First night out after having a baby

If you recently have become a mum or dad you might find yourself thinking {if you have time!} about venturing out for your first night post baby. For a lot of new parents this idea can fill them with dread, as there is quite a bit to organise in order to get out the door. Sometimes the thought of being detached from your baby can seem traumatic too. But it’s important to remember that you and your other half deserve “alone” time as a couple. Having a baby can have a huge impact on your relationship so it’s key to invest special time for yourselves. With everything going on at times it can be difficult to find time to have a conversation let alone a dinner in peace!

A lot of couples arrange to have a date night, this can work really well. I know I still make an effort with my other half to do this on a regular basis. It helps if you mark it on your calendar at home to remind yourself to get off the couch and to get organised! For couples with new babies I think it is important to think about the practicality of how your first night out is going to work? If you bottle feed your baby then you will probably have a longer window to stay out than if you breastfeed for example, not only because your baby may need a feed, but also because your breasts may be full.

How do I choose a babysitter?

If like me you are lucky enough to live close to family then choosing a babysitter may be the easy part. As well as granny or grandad, aunties or uncles can come in really useful. I know that when I have lived away from home previously I have relied on other members of my NCT group to do a sitter swap evening. One night I or my partner would babysit for another couple and then it would rotate so another couple would get the opportunity to babysit for us. I have also relied on close friends too for babysitting in the past, this is lovely as most of the time friends welcome the time to spend with your child. Sometimes none of these are options and using a babysitting/nannying service can be brilliant as usually the agency will have checked all of the necessary references for you.

I have found the most important things when deciding who you will get to babysit are thinking about who you trust, who is calm and even better still are they experienced? If they are then they know what they are doing and best of all you will be able to relax knowing your baby is in safe hands!

How to prepare your babysitter?

It is really useful if you have everything prepared that your babysitter will need in advance, this may include bottles, nappies, creams, teddy, stories or anything that is part of your babies routine and is familiar to them. When I am out I always text home to check if the babysitter is ok and of course to make sure my children are safe in their beds. It is really useful from the babysitters point of view to have the number of where you are going to be or your mobile number in case of an emergency.

If you have an older child it is worth having the babysitter come over a couple of days before you go out for a little play so that your child gets to know who’s minding him or her. Floor play with toys is great for breaking the ice and also means your child will be distracted at the point when you’re leaving, which should make the goodbye easier. Don’t sneak out though, even if she’s fully engaged in what she is doing – she will get upset when she notices you have gone and it could give you problems when you plan another night out. Always say goodbye to her in a cheerful tone and don’t prolong it. Try not to appear anxious yourself – if she senses that you are worried and unhappy at leaving her it will increase her anxiety.

Most importantly HAVE FUN while you are out, take the opportunity to laugh and relax, this is so important to do with your partner or friends. As you start to take time back for yourself, you really can appreciate your family and learn to give your children your best when you are with them again!