8 Valentine’s Day Date Ideas for New Parents
Celebrating Valentine’s Day as a new parent can be tricky. You’re tired, your budget is smaller, and finding a babysitter (who you trust with your tiny one’s life) can be hard. When my husband and I were new parents, we wondered if this holiday was destined to be a bust. In reality though, it gave us the opportunity to connect with each other in new, fun ways!
If you have a newborn in the house, it can feel like all romance is dead. I promise, it doesn’t have to be! After being married for eleven years and having two kids, I can say with absolute confidence that fighting for your relationship is worth it. It makes you, your little ones, and your spouse so much happier. So, with that said, I hope this Valentine’s Day is special, despite its limitations. Here’s some baby-friendly Valentine’s Day date ideas for new parents to help strengthen your relationship and create beautiful new memories.
How to Celebrate Valentine’s Day with a Newborn
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1 Relive Your Best Memory
Every couple has a “spot”: A location that evokes happy memories. Maybe it’s the place you first met your spouse or the park he proposed in. Try visiting it with your spouse and bring your baby with you. Even though your little one probably won’t grasp the signficance, there’s something magical about sharing your story with them.
Don’t forget to take a photo for future memories!
2 Do Something Sweet
Pun totally intended with this one. Chocolate makes everything better. A trip to a gourmet chocolate store makes everything better. My husband and I love going to the candy shops.
Our daughters love this one too–partially because they love going out and about. Mostly because of the chocolate (Obviously, if you have a newborn you might want to omit that though).
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3 Go on a Lunch Date
It’s tough eating a romantic dinner when everything is all booked up and you start nodding off at nine pm.
Let me introduce you to the magic of Valentine’s Day lunches. My husband and I are seven years into the parenting gig and we still do this! Lunches are usually cheaper, can still 100% be romantic, and are usually much more baby-friendly.
4 Go on a Sexy Shopping Trip
You’re exhausted and most of the time it might feel like your body is just a tool for satisfying your baby’s needs. If you can’t remember the last time you wore anything sexier than your favorite postpartum panties, it’s time for a little shopping trip.
You could buy something sexy by yourself, or you could go together! Give your love the freedom to choose what he likes.
5 Go on a Picnic
February can make this idea a little difficult, but if you do happen to live in the South, why not give it a try? Picnics are so relaxing. Your baby is free to crawl around on a blanket while you and your spouse can just be.
6 Door Dash It
If you can’t go to the fancy restaurant, then bring the fancy restaurant to you! This was a classic choice for my husband and I after my youngest daughter was born (and because of COVID seating was limited anyway).
We used to order steaks and ice cream and have it delivered straight to our door.
Having said that, I definitely recommend dressing this up a bit so it doesn’t feel like just another Uber Eats meal. Dress up, light a few candles, and set the table. Make it a point to either do this while the baby is asleep or distracted so you can focus on connecting with your husband.
7 At Home Fondue Party
For our first Valentine’s Day, my husband decided to take my daughter and I to a fondue restaurant. The fondue was amazing, but the date was horrible. Our little girl cried most of our visit, seriously dampening everyone’s enjoyment.
If you’d still like to engage in glutinous amounts of chocolate consumption, Amazon sells delightful fondue and stickers. I purchased this one for us a couple years ago and it is divine. We make cheese and chocolate fondues.
8 Take a Weekend Trip
Look, a newborn doesn’t have to mean that you’re stuck at home. We loved taking little trips with our girls.
If you do decide to take a trip for Valentine’s Day, I have these suggestions:
- Book a two-room suite. This will let baby sleep and give you some much-needed privacy.
- If at all possible, go during the week. Prices are so much cheaper!
- Try to do something you’d never do at home. Hiking, have a spa day, eat at a different type of restaurant…make it special.
Tell Me Your Valentine’s Day Date Ideas for New Parents
One last pro tip from a mom of two–going on dates with kids doesn’t get any easier! As your little one gets older, you’ll face new challenges (the toddler tantrum phase to name one of many). So, it’s best to adapt now!
You can totally celebrate Valentine’s Day as a new parent and LOVE it. Dates don’t have to be perfect for them to be perfect. These ideas are romantic and simple, but most importantly, create new memories. Maybe your baby will cry during your date. If that happens, it’s okay. Years from now, when your little one isn’t so little anymore, you’ll still remember this Valentine’s Day and cherish it. But first, you have to actually make the memory.
Let me know some of your ideas below!
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