Babymoon Ideas and Locations
Author: Salma Jafri
What is a Babymoon?
Just like a honeymoon is a tranquil time to spend with your life partner before the daily routine of married life begins, a babymoon is a vacation to take before the arrival of the baby. The purpose of a babymoon is to give yourself time to collect your thoughts as a couple and prepare for the shared responsibility of caring for a newborn.
How to Choose a Babymoon Location
You're pregnant: crankiness, mood swings, food cravings, hot flashes - there are just so many things going on in your life right now. You want to ensure the babymoon will be a relaxing experience and not a taxing one.
Choosing an appropriate babymoon getaway location is probably the most important decision to make. To choose a location, you should first know what you expect to achieve from it.
- Why are you taking a babymoon?
Do you want to spend time bonding with your partner?
Do you want to attend childbirth classes or other pre-natal groups?
Do you want to get relief for the aches and pains plaguing you?
Are you looking to buy some cute outfits for your baby?Depending on your answer, you may want to choose a spa resort, a shopping district, a weekend pregnancy workshop, the beach, or maybe even some combination!
- How many months pregnant will you be at the time of the babymoon?
Your choice of location will also depend on how far along you are. A 6-month pregnant woman would possibly be more active than a woman in her 8th month. So you've got to choose a location and activities appropriate to your stage of pregnancy. Most women choose to take babymoons in the second trimester, when they're past the first trimester's miscarriage risk and morning sickness while not yet in the physically uncomfortable stage of the third trimester.
- What's your budget?
Finally, most couples wonder whether it's wise to spend money on a babymoon instead of saving up for the baby. So you've got to consider your finances and take a pre-baby vacation that doesn't leave you feeling guilty.
Babymoon Ideas
Depending on your answers to the above questions, there are so many wonderful babymoon ideas to suit various pregnancy stages, wish lists, and budgets. Here are some:
- Book a pregnancy massage at a spa
- Go to the beach
- Attend childbirth workshops, including sessions for fathers-to-be
- Have your favorite chef cook a meal for you and your partner
- Hire a housekeeper, and take a few weeks off from housekeeping duties
- Plan a picnic at the park
- Eat out at your favorite all-you-can-eat buffet
- Spend time in a nearby hotel being pampered and close to each other
- Lookout for babymoon hotel package deals which offer healthy meals, keepsake gifts (from coffee beans to delivery kits), relaxing movies to watch, and more
- Spend time in a different city, wandering the local shops, eating at the local restaurants, watching movies, and soaking up some atmosphere
Popular Babymoon Locations
- Island destinations, like Hawaii, the Bahamas, and the Virgin Islands, are a top destination primarily because they offer a mix of relaxation and adventure (walking, swimming, snorkeling, etc) for the pregnant woman and her partner.
- Big cities, like San Francisco and New York, have loads to offer such as walking tours, shopping, museums, eating out, fine dining, sports and leisure activities, nightlife, movies, theatre shows, and parks.
- Cruises, like those offered to the Caribbean, Bahamas, and Bermuda, are also popular choices because they offer an indulgent, romantic vacation with plenty to do should you choose to. Cruise ships usually have a policy of not allowing pregnant women beyond week 24, so you'll need to plan ahead for this one.
- Beach destinations, like Mexico or Florida, are perfect for relaxing babymoons and vegetating on the beach.
The important thing to remember when planning a babymoon is that you're comfortable, relaxed, and can unwind before the arrival of the baby. Make sure you choose a babymoon vacation that allows you to rest, rejuvenate, and re-connect with your partner before the busy times ahead.
