When I was pregnant with Graham, we didn’t take a babymoon. We’ve always been a couple that goes on dates, even after we got married, so it just didn’t seem like it was all that important. Plus, we had SO much to do to get ready for the baby! A babymoon was not high on our priority list. Not too long after we learned that we were expecting our second child, we decided we wanted to go away for a few days, just the two of us. I wanted to share our thought process and our strategies to make it happen without spending too much money (or any money at all!).

Why did we go?

Graham is so young as we’re expecting our second (he will be just over 2 years old when Foster is born), and we haven’t really gotten to go away together since he was born. Date nights are awesome, but we felt like we needed a little more time than that. We also knew that it would likely be a while before we got to go on another extended trip as a couple (without kids), so we wanted to seize the opportunity.

We also thought it would be a good way to get Graham used to the idea of us being away for a few days. Since he won’t be staying with us while we’re in the hospital, a trial run seemed like a good idea.

What did we do?

We went the relaxation route and booked a stay in Hilton Head, SC. Most of our pre-baby vacations were fast paced, see-and-do-everything style (we went to New York City on our honeymoon!), but we wanted some time to relax and just hang out together – no rushing around trying to sightsee. We didn’t just sit in the hotel room the whole time – we did all sorts of fun things together and explored, but it was at a leisurely pace. On our 4 day, 3 night trip we visited the Hilton Head lighthouse, ate at some fantastic local restaurants, played mini-golf, hung out on the beach, went swimming in the pool, played cornhole, went canoeing (we almost died, I don’t recommend doing this in alligator-infested water at 7 months pregnant… center of gravity is not your friend at this point), and even just ordered pizza in our hotel room and watched a show one night. It was perfect.

What didn’t we do?

We didn’t talk that much about having a baby. It wasn’t a conscious decision to leave that out of the conversation, but we got to reconnect and talk as husband and wife, not just mom and dad. That was really nice.

Was it worth it?

Absolutely, positively, yes. I literally took 5 photos on my phone (the only photos in this post) the entire time we were there. That’s because we were just slowing down and enjoying our time without kids and responsibilities. It was amazing.

How can I afford to go on a babymoon when I’m already shelling out a bunch of cash for a baby?

Whether it’s your first kid or your 5th, you’re going to have to spend money on them. I totally get that. There are ways to make a babymoon happen entirely for free or at least to get a great deal on a little vacation for the two of you. Here are my tips for babymooning for free and on a budget:

Free Babymoon

• Stay at home but send your kids (if you already have kids) wherever they’ll be staying for the time you’re in the hospital. It will be a good trial run and you’ll get some time to yourselves.
• If you don’t have time to take off work, make it short. Even if it’s a quick weekend alone, it will do you good to have that time together.
• Even if you’re staying at home, you can still relax. Clean the house before the babymoon begins, “unplug” (try to avoid the TV, your cell phone, computer, etc.), and set yourself up for relaxing time as a couple.

Budget Babymoon

• Consider how much you can spend and either budget for it from the beginning of your pregnancy or make sure you’ve got it easily covered by the time you’re set to babymoon.
• If you’re planning to go away somewhere, why not drive? It’s usually cheaper (and more comfortable for a pregnant lady!) than flying and you’ll get some quality time in the car.
• Get a nice hotel for cheaper than you normally would. I wrote a post about our favorite way to save on a hotel and this has saved us SO much money over the years. Give it a look when you’re booking a place! If you’re a little more adventurous, consider camping. I just wouldn’t recommend it if you’re planning your babymoon in the warmer months because you’ll already be uncomfortable at that point even with air conditioning.
• Don’t overbook your activities. Even if you’re going on an adventure together – as opposed to a relaxing, beachy getaway – give yourselves time to just be together. Take walks, go to a local restaurant, and so on. This will save you money and help you relax just a bit.

I can’t recommend a babymoon enough. Have you ever vacationed before having a baby? What tips do you have for couples considering a little time away together?