You have so much to do before baby arrives. If it’s your first child, you have the nursery to get up, the house to get ready, and all of the first-time parent jitters to work out. If it’s your second or third or fourth child, you still have plans to make, like who will watch the other kids during the delivery. If you and your partner want to take some time to reconnect before baby makes their debut, we have your guide to a fantastic babymoon to get you both on the same page as parents and as people.
Babymoon basics
What a babymoon is
A babymoon is indulgent time away, typically before the birth of your first child. The purpose is to relax, get away, enjoy your last days before you don’t remember when the last time you slept was, and if you have a spouse, reconnect as a couple before you go from partners to parents.
While a babymoon is normally for the transition to having your first child, you can schedule a babymoon before any child. And though it’s typically for the parents-to-be, you don’t have to be part of a couple to take a babymoon; you can take yourself on one alone. If you are single, enjoy your last quiet thoughts for a bit, or invite your closest friends to pamper you for a few days before baby.
When to take a babymoon
The sweet spot for a babymoon is the second trimester. Your first trimester is too early, and your chances of needing to find a place to be sick are high. By the third trimester, you’ll probably be too tired and bloated to move. Plus, you could go into labor early, and you want to have your time before that happens. You could also be restricted from travel by your doctor toward the end. The second semester is when you have that surge of energy, you can still move around, and you aren’t too close to your due date.
Where to have your babymoon
There are so many options for where to spend your babymoon days. The important thing is that you use the time for activities that calm you down and take your away stress.
- In the city
- In your home
- At the beach
- At a spa
- At a luxury hotel
- Some place exotic
If you’re high risk, have gone into early labor with a previous child, or just don’t feel like going far from home, you could always do a staycation. But there is no baby talk if you stay at home — it should be about relaxing.
Where you should go depends on what you find keeps you centered. Do you love the beach? Sip iced tea by the water for a weekend. Do you love the city and won’t be able to go near one until your child is older? Spend a weekend exploring a new (or your favorite) downtown one last time without needing a stroller.
If you haven’t had a spa weekend in some time, you might as well do it now. A massage would feel so good on those baby-growing limbs. A lot of people take their babymoon to a luxury hotel for a weekend to let everyone else take care of the mom-to-be.
What to do on your babymoon
The only thing you should do is relax. Whatever that means to you, that’s what your activities should be. If you love to read, try to fit in one whole book before baby. If you love food, treat yourself to every type of elaborate meal. If couple’s activities make you feel great, get in as many as you can.
Everyone’s babymoon will look different, but you should only do things that make you feel good. Getting yourself worked up and overwhelmed might bring on early labor or have you returning from your getaway more in knots than before you left.
A babymoon shouldn’t break the bank
Whatever time you can take off work is fine, whether that’s a few days or a whole week. A babymoon isn’t a must, so if you can’t afford to take more than one day off, that is fine. You are about to have to purchase more diapers than you have ever thought was possible — you don’t want to go broke just to relax for a day. If your budget only allows for a pampering weekend at home, call in the troops to come be your personal army for a few days.
If you are unsure, talk to your doctor
If you are ever unsure about when to take your babymoon or what activities you should do, talk with your doctor before you make any solid plans. If you want to travel out of the country, you’ll want to get that cleared first. If you want to do more physical activities, run it by your doctor. This should be a calming time, not a way to make you go into labor.
Get back in touch with who you are as a person before you shift your focus to taking care of someone else. Bring your partner or spouse, friends or siblings, or go solo, but think about a babymoon before welcoming any addition to your family. Before the first, second, or third baby, unwind as much as possible by taking yourself on a babymoon to be ready for everything parenthood throws your way.
