Rekindling the Romance: Advice for Exhausted Couples After Welcoming a New Baby
Bringing a new baby into the world is an exciting but exhausting experience. It can be difficult to find time to reconnect with your partner after welcoming a new bundle of joy. In this guest post, Emily Graham presents some tips and tricks that will help make this transition easier and help you two rekindle the romance. Emily Graham is the creator of Mighty Moms. She believes being a mom is one of the hardest jobs around and wanted to create a support system for moms from all walks of life. On her site, she offers a wide range of info tailored for busy moms -- from how to reduce stress to creative ways to spend time together as a family.
Be Patient with One Another
Having a baby is emotionally and physically draining, so it’s important to be patient with one another during this time. Take some time to acknowledge each other’s feelings and struggles, as well as celebrate successes together. This will help foster open communication between you two and make it easier for you both to work together as a team in raising your little one.
Focus on Listening and Communicating
It can be difficult to find time for meaningful conversations when life just seems like chaos. Make sure that even if you don’t have much time, you are still making an effort to listen and communicate with one another about what is going on in your lives. This will ensure that even if things get busy, there is still an understanding between the two of you about what needs to be done or what struggles either of you may be facing.
Start Making Healthy Decisions Together
Believe it or not, making healthier decisions together can be a great way to rekindle that connection as a couple. For example, starting an exercise routine together can not only be a fun way to bond, but it can also help improve overall physical health and increase energy levels. Learning how to cook healthier meals and trying out new recipes is another great way to create a shared experience and prioritize a healthier lifestyle. Whatever the activity may be, the point is to do it together, as a team, and to support each other in the process. By making healthy decisions as a couple, new parents can strengthen their relationship and create a healthier future for themselves and their families.
Share Responsibilities
When caring for a newborn, it’s important that both parents share responsibilities equally so no one feels overwhelmed or taken advantage of. Talk openly about how each person can contribute, and don’t forget to give yourself breaks. Taking care of yourself is essential in taking care of your little one too!
Find Support
Having family or friends nearby who can lend a helping hand can make all the difference when adjusting to life with a newborn. Don’t hesitate to reach out for support, whether it’s asking someone to watch the baby while you take a nap, having them cook dinner while you take some alone time, or just having someone come over who can lend an ear as needed throughout this transition period.
Plan Date Nights
It might seem impossible at first, but planning date nights are essential for keeping the spark alive in any relationship — especially after bringing home a newborn. While it may be difficult to plan ahead or find someone to watch the baby, even just taking a walk around the block together can make all the difference. And if you live in a high walk score neighborhood, chances are there are parks and places nearby to catch your attention. Whether it's going out for dinner or staying in watching movies snuggled up together on the couch — make sure that every once in a while, you two are taking some quality time away from being parents so that you can focus on being partners again too.
Schedule Alone Time
With all the hustle and bustle of parenthood comes exhaustion — so taking some alone time here and there will help both parties recharge their batteries so they can come back feeling refreshed. Whether it's scheduling regular naps or having someone else watch the baby while each parent takes turns doing something they enjoy (like reading/working out/taking walks etc.) - finding ways to incorporate alone time into your daily/weekly routine will help keep everyone feeling energized.
Make Intimacy A Priority
Intimacy doesn't always have to mean sex — but making physical contact, such as cuddling up close while watching TV or snuggling up close before bedtime, helps couples stay connected even when life gets hectic. Additionally, wearing flirty nightgowns or pajamas around the house (or slipping away into another room) helps keep things interesting too.
Becoming parents is an exciting yet exhausting experience that requires patience, understanding, communication, support systems, scheduling alone-time, and making intimacy a priority. These tips should help exhausted couples reconnect after welcoming their newest addition. With these best practices in place, you should feel confident about your ability to navigate through parenthood successfully together.