“I already have kids, can we still take a babymoon?”
The answer is YES, all the YES.

Whether you’re a working mom or a stay-at-home mom, being a mom, in general, is HARD. Let’s just take a moment and think back to when we were pregnant with our first child. When we heard about the concept of a babymoon, it was a no-brainer, right?

Fast forward to now, and you’re pregnant with your second, third, or however many and you’re wondering, “Can we still take a babymoon? How do people even do this?”

I get it. You are exhausted. Trust me, I’m there with you. I’m currently pregnant with my second and I. am. Tired.
You need a vacation, and you CAN get it.

Lean on your village. Call up your parents, in-laws, babysitters, family friend, or whoever you trust to make arrangements to watch the kiddos, and schedule a babymoon with your husband (yesterday).

.

Start Preparing Your Kids

#1 — Decide on What Your Kid(s) Can Handle

If you’ve never been away from your child overnight before, spending a week away in another country might be more than they’re ready for. If your child is old enough, talk to them about what you’re planning on doing, and mentally prepare them for the separation.
If they’re still very dependent on you, stick with getaways that are a short flight or half day’s drive away, and keep your stay short and revitalizing.

#2 — Start Working on Childcare Early

Overnight childcare without mom OR dad is a lot to ask of a young child. You can do this, but remember, you’re a family, and they deserve to be prepared as much as you do for your big trip.

Start looking for childcare long before your stay, and make sure it’s an adult you’ve known for a long time that you trust completely — ideally, a close friend, trusted nanny, or family member.

Start getting your kids familiar with this person and even set up a trial run or two with you and your spouse out for a night in a nearby hotel.

#3 — Talk About Your Babymoon Often Together

Little kids live day by day and often have a hard time piecing together timelines and events at younger ages. Talk about your plans every day to keep it fresh in their minds, and help them approximate how far away the travel dates are by providing them with a simple calendar to count down the days together on.

#4 — Shower Your Kids With Extra Love and Attention

Adding a new child to the family is a lot for older siblings to take in, but mom and dad taking time away to boot can make kids feel small and forgotten. Show them that they’re still the center of your universe by showering them with extra love and attention in the weeks leading up to your babymoon. Give them special days that are just for them, and talk about how grateful you are to have them in your life.

#5 — Plan Together for Your Time Away

You being away doesn’t have to be scary, it can be exciting for the kids too! Make it special for them in some way. Buy some movies they get to break into when you leave. Put together a basket of special snacks that are just for the babymoon days.
Plan for the practical things too. Give your children ways to communicate with you directly via video calls, and make sure your care provider has all of the emergency contact information and consent forms for medical treatment, should anything happen while you’re away.

 

 

Start Planning Your Trip

 

#1 — Clear It With Your Doctor

First things first, be smart about your travel plans. Talk to your doctor about your babymoon idea as early in your pregnancy as possible, and get their approval before you book anything — better safe than sorry (and several state lines away from your OB or midwife).

#2 — Choose the Perfect Travel Window

Every pregnancy is different, so this can be a tough call to make. Generally speaking though, most women can count on morning sickness let up around the second trimester, and feeling too bloated and tired to move by the third trimester.

#3 — Put Together Your Babymoon Budget

Budgeting is a great thing because it helps you have fun while not going overboard right before the expense of adding another baby. Set a budget for food, shopping, and activities, and stick to it so you won’t overspend and feel guilty later (because where’s the fun in that?).

#4 — Choose the Location

You may already know this, but pregnant chicks? We don’t travel well.
Make the location you choose comfortable, convenient, and cool — hot sandy beaches are for the birds and blissfully unencumbered by babies.

For our second babymoon, we traveled to Dallas, Texas, and stayed at the Omni Dallas. Let me tell you if you’re looking for luxury and relaxation — Omni Dallas is the place to be. With beautiful views everywhere you look, a full-service spa, seven restaurants on property, beautiful rooms and suites, and a heated infinity pool overlooking downtown — you’ll never want to leave.
Wherever you wind up, spring for comfort and convenience above all else (and make sure you can get a prenatal massage in the spa).

#5 — Decision Time: Road Trip or Plane?

Once you make the call that a babymoon is happening and decide where you’re going, the next decision you need to make is whether you’re going to road trip it or fly. For pregnant women with young children, it’s going to come down to a combination of comfort and how much time you can spend away.

Flights are faster, but it is REALLY hard to get comfortable on a plane with wiggly watermelon in your lap.

I prefer driving because I have a fear of heights. This pregnancy has also been a little harder on my body, so I wanted to be able to stop at any time and stretch my legs.

#6 — Say Goodbye to Mom’s Guilt

Mommin’ can be hard and overwhelming. Sometimes you just need a break to reset. What good are we to our families if we are over exhausted and on edge? Enjoy your babymoon with your significant other whether it is your first baby or your tenth. Say goodbye to mom guilt because you deserve to relax, and it’s OKAY to take this time if you need it.

.

Have you taken a babymoon? Where did you go and how did you manage it?