Date Night Ideas That Don’t Require A Babysitter

Date Night Ideas That Don’t Require A Babysitter

I know it’s not the most romantic idea – having your children in the background for a date – but sometimes it’s the reality of being parents. Not all of us have a family member or friend that is willing and able to take our children for a couple of hours – nor the means to pay for a babysitter. So what happens to romance?

Sometimes it’s just about making the most of the opportunities you have.

When our daughter was born our “date nights” involved my mum looking after our son – who was 3 years old – and us taking our newborn with us out with us to the beach in the evening. We’d wander and chat, get dinner, eat icecreams and walk along the foreshore. All while she slept in the pram. It wasn’t ideal, but it was better than not having done it at all.

The other side of having your children along is I think it’s actually really positive for children to see their parents being loving towards each other. Even if the older kids might squawk and squirm about a bit of PDA between their parents, but you’re role modeling intimacy and affection for them – so, there is a bit of an upside.

So here’s a few ideas you might want to utilise yourself for a date night (if not specifically Valentines Day)

  1. A Romantic Picnic.
    dont-have-a-babysitter-3

Picnics are great because you can head to a playground or a fun space for the children to run and entertain themselves, while you and your partner have a chance to chat and snuggle on the picnic blanket.

  1. A Drive In Movie.

    date-night-ideas

This is something that I haven’t actually done myself, but I would love to. Cosy up in your own car – and if you’re very lucky your children might have a nap in the back seat.

  1. Movie Night at Home

The young people are onto something with their “Netflix and Chill”. We used to go all out and “camp out” in the living room by dragging out mattress out onto the floor and watch movies together.

  1. Family Friendly Dining Out

Pulling off a meal in a public space, with proper plates and cutlery, is a bit of a trick. And the trick is picking your venue carefully. We’re extremely lucky in that there is a pub practically across the road from us that has an indoor playground. Being easy walking distance we can even enjoy a glass of wine or two with our meal, while the children play and eat their reasonably priced chicken nuggets. And what doesn’t say romance like house wine and a small child’s leftover chips?

  1.  Go for a walk to a beach or park.dont-have-a-babysitter

This works especially well if the child(ren) are will-still-sit-in-a-pram age. With baby or toddler in the pram it does ALMOST feel like alone time.

  1. Sexting
    dont-have-a-babysitter-2

Seriously, sexting is a pretty fantastic way to keep a little spark going with limited alone time. I’m pretty proud of my skill level of taking flattering selfies of my own bottom. It’s just a shame I can’t put that on a resume. (Or at least a resume for any kind of job I’d actually want…)

  1. Wine, cheese and Candles.

Wine and cheese as a meal (after the little ones have gone off to bed) is both decedant and romantic – and candles just make everything better.

  1. Dress up to your skin
    dont-have-a-babysitter-4

Before you get ready for any of these date-night ideas, slip into your sexiest lingerie, use your favourite perfume, have a bubble bath, shave your legs, wash your hair – it doesn’t have to be big, but just do the thing that makes you feel sexy and beautiful in your own skin.

Rachel Stewart

Rachel is the founder of Parenting Central. She is raising two children, boy and girl, with her partner. Rachel is obsessed prams, car seats, carriers and all things baby. She has worked in the baby industry for several years, for both suppliers and also in a retail setting and has developed a passion for connecting parents with the right products to make their lives easier. When Rachel isn't playing with prams she's enjoys crocheting, drinking coffee (sometimes wine) and spending a little too much time on Facebook.

Related Articles