Time for a Babymoon? Why a Pre-Baby Getaway is Worth It!

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You're pregnant and glowing, and you and your partner are anticipating the big day. But before the groggy, late-night feedings begin and the sleep deprivation sets in, why not get the heck out of dodge? That's right, grab your partner and embark on a babymoon!

What is a Babymoon?

Hotels are offering moms- and dads-to-be the indulgence of "getting away from it all" with coveted snuggle time in elegant accommodations with scenic views, keepsake gifts at check-in, pregnancy body pillows, in-room movies, relaxing CDs of lullabies, gift certificates to local restaurants and baby clothiers, gift baskets of pregnancy-friendly goodies, milk and cookies at bedtime, and breakfast in bed. Other luxuries these babymoon packages offer include vegetables and fruit trays served daily, couples massages and various spa treatments, poolside dining, complimentary parking, roundtrip airport transfers, late checkout—and yes—even pickles and ice cream for her, and cognac and cigars for him.

Travel-savvy couples today, who most likely have two wage earners and more income to spend on these getaway splurges, are taking advantage of the precious time they have together alone before "baby makes three," according to many hoteliers. Indeed, this is a huge market to, well, cuddle, as there are approximately six million pregnancies every year throughout the United States, according to the American Pregnancy Association.

The term "babymoon," once coined by British author and childbirth educator Sheila Kitzinger, has been defined as the important time a family spends together alone during a baby's first few days of life. This alone time helps mothers and fathers bond with their baby as well as adjust to their new roles as parents; however, the travel industry sees this babymoon time as a way to appeal to a specialized market—even before the bundle of joy arrives.

Pampering Parents-To-Be

Jessica Solberg, who lives in the Lake Tahoe area and now has twins, says it was her idea to take a babymoon with her husband at Bodega Bay Lodge and Spa in Northern California last year when she was six months pregnant. "You just get so caught up in day-to-day work," she says. "It helped us to appreciate the magnitude of what was about to happen." Even though she couldn't participate in strenuous activities, she was able to enjoy short day trips to nearby farmers markets and antique shops, and says the relaxing time away with her husband at a nice location was invaluable. Plus, her husband was able to do something he enjoys but that he couldn't do from home—take a run on the beach right from their door.