Making friends with other moms

As much as you love your baby, there comes a time where every new mom craves adult company. Developing relationships with other new moms will not only help preserve your sanity, but could also provide easy opportunities for your little ones to socialize and play together.

Expanding Your Social Circle - How to Do it?

Start early. Strike up conversations with women in your childbirth class or the mom-to-be you often see in the OB waiting room. You'll be raising babies of roughly the same age, and you can experience parenting milestones together.

Hit the gym. Going to mom-and-baby classes at the gym or exercise studio is a great way to meet other new moms in the area. Get to chatting while your tot crawls around and gets extra tired for his next nap – it's a win-win for you both!

Get onto the forums. If you find that it's difficult to meet people, groups with websites like Meetup.com and International MOMS Club (momsclub.org) can help connect you with other moms in your area. This way you can start your friendship online, and then meet face-to-face once you get to know each other.

Set up a play date. Enlist the help of your child's teacher or caretaker to introduce you to other moms. If your child has made friends in her class, ask the moms about getting together for a playdate. While the kids play, you can work on making new (adult) friends.

Be a playground regular. Aim to take your new baby to the park at least once a week. If you go around the same time on the same days, you're likely to run into some other new moms on the same schedule.

Bottom Line

It's likely that your new mom friends' schedules are as hectic as yours, so don't worry too much if you don't get together as often. Maximize playdates by adding as many moms to your circle as possible.