Valentine’s Day is all about celebrating the ones you love. As a family, your Valentine’s celebrations might look different than they once did. 

Your romantic dinner plans could change to a cozy evening together at home. Or a weekend getaway might look like a picnic in the park. Don’t think of these changes as negative. Embrace the evolving nature of your life as you celebrate your additional little loves. 

Redefining Valentine’s Day as a Family

Being a mom means transitioning. You go from what you’re used to into something completely new. 

Enjoying Valentine’s Day as a family means welcoming new:

• Traditions
• Celebrations
• Activities
• Memories

Mindfully prepare to highlight the joys of Valentine’s Day as a family. Relish this sweet time with your loves and let go of past traditions holding you back. 

Intentional Celebrations at Home

Having little ones means doing much more at home. After all, prepping your baby for a day on the town or a night out is a massive task. Enjoying time together at home keeps everyone comfortable and ensures you have all the essentials on hand. 

Prepare ahead of time to spend Valentine’s Day as a family with fun activities everyone will enjoy. Choose one your family will love or go all-out with a family Valentine’s Day festival filled with fun.

Family Valentine’s Day activities everyone will love:

• Cook up something special. Heart-shaped pizza, waffles, and cookies are always a crowd-pleaser. If your babe’s not ready for solids yet, try a variety of red food purees or smoothies. After all, everyone knows the true way to someone’s heart is through their stomach.
• Dress for the occasion. Just because you’re a mom doesn’t mean you can’t still be a show-stopper. And spending Valentine’s Day at home doesn’t mean you can’t break out fancy outfits. Try to incorporate reds, pinks, or florals to help set the mood. Littles can show off bows, costume jewelry, or bow ties. 
• Read love stories. No matter the age, kiddos love to cuddle up with mom and dad and listen to a book. Try out some of your childhood favorites or explore the latest love-themed reads. Now’s the perfect time to start the tradition of reading every year. 
• Get crafty. Break out the scissors, glue, colorful paper, pompoms, stickers, and whatever else you can find. Work together to create beautiful decorations for your home. You can share the love by making DIY cards to send to family and friends. 
• Get them moving. When your little one is active and ready for a challenge, try a Valentine’s Day scavenger hunt. Hide hearts or some of their favorite stuffed animals around the house and send them off on the hunt. They’ll love running and collecting the lost things. You’ll love all the smiles and giggles as they search. 
• Incorporate Valentine-themed sensory play. Let your baby explore new textures, scents, sounds, and even tastes. Valentine’s decorations are a sensory playground. You can easily find items that are feathery, silky, or fuzzy. Add in dried flowers, perfumed pieces, and smooth fabrics. Let your babe discover through hands-on exploration. 
• Make time for each other. Be intentional about how you spend your time on Valentine’s Day. Don’t get too caught up in trying to make everything perfect. 

Reignite the Romantic Flame

Spending Valentine’s Day as a family doesn’t mean it can’t be the romantic, steamy holiday it once was for you and your partner. Before you were mommy and daddy, you were a couple who sought after each other. 

Put your little one down for the night, hire a babysitter, or enlist the grandparents for a couple of hours. Do whatever you can to make time for romance on Valentine’s Day. 

Here are some ideas for a quick Valentine’s date when the fancy dinner reservation isn’t possible. 

• Play a game. Couples games are a fun way to see your partner on a different level. Games range from silly questions for strengthening connections to a spicy evening. 
• Take a walk. Get out of the house together without your baby. Turn off all distractions and simply talk to each other. It’s easy to forget our partner’s feelings during exhausting days and sleepless nights. Let them know you care about them and want to know how they’re handling all the life changes.
• Build a Valentine’s fort. Turn an ordinary area into a serene, romantic getaway. Any space can become magical with a few candles, mood music, and a picnic with your favorite foods. 
• Share memories. Your days are filled with baby pictures and discussing the beautiful milestones. Instead, spend time with your love reliving memories of the two of you together. Think back to when you were dating, funny wedding stories, and special moments shared between you before you were parents. 
• Kiss. Kissing can naturally slip away the more comfortable we become in our relationship. And with a little one, who has time for anything more than a peck on the cheek? Use Valentine’s Day as your springboard to begin intentionally kissing your partner for a minimum of 15 seconds at least once a day. It’s amazing the sparks one kiss can create.
• Make connecting a priority. When getting more than a few seconds without your baby isn’t possible, you have to get creative. Bring in activities like the MiniMat to give you a few minutes of hands-free time. While your baby engages with the interactive mat, reconnect over a cup of coffee or a bite of lunch. 

If romance has been pushed to the back burner, intentionally rekindle it with your partner this Valentine’s Day. 

Celebrating Valentine’s Day as a family is a beautiful time. Enter this season prepared to show love to your growing family and make new memories together.