A Babymoon! Right now, it’s just the two of you on the brink of a life-changing adventure. Your partner is probably your favorite person in the world and someone you’d do anything for. You have plenty of time together and always have the energy to make an effort for each other. When you have a newborn baby to look after, things are likely to change.

This is not a scaremongering article. Having a baby is going to be the best thing that’s ever happened to you both. You’re going to be completely besotted by your baby and loving life in your baby bubble. There’s going to be a bit of an adjustment period, however, as you adapt to caring for the newest member of the family. During this transition phase, you’ll have less time for your relationship because you’ll be focused on the new baby.

That’s not to say your relationship will go stale or you won’t fancy each other anymore. You’ll still love your partner; you just won’t have as much time for date nights and late-night chats during the early months of parenthood. Although that idea might sound strange now, in reality you’ll be too busy caring for your baby and catching up on sleep to mourn those missed date nights.

To lovebomb your relationship in preparation for becoming parents, you should spend some quality time together before the baby arrives. A babymoon is a perfect way to celebrate your relationship and escape from reality together.

Does that sound like just what you need as expecting parents? Thought so!

What is a babymoon trip?

A babymoon trip is a vacation with your partner before the arrival of your baby. It’s a little block of time you can spend together as expecting parents, relaxing and switching off from the real world. A babymoon doesn’t have to be expensive or require lots of planning; a low-key babymoon will be just as worthwhile.

While some couples jet off across the world for a luxury vacation, others prefer to stay near home during pregnancy. Your babymoon can be as long as you like; many couples opt for just one night of uninterrupted couples time as their babymoon vacation. Although the idea of endless days by the sea might sound dreamy, you’re likely to have budget and time restraints on your babymoon.

Do I need to go on a babymoon?

No, there’s no rule that, as an expecting parent, you must go on a babymoon; it’s totally up to you whether you choose to take one or not. However, there are lots of great reasons for a couple to spend some quality time together shortly before they become parents.

For example, a babymoon:

Allows you to relax and escape the stress of everyday life
Gives you a chance to reconnect as a couple and spend some quality time together
Allows you to make some memories before the baby arrives
Lets you do something you might not get to do for a while once the baby is here
Can be low-cost, low-effort and still invaluable to you as a couple
Is fun.

For more reasons why a babymoon is worth taking, read A Babymoon | Why Should You Plan One?

What do couples do on a babymoon?

A babymoon is a chance to enjoy some time together before your new baby arrives. How you choose to spend this time is totally up to you. Some couples spend it hiking in the countryside, whereas others prefer to binge-watch Netflix shows in a nice hotel room. Some take a city break to soak up some culture and others spend it relaxing on a beach.

There are no fixed rules for how you should spend your babymoon. The idea is to enjoy some quality time as a couple. Treat it like an ‘away day’ from work. You’re about to become Team Parents, and this is your team-building meeting before the project kicks off. How would you like to spend it?

Best time to take a babymoon

It’s important to schedule your babymoon in advance to make sure it definitely happens. It’s all too easy to run out of time. Nine months sounds like a long time but it will be over soon enough. The best time to take a babymoon depends on what you want to do.

If you are planning to fly internationally, you’ll need to consider airline cut-off dates for flying while pregnant. During the later stages of pregnancy, you may find long flights to be uncomfortable and prefer to opt for short-haul destinations.

For more information, read our article Flying While Pregnant – Tips and Airline Guidelines

While you could take it in the first trimester, many pregnant women feel rubbish during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy and this could hamper your plans. If you’re struggling with crippling pregnancy nausea, for example, you’re unlikely to enjoy yourself on vacation.

Many pregnant women find the second trimester easiest in terms of symptoms, so it’s probably an ideal time to go on vacation. With the sickness and fatigue of the first trimester over and the aches and pains of the third trimester yet to appear, many women feel best during the second trimester.

The second trimester is best for energy levels and mobility, too, so if you’re hoping to have an active babymoon, it’s an ideal time.

If you’re planning a more relaxing time, you might feel comfortable waiting a little longer before going on your babymoon.

Babymoon in the third trimester

The closer you go to the birth, the more it will feel like a babymoon. By the time you’re nearing the end of the third trimester, impending parenthood will feel real and you might enjoy an escape from reality.

The obvious cons to a third-trimester babymoon include tiredness and mobility problems. If you’re feeling rubbish by the end of your pregnancy, you might not be able to do as much on your babymoon.

There is no one-size-fits-all model when it comes to babymoons. You’ll have to consider your own circumstances, feelings and desires when choosing when to take your vacation. You might feel you don’t want to go too close to your due date because you’d rather stay local when the birth is imminent.

Is 37 weeks too late for a babymoon?

Yes, 37 weeks pregnant is probably a little late for a vacation babymoon. From 37 weeks, you are considered full term and you could go into labor any day. It certainly restricts your travel options, because more airlines won’t let women fly at term or close to their due date, as it is considered high risk. It also means you won’t want to travel far from your local hospital.

If, however, you’re planning on taking your babymoon at home (or nearby), then 37 weeks pregnant might be a great time to do it. It will give you a chance to spend some time together right before the baby arrives and will help you to relax while you wait for the birth.

How long should a babymoon be?

Your pre-baby vacation can be as long as you like. You’ll probably find budget and time restraints will dictate the length of your babymoon. Whether you take a two-week vacation or a one-night babymoon, it will do your relationship some good to enjoy this time together before you become parents.

If this is your first baby, you might be able to escape for longer. If you’re relying on babysitters already, you could find it more difficult to get away. Don’t worry, though; a child-free night close to home will still be a wonderful babymoon for you as expecting parents.

Babymoon ideas

This pre-baby trip is all about spending time together as a couple.

If money is no object

Here are some ideas on what you can do :

Take a long weekend city break to a destination you’ve never visited before
Have a beach vacation, somewhere with glorious weather
Go on a walking holiday on a coastal path
Visit a new country and do a whistle-stop tour
Spend the night at a fancy hotel
Take a day cruise to look for whales and dolphins
Go boating on a lake.

Babymoon ideas on a budget

If you’re saving hard for the new baby, you may want a more affordable babymoon.

Here are some fun budget ideas for a getaway:

Take a staycation at home and hide away from the world
Camp in the wilderness
Do a house swap for free accommodation somewhere peaceful
Take a road trip to the coast
Soak up some culture in your nearest city
Spend a day in the countryside enjoying the best of what nature has to offer
Have dinner, see a movie and then head home for cuddles.

How do I prepare for a babymoon?

There’s not really anything special you need to do before your babymoon. Prepare for this vacation as you would prepare for any other. You might want to slip a couple of pregnancy-specific items in your suitcase (hello, giant body pillow) but other than that you should pack as you usually would.

If you’re suffering from pregnancy nausea, you might want to seek out places you can eat, in advance. And if you struggle with walking long distances, plan out your routes carefully. Don’t cram too much into your vacation; instead, focus on relaxing.

For some destinations, you might need to take health precautions, such as having vaccinations before you fly. It’s important to do your homework in advance, especially during pregnancy.

A babymoon will give you memories you can treasure for the rest of your life. You won’t regret taking some time as a couple to connect with each other and prepare your relationship for parenthood.