At-home Date Night Ideas for New Parents Who Deserve to Bond and Unwind

Neither your life nor your relationship should go on hold after the arrival of your newborn. While your responsibilities can increase tenfold overnight, spending valuable time with your significant other is still crucial.

For so long it was the two of you, blissfully floating around in a bubble of love and serenity. Now, there’s a newborn baby to look after, and your relationship has likely seen a natural but monumental shift. If you can’t find a babysitter (or quite simply don’t want to), there are countless romantic activities you can do from the comfort of your home.

UK baby brand Nuby has put together a list of some of their favourite at-home date night suggestion.

Create a home-cooked meal together

Enjoying a delicious meal together is a standard occurrence for many couples, so why not add a special twist? Decide on a menu that features your favourite starter, main course, and dessert, and then work together in the kitchen to create each dish with love.

Cooking with your SO is a fantastic bonding experience and an invaluable way to make memories together. Plus, once the cooking is done and the food plated up, you can then spend time enjoying the dishes in each other’s company.

Enjoy a spa night

We don’t need to tell you how stressful it can be dealing with a newborn! Their presence offers a bundle of pure joy…most of the time. The reality is the unsettled nights coupled with a multitude of new responsibilities can take its toll on both the mind and body. So, dedicate date night to an at-home spa experience.

Start by drawing a relaxing bubble bath to enjoy together. From there, give each other a massage using essential oils such as geranium and lavender. Light a few candles (battery-operated are a safer alternative and just as good) to set the scene and make each other feel aaaaaaamazing. A night like this will do wonders for your parenting journey!

Paint and Sip

A trend we’ve seen all over social media recently is the beloved ‘paint and sip’ activity. This date night, explore your artistic sides and bond over completing an art project together, all while sipping your favourite beverages. Art is important because it encourages self-expression and can boost self-esteem, making it an apt activity for first-time parents.

You can buy a full painting kit from Etsy so that you have everything you need in one box, or buy each part separately to make the project bespoke. By the end of this occasion, you should both feel a sense of accomplishment away from your parental duties, and the nursery could boast a stunning new painting!

Virtual concert

When was the last time you attended a concert, and when do you think you’ll next show up to one? Forget busy crowds and booming sounds that you can’t control; join a virtual live concert or watch your favourite band’s performances on YouTube.

Give your newborn a taste of the rock and roll life early on (but don’t have the volume on too high!) and dance like nobody’s watching, twirling and swaying with your other half. Dancing and singing is a great way to relieve stress, and you don’t even need to leave the house.

Indoor picnic

February is cold in the UK, so it makes sense if you don’t want to drag your precious little bean outdoors. Instead, bring the picnic indoors! Transform your living room with gorgeous plants and vibrant bouquets of flowers, add a string of fairy lights to the ceiling, and lay down a picnic blanket.

Once you’ve whipped up all your favourite sandwiches and snacks, you can reconnect with your partner between each delicious bite. If your newborn essentials include a portable crib or play gym, you could move them downstairs so that baby can join in with some of the fun too.

DIY mocktails

It’s best to steer clear of alcohol when there’s a new baby in the house, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy delicious drinks that were a blast to make. For a successful indoor mocktail night, all you need is a starter mixology kit and the necessary ingredients.

The Mango Mule, Strictly Ginger, and Vantage Point are just a few potential booze-free cocktails that’ll get the tastebuds tap dancing. Alternatively, add a sense of mystery to the night by creating your own inventions for each other. Whoever guesses all ingredients right gets a day off from nappy changes!

New baby shouldn’t mean old you.

Don’t fall into the trap of losing yourself while embarking on the journey of parenthood. Who you were before you had the baby is just as important as who you are after; don’t lose the passion, interests, and unique qualities that make you, well, you.

You and your partner should be helping each other navigate through these unfamiliar territories. Making time for regular date nights can strengthen your bond and improve communication.  In addition to this, they can help you to maintain the healthy levels of romance and intimacy that often go missing when two become three.

Your free time is precious, so make the most of it.