Valentine’s Day as a Parent
It’s wonderful to have a day set aside to celebrate the one that we love, and to feel cherished by someone who cares about you. But feeling obligated to have a ‘special day’ isn’t always great for us or our relationships. Expectations of the day and the pressure to be more in love and happier than ever can put a strain us.
My tops tips for surviving (and enjoying!) Valentine’s day this year:
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- Plan ahead. If you are going to go out you will need to arrange childcare. Make sure you find someone that you feel comfortable with so that you can actually relax and enjoy your evening rather than feeling stressed out. If you aren’t ready to leave your baby for the evening, then do not feel pressured to do so. You can also celebrate on any day you choose, it doesn’t have to be actually on Valentine’s day!
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- Get creative! You can create something really romantic in the comfort of your home. This could be a candlelit picnic in your front room, your favourite takeaway or even just setting aside some time together, away from your phone and the TV, to talk and re-connect with one another.
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- Give the gift of time – most parents struggle to get enough ‘me’ time. This might be running a bath for your partner, or taking turns to have a lay in this weekend, or even recruiting a babysitter for a couple of hours so that you can go out for a lunch or a walk together.
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- Make sure you are on the same page with your expectations. If one of you makes a grand gesture and the other barely acknowledges the day it could create a bad vibe.
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- Make time for your friends – Valentine’s Day doesn’t need to just be about romance. Planning time with your friends to have fun and connect can be a lovely way to celebrate.
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- Family fun – enjoying Valentine’s Day as a family can be a fun way to include your children in the day. Plan their favourite dinner and light a candle – even beans on toast can feel special by candlelight!
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- Match your expectations to your budget – many of us are a little more stretched when we become parents. A little love note, or small gesture is just as valuable as an extravagant gift.
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- Take the opportunity to re-connect. When we become parents our focus is naturally on our little one’s and our partners can feel neglected, as can we. We all want to feel appreciated and cared for. Affection sometimes takes a back seat when baby arrives. You may not be ready for sexual intimacy yet, but remember that a cuddle, or even holding hands goes a long way.
Valentine’s Day means different things to different people – whether you choose to ignore it, go hearts and flowers crazy, or make a small gesture of affection to your loved ones, remember to look after yourself and focus on what you want and need, not what you think you’re expected to do.
Available from newborn to 4 years old, our courses are designed to help you learn how you can support your child to sleep better.
We share all the information you need to help you really understand your little one’s sleep and how to help them achieve more predictable naps and restful nights – all from your own computer, phone or tablet whenever it suits you.
Early Days & Foundations of Sleep: 0-5 Months
This course will teach you how you can work towards great sleep habits, without ‘sleep training.’ It provides gentle solutions for settling and works towards the end goal of a settled night’s sleep, whilst understanding and responding to your baby’s needs.
Sleep Success: 6-9 Months
This course covers a range of topics including the science of sleep, sleep associations, creating a great sleep environment, a suggested daily routine and a choice of settling methods including how to make gradual changes. The course will lead you through step by step how to create your own sleep plan to support your baby to sleep in their own sleep space.
Sleep Success: 10-18 Months
This course covers a range of topics including the science of sleep, sleep associations, creating a great sleep environment, a suggested daily routine, the transition from two naps to one and a choice of settling methods including how to make gradual changes. The course will lead you through step by step how to create your own sleep plan to support your baby to sleep in their own sleep space.
Sleep Success: 1.5 – 4 years
This course which covers a range of topics including the science of sleep, sleep associations, creating a great sleep environment, potential sleep disturbances in this age group, a suggested daily routine, the transition from cot to bed, dropping the daytime nap, early waking and a choice of settling methods including how to make gradual changes. The course will lead you through step by step how to create your own sleep plan.