How to Celebrate Valentine's Day with (or without) your Baby

Remember way back when Valentine's day was a romantic dinner, complete with chocolate and flowers, with your spouse? Remember when you weren't knee deep in baby poop and vomit? If you're having a hard time remembering the last date with your spouse, Valentine's Day is the perfect excuse to plan something.

If you've been lucky enough to secure a sitter, here are some fun date ideas:

Make reservations at your favorite restaurant

Okay so this one may seem pretty obvious, but you should never underestimate the power of a romantic dinner - especially a kid-free one. Because Valentine's Day reservations fill up fast, it's best to schedule in advance. Nothing is worse than hitting up the pizza joint because your favorite restaurant is booked.

Go wine tasting

Head to your local winery or brewery and do some tasting. It's a fun way to reconnect with each other while sharing your opinion on which wine or beer you like best. Just don't overdo it, because nobody wants to be hungover taking care of a baby the next day.

Take a cooking class

Cooking classes are a great way to bond with your significant other. Taking a cooking class is a fun way to try something new and to work together. And the best part? You don't have to wash the dishes.

Plan a day trip or weekend getaway

Skip town and enjoy some serious one-on-one time as you explore a new part of town. If you can't get away for an entire weekend, plan a fun day trip. Be sure to plan some activities but leave some room for spontaneity - you don't have to plan every single minute, let the day guide you.

And there are plenty of options if you just can't leave baby...

Put baby to bed early

This way you'll have plenty of "alone time" with your spouse. You'll have free time to watch a movie together, cook together, or anything else that sounds like fun. You don't have to feel guilty about putting your kids to bed early, you need your grown up time too!

Make some special desserts

Valentine's day was made for sweet treats! If your child is old enough, try making cupcakes or frosted sugar cookies together. And if your baby isn't quite old enough, make a special treat like chocolate covered strawberries for you and your significant other.

Play a family game

Sometimes getting out of the house and dressing up is nice, but if you're not in the mood for a fancy dinner out, set up a nice dinner at home. But on some soft music, dim the lights and serve up your favorite foods.

Tell us: How will you celebrate Valentine's Day?