As an expectant parent, there is no shortage of items on your to-do list. Along with decorating the nursery and stocking up on diapers, remember to take time out to enjoy this very special time in your life.
For many expecting couples, taking a babymoon vacation has moved to the top of the pre-baby to-do list. These "last hurrah" trips for parents-to-be provide the perfect setting to relax and reconnect as a couple before entering parenthood. Realizing that luxury vacations without diapers and bibs may be out of reach for a while, expecting couples are flocking to babymoon retreats before the stork arrives. According to a recent travel industry survey, 59% of new parents have taken a babymoon and more than two million babymoons are taken by U.S. parents-to-be each year.
The term "babymoon" was coined by British author and childbirth educator Sheila Kitzinger. Originally, it was defined as the period of time after a baby's birth that the family spends alone together, to facilitate bonding between parents and baby. In recent years, the meaning of the word "babymoon" has grown to include the pre-baby jaunts taken by expecting parents. The purpose of a babymoon is to spend time together to reconnect and nurture your relationship as a couple before becoming parents. The birth of a child can be a challenging time for new parents and making an investment in your relationship beforehand will help you get through those new challenges together.
Relaxing and reconnecting are definitely what Jennifer Elitzin had in mind when she booked her babymoon at a beach resort in South Carolina. “My husband and I wanted to soak up as much together time before things were certain to get hectic and crazy for us”, she said. For Jennifer, the most memorable part of the babymoon was taking evening strolls on the beach with her husband. “The quiet times together were very special – helping us to bond and reflect on our baby and our exciting role as parents”, she said.
The travel industry has jumped on the babymoon bandwagon by offering vacation packages that cater to moms and dads-to-be. With creative names like “Bundle of Joy”, Honeywomb” and “Great Expectations”, hoteliers are injecting plenty of fun before couples take on the serious job of parenthood. Many of these getaway packages feature spa treatments including pregnancy and couples massages, special gifts, gourmet meals and sweet indulgences such as cookies and milk at bedtime to satisfy those late night cravings. At the Glorietta Bay Inn in Coronado, California, babymooning couples are greeted with a gift basket filled with chocolates, a jar of pickles, and a Moo-time ice cream gift certificate. According to the Inn’s general manager, Holly Ansley, the popularity of the inn’s baby moon package has really soared over the past year. She has also noticed an evolving babymoon trend. “When we first started to offer this package, mothers-to-be would come 6-8 weeks before their due date. Now the trend is for expectant mothers to come between the third and sixth months so they can enjoy all aspects of the babymoon package”, said Ms. Ansley.
The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort in South Carolina was one of the first U.S. hotels to create a babymoon package. Natalie Payne, Director of Travel Industry Sales for The Sanctuary, has noticed a growing number of fathers-to-be booking the resort’s “Bliss Before the Baby” package to surprise their pregnant partners. “Babymoons have been happening for many years without a name, but now that there is a name, even more couples are saying, “that’s a great idea”, states Ms. Payne.
Couples seeking one last romantic vacation can find babymoon packages offered everywhere from five-star resorts, to charming bed and breakfast inns, to local hotels. Babymoon vacations are typically two to four nights long, but there are no hard and fast rules. If you prefer a week-long getaway, then go for it. Likewise, even an overnight babymoon at a wonderful inn or spa can be rejuvenating so don’t let time constraints keep you from taking a pre-baby getaway.
The key to a wonderful babymoon getaway is to choose a destination which appeals to both of you and will allow you to relax and enjoy your time together. This may be your last chance for a while to get away as a couple, so seize the opportunity to pamper each other before those late night feedings begin.