How to Make Parent Friends: Strategies to Meet Other Moms and Dads

Whether you’re in the early weeks of maternity leave or preparing your child for middle school, having mom friends who relate to what you’re going through can be a lifeline. Who better to understand the sleepless nights with a teething toddler—or screen time negotiations with a grade schooler—than someone experiencing the same thing?

With many adults now fully vaccinated, and schools set to open this fall, there are more opportunities to meet other parents and spend time nurturing meaningful friendships.

5 Ways to Make New Parent Friends

If you find your social skills a bit rusty after many months of social isolation, you’re not alone. Luckily, more places to meet other parents are now opening up, and many of them provide natural conversation starters. And there’s no need to abandon the virtual world entirely. Even if you’re ready to meet in real life, there are still lots of opportunities to make new mom friends online.

1. Download an app to find mom friends. 

Peanut follows the model of popular dating apps: You upload a photo and add some basic info, like your kids’ ages, then pick a few descriptors that fit you—examples include crafty, outdoorsy, military, and LGBTQ+. You then swipe up or down on profiles of local moms with shared interests.

 

 

 

 

 

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2. Join a neighborhood-specific parent email listserv or Facebook group. 

If the idea of putting out a call for friends in these places is too intimidating, you might find the baby bouncer you were looking for instead, as well as a friendly conversation with the mom who’s selling it. Are you a dad or is your partner looking for a group of other dads to socialize with? Check out City Dads Group to find a group near you!

3. Strike up a conversation with another parent at school pick-up or drop off.

If your child comes home singing the praises of a classmate, why not let their parent know when you see them at morning drop off? If everyone is a new face, you can always ask their child’s grade, class, or name to get the conversation started. Fundraisers and school events provide other natural on-ramps to more meaningful talk. If you’re off to grab a coffee after drop off, ask them to join, and if you’re off to the playground after pick-up, do the same.

4. Introduce yourself at the playground or park. 

No matter how old your child is, the more time you spend in your local park, the more familiar faces you’re likely to find. Introduce yourself to the mom you see pushing her stroller every day or sitting near the sandbox at the playground. Ask their children's names and ages, which street they live on, or which school their children attend, to get the ball rolling.