You may have had tons of friends pre-baby, but as soon as you become a mom, you realize that good friends are harder to make and keep. We get the lowdown from experts and real-world moms on how you can make mom friends and keep them.
Look for activities where you'll find other moms
“I love all kinds of exercise, so while I do enjoy and rather prefer going to the gym on my own, I also look for fun exercise classes in my neighborhood where other moms stay active too. Me and my group of closest mom friends met at a post-baby yoga class way back when. Today, my group of friends has grown, thanks to a physical trainer we all love and work out together with.”
— Johanna Torres, Mom.com editor and mom of three
Find moms with similar interests
“This can be a tricky one, if your kids are a little older, since you won’t be interacting with the moms at school as much. I’ve found that the best way to meet new people is by going to yoga, taking a Zumba class or other exercise class, or getting into some kind of hobby. You’ll find moms with similar interests and hopefully make some new friends in the process.”
— Mary Hawkins, Mom.com editor and mom of one
Stick around at playdates!
“Don’t be afraid to say yes when someone asks for a favor. Ask for a favor too. Some great friendships are formed this way! Stick around for a playdate instead of just dropping off the kids. Host a ‘moms night in.'”
— Menucha Citron Ceder, author, blogger, and mom of two
Don't be shy
“Find Facebook groups for moms in your community. Don’t be shy, introduce yourself, and offer a playdate at your local park. Look for ongoing events in your community. For example, our local library has story time often. I’ve made friends there by being a frequent visitor.”
— Bonnie Gonzalez, mom of two
Organized sports for your child can help
“Organized sports for your child or community center activities for your child are great. There’s nothing else for the moms to do but sit and watch, so it’s a great way to strike up an easy convo.”
— Ashleigh Adams, mom of one
Mommy groups are the answer
“Mommy groups! Online or IRL — doesn’t matter. I was really alone after having my daughter and not going back to work immediately. All my mom friends were working Monday through Friday, so I needed to connect with moms who were on my schedule. Joining groups online that did meetups IRL was amazing and really helped me through a challenging time.”
— Nicole Coppola, mom of two
Get active in your community
“Get involved! Do things in your community while the kids are at school, like joining mom groups, going to morning Bible study, or other faith-group events, volunteering, getting involved with school parent programs, pitching in whenever needed, etc. You should also bring your kids to local events that are free for kids on a regular basis.”
— Gina Badalaty, mom of two
Make a point to talk to people
“Go to the park or indoor bounce house, seek out events in your neighborhood for families, and make it a point to actually talk to someone. Or join a mommy-and-me group, connect with moms there, and then see about setting up a playdate. ”
— Erika Santos, mom of one
Say hi and ask about their child
“Say hi and ask questions about their child, then them. If there’s a connection between the kids, propose getting them together and offer to bring coffee or tea.”
— Ellen G., mom of two
