Why Would-be-Parents Should Take a Baby-moon Break? 

Baby-moon is not just another holiday. It is much more than that. 

When you ask, why would-be-parents should plan a baby-moon?

Many would say

• To enjoy a last hurrah before your parenting journey starts
• Going on a last holiday as a couple and focusing on your relationship

And that’s correct.

However, 

If you ask me, the foremost reason to go on a baby-moon is to prepare yourself for the next phase of life and celebrate it. It is for your mental health. 

Many first-time-mom (parents) feel stressed due to severe pregnancy symptoms, financial concerns, career worries and fear of the unknown.

Baby-moon is a perfect excuse to slow down and put things in perspective. 

It offers a chance to look at your situation (financial, social support, lifestyle) from a different vantage point. And prepare a game plan for the next phase of life. 

• Next 6 months – support required during childbirth, increased expenses during the fourth trimester and onwards 
• Next year – Child care support, going back to work
• Next five years – child care, mortgage

If the pregnant woman is

• Financially well-off
• Or from a functional joint family
• Or employees of a company with better maternity leave policies, like JP Morgan, Aviva, Unilever or TFL. 

Many new-parent-problems disappear in thin air. 

The reality is,

‘Over 2 million families (in the UK) with children under 5 are struggling financially or with their mental health’

The UK Committee for UNICEF

Post Pandemic Finacial crisis is making the situation worst. UK’s Maternity pay and leaves… won’t make a difference.

Most of us need to finance our maternity leave and childcare ourselves. This means we need to 

• Review our lifestyle choices 
• Make career decisions 
• Calculate upcoming expenses
• Review savings
• Analyse family and community support 

And this process in itself is not a bad thing. if you listen to any finance guru, they suggest it to everybody. 

However, would-be-parents are strongly encouraged to go through this process for easier transitioning into the parenting world. 

• Increased responsibilities
• Increased expenses
• Lack of sleep
• Isolation (Initially at least)
• Lifestyle changes
• Changes in body/health
• And experiencing emotions/love like never before (as baby grows)

But all these sudden changes and adjustments take a toll on your mental health. 

That’s why before the baby’s arrival, you need to slow down and analyse your current situation and what you will need to make life easier as a family.

I recommend a plan for the first five years. 

Success depends on previous preparation

Confucius

that’s why babymoon should be all about 

• Taking time to plan and organise for the future. 
• Accepting upcoming changes in your life 
• And focusing on your mental and physical health 

Why go away to do all this?

Because to ‘think out of the box’, sometimes, we need to be out of the box. Away from your daily responsibilities and struggles. 

I highly recommend going close to nature. 

It is proven that in nature we

• Feel happier
• Concentrate better
• Reduces stress and anxiety 
• Tend to think positive

But you don’t have to go on expensive holidays. It is about taking a break from regular life. 

• For many, (Already parents/carers ) their home is the best place to enjoy a baby-moon. 
• Some prefer an Airbnb in a local coastal town ( Babymoon in Cornwall )
• Others plan a proper vacation to mark the milestone 

My parents worked with the education department all their life. And they were serious about giving us financial education. 

‘I strongly urge every parent to impart knowledge of financial education, healthy eating and active lifestyle to their children.’ In my opinion these are life skills. 

I had My first savings account opened at the age of 10. When I received my first salary, I was told to start saving for married life and retirement. 

It was much later in life (in my 30s) I started following Scot Pape’s (Australian finance guru) three-bucket formula. It was about dividing your salary (on the day you receive your salary) into three buckets. 

1. Expenses (daily expenses +holidays)
2. For rainy days (A buffer to protect your savings)
3. Long-term savings (never use it)

Luckily my husband had a similar upbringing and thought process. And that’s the reason we were able to stay afloat during covid pandemic (2020-2021). When we were jobless for over a year and had our first baby. 

And yes, we were able to go on our first babymoon because it was part of the plan. And it was the best decision we have ever made. 

Our first baby-moon (Cornwall)

Our second baby-moon (Interlaken)

How long should be the baby moon? 

POV: At least one week. Longer the better. And something is better than nothing. 

Duration and type of babymoon can vary from person to person. 

When Should I plan Baby-moon?

• When you doctor suggests
• If and when you feel ready for it
• Second trimester is most commonly suggested time

 Think about 10 things before the baby arrives

1. When is your baby due?
2. When are you required to tell your employer?
3. What is their maternity leave and pay policy?
4. What will you need around childbirth and the fourth trimester?
   1. Pre pregnancy massage/chiropractor/physiotherapy 
   2. Childbirth plan and hospital charges
   3. Are you preparing to breastfeed or bottlefeed your baby? in both cases what will you need?
   4. Do you need to register your baby in a local surgery/GP clinic to receive health services?
   5. Things new mom will need 
      1. Hospital bag, 
      2. New mom kit
      3.  Breastfeeding mum cloths
   6. Things baby will need in first six months 
      1. Baby Nursery
      2. Baby Registry 
      3. Nappy bag 
   7. Family and friends support 
   8. What do you think about
      1. Gender reveal party 
      2. Baby shower
      3. Baby’s arrival/welcome 
   9. How will you arrange food in the fourth trimester
   10. How will you manage house cleaning, laundry, and other house chores 
5. Will you be a stay-at-home mum or go back to work?
6. If going back to work, 
   1. When will you start? 
   2. Will you work full-time, part-time or flexibly?
   3. Will you work remotely or travel to work?
7. When you start work (even if not) What childcare options you will have? 
   1. Nanny 
   2. Childminder
   3. Nursery/ preschool
   4. Family 
8. How much your choice of childcare services will cost you? 
9. Will you receive any childcare financial assistance?
10. Your salary vs expenses to go back to work – does it make financial and practical sense? 

Thinking about all these things may stress us out on our baby-moon!

That’s why you should ‘eat the frog first’. I mean think about about above mentioned 10 things before going on your baby-moon. 

During the baby-moon, you should just accept it and improve it. 

Baby-moon is about spending time together and planning for your future. 

Good Luck

XX