In this article
A lot of things change when we become parents, and that includes the way we celebrate holidays. But though some of us might think that a romantic Valentine’s Day is long gone, that’s not necessarily the truth. It’s definitely still possible to have a great day (or night) with the one you love — whether or not you’re able to get a babysitter. All hope isn’t lost!
Yes, Valentine’s Day will certainly be different — partially because you have a new baby (duh) and partially because staying home more often than not will likely still be a thing in February for all of us. If you’re determined, you can still have a fancy meal (with yummy Valentine’s desserts, at that!) and bask in all that love you have for the person who helped you bring your brand new little one into the world. Being a new parent is stressful, and a new mom deserves a romantic celebration.
How to celebrate Valentine's Day at home
The time will come when you get all dressed up again and go out for a swanky dinner on February 14, but if you’ve recently had a baby — this year probably isn’t it. Right from the beginning, you should probably decide to take the pressure off of yourself and your partner. That first year with a baby is exhausting enough without bringing holiday stress into it!
Plan a low key night in with the one you love doing what you love — preferably after baby is down for the night to simplify things as much as possible. Plan a meal, a movie night, break out your favorite board games, plan to pick up a bottle of good wine, get some cheesy heart-shaped chocolates, even commit to actually going to bed early that night — a romantic Valentine’s Day looks different for all couples, so feel free to personalize your plans based on what you want to do.
“The point is, maybe you can’t celebrate Valentine’s Day the way you used to. But maybe that’s okay,” mom Emily Kaye Lazzaro wrote for The Washington Post. “Maybe spending every day with so much love in your life that you become inconsolable during Super Bowl commercials is enough.”
Valentine's Day menu ideas
Let’s be honest: A big part of Valentine’s Day as a parent is food, and if you have a new baby in the house, chances are high you’ve been living off of fast food and all things frozen for a while. This is the perfect opportunity to have a special, grown-up dinner after baby goes to bed! Either order takeout from your favorite restaurant or plan a romantic Valentine’s menu for you to cook together, or for you to prepare for your partner as part of your gift. Can’t lose, either way!
There are a lot of Valentine’s Day menu ideas out there. This list Men’s Journal put together of recipes from professional chefs covers all the bases from lobster to pizza, and this impressive selection of four different Valentine’s dinner menus from Chowhound even includes romantic Valentine desserts to end the meal with.
Looking for something more in line with a Valentine’s Day brunch menu? It’s hard to go wrong with bacon, eggs, and French toast — and don’t forget the mimosas! (Plus, no matter what they tell you, brunch can definitely be eaten for dinner — especially on Valentine’s Day).
Whatever you eat, try to spend that time focused on each other — not your phones, the TV, or anything else. “This one night, don’t eat hunched over. Sit at a table, have a conversation,” relationship expert Andrea Syrtash told ABC News. “Light the candles and turn on music to set the mood.”
Unique Valentine's Day gifts
Another important part of this holiday are the presents, and scoring a Valentine’s Day gift that your partner is sure to appreciate now that there’s a little one in your lives doesn’t have to break the bank. If a unique Valentine’s Day gift is what you’re looking for, feel free to check out sites like Etsy for something personalized — and there’s always Pinterest for Valentine’s DIY gifts, too. For example, making something like this cute little jar filled with reasons you love your partner is so personal and so sweet — and definitely something you can get done during naptime!
It would also be super fun to plan to exchange cards or letters about how your love for each other has grown or changed since having a baby, because the impact new parents are experiencing on their love life can sometimes be huge — even for the better. What’s a more appropriate time to talk about how much you love each other and what you hope to see from the future of your relationship than the most romantic day of the year, after all? And if all else fails, well, there’s always flower delivery for Valentine’s Day.
If you do plan on ordering a gift online, it’s better to do so as early as possible if you want to actually receive your valentine gift delivery by Valentine’s Day!
Whatever you choose to do, as long as you’re spending the day with the ones you love, that’s all that really matters. The first year as parents is always a challenge, but those romantic date nights are sure to return in time.
