I’ve always had a problem making friends as an adult so now being a parent for a while I didn’t know how to make mom friends. I thought I figured out the secret to making mom friends and then COVID-19 hit. It’s easier to face the challenges of motherhood when you have a community behind you.

If you are looking for a way to make mom friends in your local area, you can try services like MeetUp.com. Click here for a forum of ways to meet moms in your local area. Even if you love the girlfriends you already have, you’ll probably want to extend your circle to include more parents once you start spending more time changing diapers and pushing a stroller.

This post is about how to make mom friends.

On the other hand, making new friends can feel as awkward as dating, and you’re already pressed for time and energy when you’re caring for young children.

Use these tips to make connecting with mom friends more productive and less stressful. I’ve been told it’s the secret to being successful in the making mommy friends field.

How to Meet Mom Friends:

1. Start early. Once you bring your baby home from the hospital, you’re likely to be short on free time. Get a headstart on making mom friends by reaching out while you’re expecting. Introduce yourself to other patients in your obstetrician’s waiting room and chat with other customers at baby boutiques.
2. Think local. Focus on finding friends who live nearby so you can maintain regular contact. Research the places in your neighborhood where parents hang out.
3. Spread the word. Let your family, friends, and coworkers know that you want to meet other parents. They may see a couple with a child the same age as yours.
4. Go online. Try out the growing number of apps designed for bringing mom friends together. Many of them are free. You could also browse for local chapters of parenting groups like La Leche League or Stroller Strides.
5. Visit the playground. Traditional approaches still work too. Pick a time of day when your child tends to be calm, and head out to play on the swings and slides. Bring exciting toys along to encourage other children and parents to come to you.
6.  Work out. New mothers often flock to gyms and exercise studios. Sign up for prenatal classes and return for Mommy and Me yoga sessions.

Making Friends as a Mom

1. Take the initiative. Have the courage to make the first move if you see another mother who seems compatible. She’ll appreciate your thoughtfulness if she’s trying to make new friends too.
2. Become a regular. Increase your odds of making a lasting connection by frequenting the same spots at the same time of day. Maybe you’ll want to visit a famous coffee shop right after the morning rush each weekday.
3. Schedule a playdate when you hit it off with another mother, exchange contact information, and suggest a playdate. That way, you’ll have an hour or two to get to know each other better.
4.  Arrange a single time if you’re craving adult conversation, set aside some quiet time to engage. Have a chat over a cup of coffee while your children nap. Go for a walk together while your children lie quietly in their strollers.
5. Be flexible. Your mom’s friends may be different from the friends you chose when you were single. While it’s fun to discover you have plenty of common ground, you may appreciate having someone around to provide companionship during the workweek or share leads for daycare centers and children’s movies. If you want to read my story about overcoming postpartum depression and anxiety, click here to read.
6. Resist comparisons. Parents sometimes feel pressured to look flawless, and social media can add to the strain. Remember that the most fulfilling friendships are those where you can relax and be authentic. Enjoy being yourself instead of trying to keep up with an unrealistic standard.
7. Find a mentor. You might find it especially valuable to touch base with parents who have more experience or demonstrate a parenting style that you admire. You can learn a lot from such real-life examples. This is the secret sauce no one talks about.

Take the anxiety out of making new mom friends. As you build your community, you’ll benefit from having more significant validation and support, and you’ll be helping other mothers to enjoy the same advantages. Most importantly, you’ll prepare yourself to parent more effectively. To me, that is the best secret to making mom friends.

This post was about how to make mom friends.