Hot Topics     Home and Family     Just for Women     Women's Health    

New moms making friends with other new moms



How to navigate a changed friendship landscape

How to navigate a changed friendship landscape


Once upon a time, support for new mothers came from an extended family, in which a crowd of aunts and cousins joined the new grandmother in teaching mothering skills, as well as helping with childcare. In our currently fragmented society, we have to seek mothers in the community for the support we need. Here are tips from Parents.com on how to forge those valuable friendships and how to deal with old friends who may now seem to live in another universe.

Reaching out to new friends

The pandemic has shut down many of the gatherings where you might meet other moms, but parks are still open. While it may feel daunting to talk to strangers, you'll find most women carrying babies, or pushing carriages and strollers, are as eager for sympathetic company as you are. Even if your baby is too young for swings and climbing bars, the playground is a good place to meet moms.

Join Facebook groups for mothers, which will allow you to connect with other moms at odd moments, such as during nighttime feedings.

More Tips: How to Make New Mommy Friends

Keeping in touch with old friends

It may feel like your former crowd has no interest in the all-encompassing world of babies, but you can still keep in touch with one friend at a time. An occasional phone call or text will help you stay connected. Eventually some of your friends will have babies of their own, and you'll have a lot to talk about again.

Coping with differences

If your new friends' parenting styles don't match your own, “Don’t offer unsolicited feedback unless you feel their practices pose a danger to your child,” advises relationship expert Suzanne Degges-White, Ph.D., a professor at Northern Illinois University. Giving too much advice may push other moms away, just when you really need them. Be tolerant of different viewpoints. The truly incompatible friendships will fade over time.

More tips: New Moms Roundup

Breaking into a scene

It may be hard to join a group that's already formed and deeply enmeshed. Asking about topics beyond babies (career choices, local family activities) can help you connect. If it takes a while to be embraced, don't fall back on high school feelings of rejection. As an adult, you have a new chance to persist and be yourself. Offer to trade babysitting and transportation duties, which will benefit both you and others.



Other articles by HVP News Reporters


  • What parents should know about Pediatric Growth Hormone Deficiency (PGHD)

    Pediatric growth hormone deficiency (GHD) is a relatively rare condition, affecting an estimated 1 in 4,000-10,000 children. read more »
  • Simplify summer with light lunches

    Bright, crunchy cucumbers are the star of this sammy

    Take the hassle out of lunch with these Cucumber Sandwiches that can be made in advance for afternoon pick-me-ups. read more »
  • Thinking about renovating?

    Check with your building department first

    From updating an outdated kitchen to adding a home office, home renovations can be exciting. Before you dive in, it’s critical to understand the local safety requirements that impact your projects. read more »
  • Your home safety checklist

    Simple steps to keep a safer, happier space

    Your home is more than just a place to live, it’s where you create memories, unwind and feel most comfortable. Yet, many household items and systems can hide potential safety risks. read more »
  • 4,000 reasons to love bees

    These little pollinators are essential to our food supply

    While most people picture the beloved honeybee when they think about bees, North America actually has 4,000 species of native bees, many of which are busy right now. read more »
  • Laying the foundation for writing

    What you can do to get them started

    Learning to write is one of the defining milestones of early childhood, but it doesn’t happen all at once. read more »
  • Choose play every day

    How to transform everyday activities into playful learning opportunities

    Play is a universal language spoken by people of all ages. Through play, children learn to forge connections with others, build a wide range of leadership skills, develop resilience, conquer fears and navigate relationships and social challenges. read more »
  • A perfect lemon and raspberry pairing

    Try this refreshing summer dessert today

    Enjoy the richness of summer with this Ooey Gooey Lemon Cake, which pairs a soft lemony cake with a sweet-tart raspberry drizzle that’s perfect for sharing with your nearest and dearest. read more »
  • How apartment renters can cut energy costs and save big

    7 tips to keep you more comfy

    With economic uncertainty and soaring housing prices putting homeownership out of reach for many Americans, apartment living is on the rise. read more »
  • A beginners guide to pruning flowering plants

    4 simple tips to keep your yard looking great

    Pruning, or the practice of removing dead or diseased branches from flowering plants – including certain herbs, vegetables, shrubs, trees and flowers – allows them to focus their energy on new growth and blossoms, which can result in a more robust and abundant flowering season. read more »