My toddler accidentally sparked a McDonalds Playland evacuation by coating a slide with diarrhea-diaper residue.

"What’s the matter?" asked my husband, Lars.

I gulped. "I’m banned from Mc-" My words broke off abruptly as hormones from my twin pregnancy combined with his sympathetic look to unleash tears.

"That’s it," Lars said. "You need a break. I’m getting a baby-sitter and taking you on a date!"

I stared at him, puzzled.

"You know," he said. "No kids. No interruptions. No leaking diapers."

Suddenly the "date" concept came back to me. "That does sound vaguely familiar," I said.

A week later we pampered ourselves with a candlelit dinner and a movie with real actors instead of cartoon characters. Our date was a successful break that turned into a habit. A year later Lars and I are still dating, giving our romance a jump-start twice a month.

"Every couple needs to have time devoted specifically to them. It provides a space for husband and wife to talk without being interrupted or being listened to by little ears," says Les Parrott, Ph.D, author of "Relationships: Making Bad Relationships Better and Good Relationships Great." and co-director of Seattle Pacific University’s Center for Relationship Development. "Since communication is the lifeblood of every marriage, this alone is enough to underscore the value of a night out without the kids."

Just Do It
Joe Robinson of Charlestown, R.I. feels alone time with his wife is very important. He schedules at least one date night per month with his wife. "We have to plan them at least a month ahead of time," he says. "But it’s worth it. Even if it’s just dinner and a movie, we can be focused on each other for a few hours."

Yet fears over the safety and happiness of your child in a baby-sitter’s care can dampen the romance. Two months after his daughter Autumn was born, Robinson and his wife ventured out, nervous even though Autumn was safe and happy with Grandma.

Although they talked about the baby almost the whole time, they still enjoyed alone time together and now schedule dates regularly. "Jess and I were a couple before the baby," Robinson says. "It’s important to remain a couple after the baby and to keep the relationship healthy and alive."

Don Smythe, father of four in Salt Lake City, Utah, also plans regular date nights. His and his wife’s outings have ranged from attending a Utah Jazz game to roasting hot dogs and marshmallows over a mountain campfire. "At first, leaving the kids was hard for my wife and me," he says. "But date nights have really strengthened our marriage."

Carl Ream, a Florida father of three, recently enjoyed his first child-free date with his wife since the birth of 3-month-old Kasie. It had been so long since they dated, the couple couldn’t think of anything to do. But then they remembered the nearby beach. "Off we went to a local beach club that plays island music, has amazing sunsets and -- hold onto your hats -- serves frozen tropical drinks - with liquor," Ream says.

He and his wife vowed not to talk about the kids, but crumbled when they spied a stroller at the next table. They spent the rest of the evening sharing parenting war-stories and triumphs with another couple. Despite the baby talk, Ream declared the night out a success and the couple plans to enjoy more of them.

He credits some of his enjoyment to his cell phone. "By carrying the cell phone, we are assured that if something comes up we will get the call, and therefore we can relax and enjoy the evening," he says.

Relationships 101
Between date nights, Robinson admits it can be tough keeping romance in his marriage. He kisses his wife hello before going to the baby and tries to always keep his wife’s feelings in mind. "It’s important for my wife to feel just as important as Autumn," he says.

Sometimes the couple ekes out quality time after Autumn goes to bed.

Ream sometimes draws a bath for his wife, lights candles, pours her a glass of wine and takes the baby to the other end of the house so she can soak undisturbed. He recommends husbands bring home an inexpensive single rose from a convenience store, while stopping to pick up baby formula. Or, he says, let your wife sleep in on Saturday and surprise her with bagels. "Kiss often and treat her like you did when you were dating!" Ream says.

And talk often about your love life. "It is so easy to put romance on the back shelf while all the focus is being placed on the baby," Parrott says. "But this creates a potential pattern that can linger too long." Couples need to talk about where they are individually on their passion and intimacy scales, he says. Talking about a potential problem can propel couples to do something about it. "It’s hard to think about romance with kids and a busy work schedule, but it’s important. Alone time is like oxygen to a marriage. It can’t survive without it."

So what are you waiting for? Schedule a date night without the kids and bolster YOUR romance!