Dating with a baby - experiences and advice please?

[mummymia2022]

Hello, I’m currently pregnant and going it alone, however some time after the baby is born I’d like to start dating. Can anyone give me any advice or experience on dating when you have baby? It would be much appreciated, thank you!

I wouldn’t, personally I would wait until the child is older, is there really a rush to think about this whilst pregnant? And I say that as someone who was also single whilst pregnant, I can’t imagine trying to date and having a young baby.

Don't introduce a new partner to your child until you've got to know them properly - a year minimum. Until then confine your romantic life to the times when your child isn't around. The tales you hear of children left in the sole charge of a new boyfriend are heartbreaking.

Yeah. I'd wait a looooong time. And not introduce my kid to any romantic partners unless they were going to be a permanent fixture.

I take it you don't have any other children? Babies are tiring!

You focus on your new baby instead of looking for a relationship with some random person .

I think dating might not seem as big a priority for the first year or so once baby is here ? So I'd just see how you feel then rather than worry about it now

why dont you focus on your baby and not a possible relationship...cant believe that your only thoughts is around dating...are you young? Do you have lots of support as without that i cant see how you think your going to be skipping around dating.

I think you'll feel totally different once your baby is here tbh.
You'll honestly not have anytime to give men a second thought. (Even with help)

You are quite entitled to have a life for yourself and date no matter what anyone thinks.

But I also think (and agree with above posters) that you do this in your own time and keep baby out of it until you are in an established relationship where you really know the person/met family etc.

A baby is so vulnerable and cannot tell you if something is wrong so I would not risk introducing them to anyone new at such a young age and under no circumstances would I leave them unsupervised.

Eerrrr....you've got a baby that presumably needs your attention at all hours? How do you expect to fit in dating? Tbh you should be concentrating on baby rather than self for the first few months.

Is the father of the baby likely to ge an active parent?

My “baby” is now 4 and I still haven’t dated, I do think this is an odd thing to plan, just see how you feel in time as with a new baby I think the last thing you will want to do is date, and with so much in the news recently about new partners hurting/ killing children there is a risk to bringing men into your child’s life, Sadly too many women bring men around their babies/ young children playing dad when they barely know them.

I agree with the responses and you can still find time for yourself In other ways but I’d be wary too of dating with a baby . I’d definitely focus on the baby and their stability . My friend refused to date for years and in fact until her DD was a teen to put her first! and that might be extreme but she’s brought up such an amazing , confident and happy girl . She’s now introduced a bf but only once knew her DD liked him and even then she keeps her relationship separate until sure where it’s going. I admire it and sure it must have been hard at times but they seem so happy and close

I think it's fine to think about dating when you are pregnant or have a baby.

Obviously don't introduce the person you are dating to your baby/child until you are in a long term committed relationship - if you have a good baby sitter/relative/father of the child who allows you baby-free-time then why not spend that dating of that's what you want to do?

I would say as a single person who dates - I find it hard work at times and a bit of an emotional rollercoaster, so look after yourself! X

Your baby will need you for several years.

Shelve ideas of dating for the foreseeable.

I was single from when ds was 3, and tried to date from later that year.

I found it impractical. The man I chose was a single and involved parent so should have understood, but he still found the demands of my very small child frustrating and it didn't work. It was much better to relax and enjoy my little one without complications.