Creative and Low-Cost Date Ideas for New Parents

Creative and Low-Cost Date Ideas for New Parents

Life is hectic! As first time parents, my husband and I have to be mindful to think of creative and low-cost date ideas that can include our tiny one. Here are a few ideas for our area that can be translated to wherever you live:

1. Have a picnic in the park - pack a blanket, the stroller, sandwiches, fruit, and drinks, and enjoy the beautiful weather and each other's company. This one is a personal fav! We did this at the South Carolina Botanical Gardens in January of all months and guess what, it was perfect! It happened to be a beautiful day in the upper 50’s with sunshine. We had our first trip to the gardens since our son was born and yes, he came along and loved the fresh air.

2. Take a walk or hike in nature - find a nearby trail or park and spend the day exploring and admiring the scenery. The upstate of South Carolina is full of trails and parks. Just a few to mention are Paris Mountain State Park in Greenville, The Swamp Rabbit Trail, and the Issaqueena Lake Trail. One of the main reasons I moved back to this area is because of the nature in this area. Strap that baby on and go! We use this Infantino Carrier from Amazon.

3. Have a game night - play board games, card games, or video games together for a fun and relaxed evening. As an adult, I find that game-nights around the living room seem more fun now than ever. If I feel silly playing them, even better!

4. Cook dinner together - pick a recipe, buy the ingredients, and enjoy cooking and eating a meal together. We feel like we have had to grow additional arms and legs after having our son. This includes cooking dinner but we do it! (And it saves us money!) We bring him in the kitchen with us and pray he will chill for the duration of the cook time. If he needs feeding, we can do that while being together in the kitchen.

5. Visit a farmers market or street fair - explore the sights, sounds, and tastes of your local community. Babies are little sponges, you know that! They are memorized by all the new things. A short trip out to a farmers market or street fair is a great way for us to get out, support the community, and introduce our little guy to new experiences.

6. Have a movie night at home - stream one, pop some popcorn, and snuggle up together. So, this one we do a lot. It goes without saying that new parents are stuck inside a lot. To make it more fun, we turned our living room into a movie room. My husband has set up fun LED lights all around the house so we can dim them and change colors whenever we want. Blanket forts and floor beds are always a win with movie night. Plus is that little guy sleeps through most of it.

7. Have a photography walk - bring your camera or smartphone, and capture memories and moments together. This is an obvious favorite for us! We love to connect over taking photos of our new little one to document how he is changing. And boy does he change quickly every week!

8. Try a new hobby together - whether it's painting, pottery, or woodworking, trying something new can be a fun and unique bonding experience. My husband has brought painting and refinishing furniture into my life. Watching him do this has been that bonding experience I’m talking about. Not only do we bond but we learn together and that is what the creative process is all about!