Most new parents spend all their time and energy on their new bundle of joy. This means that if you are a new parent, you most likely spent the time leading up to Valentine's Day shopping for red and pink outfits, purchasing Valentine's Day cards, buying love-themed board books, and grabbing last-minute snacks for daycare parties. However, if you are married, focusing solely on your little one(s) can affect your relationship, not just around the holidays. So, we've thought of a few tips to help keep your marriage and romance alive, even as new parents.

Communicate

Yes, we've all heard that communication is key in any relationship. Still, it can be hard to communicate when you are on little sleep, covered in spit-up, stressed about everything, and the dishes are building up in the sink. So, make sure to consciously take the time to have open and honest conversations with your partner about how you're feeling and what you need in terms of support.

Listen

While it's important to tell your partner what you need or feel, it's critical for you to listen as well. Listen to each other's perspectives and find ways to compromise and work together as a team. Listening will help you better understand each other and strengthen your bond.

Spend Alone Time Together

Prioritize quality time together. Trust us, your family and friends are probably begging to watch your little one, so take the help and have a date night once a week or plan a weekend getaway. If you don't have close family or friends or aren't comfortable leaving the house, create your own date night with a cozy atmosphere (think candlelight, music, and a nice meal). The important thing is to have undivided attention and focus on each other.

Show Affection

Parents get so caught up in parenting that sometimes they take having their spouse for granted. Your spouse may feel like all your affection is going to the baby. So, try incorporating small gestures like leaving love notes for each other, bringing home small surprises, or showing physical affection with hugs and kisses. These little things can help keep the romance alive and make your spouse feel loved and appreciated.

Take "Me" Time

Finally, remember to take care of yourself. As a new parent, it's easy to put your own needs on the back burner. But it's important to remember that to have a solid and healthy relationship, both partners need to prioritize their own happiness and well-being. So, take a relaxing bath, get a massage, and actually sleep while the baby sleeps! Just make sure to carve out time for self-care.

Being a new parent is one of the most exhilarating and exhausting times, so it is essential not to lose sight of your relationship with your partner. By prioritizing quality time, open communication, small gestures of affection, and self-care, you can keep the romance alive and strengthen your bond as a couple.