessities

Non-perishable items. The first night in your home will likely mean that you will not have your refrigerator and freezer running.Having a number of non-perishable food items on hand will ensure that you will have something to eat while set up your essentials.
Plastic plates and utensils. You will definitely need some plastic plates, cups, and utensils. This will keep you from digging for dishes every time you want a drink or something to eat.

Personal Items

Clothing. It may take you a few days to get all unpacked and situated in your new home. Because of this, you will need to include a few days of clothing in your first night box. By doing this, you will be able to relax and not worry about which box your need to grab your next outfit from.
Electronics. After an extensive day of moving, items like your telephone and tablet will likely need to be charged. It would be terrible to be in your new home and area with a dead battery. To prevent this, make sure you include all of your chargers in your first night box.

Entertainment

Books. When you move into your home, chances are that your cable will not be installed and most of your belongings will still be packed away. To avoid boredom, you may want to include a few books to keep you busy.
Board Games. Board games are a great way to get everyone in your family involved. This will help fight off the terrible moving blues.

Emergency Materials

First aid kit. Moving usually comes along with a number of minor injuries. Although they may be minor, they will still need attention. Having a first aid kit in your first night box will make patching up the little scrapes and bruises much easier.
Box cutter. During your first few nights, you may spend a great deal of your time unpacking. Having a box cutter handy will help speed up the time you spend unpacking all of your precious materials. However, when you use a box cutter, make sure you utilize box cutter safety tips.
Medication. Moving requires a lot of hard work and heavy lifting. Because of this, you may have a few aches and pains. Packing a few medications along for the ride will help ease the pain you may experience during your move.

Pet Supplies

Collar and leash. If you have an animal, then you will need to make certain that you have all of their necessities. Their collar and leash will be needed so that you will be able to take them outside of the home. Since they will be in a new area, you will need to keep them on the leash so that they do not roam.
Food. Just like you, your pet will need to eat after a long move. Include their food and a few snacks for them in your first night box.