Places to Meet Other New Moms

We all need to have a Mommy Time Out from the kids. Whether you are brand new to motherhood or the mom of ‘tweens and teens, all Moms need time away from the little people to unwind and vent a little. Smart moms know the power of friendship and mommy groups. Here are a few ways to connect with other moms both in person and via the web:

Join a New Mom’s Group: Start at your church or local community center or look into a online group. In New York City, Metropolitan Moms organizes outings and regular classes for moms and babies.  In Minneapolis, hip moms go to Mom Culture to plan outings aimed at providing a cultural fix. Parents in Boston rely on Boston Mamas for outing ideas--from book readings to theater performances.

Fitness: New moms are eager to reclaim their prebaby figures.  Why not build your mommy network as you build muscles and bond with baby! Stroller Strides are fitness classes for mom and baby.  The national program has franchises everywhere.  If swimming is your thing, look into a Mommy and Me class at your local YMCA or gym.  Once baby is 3 months, you can have a family splash down.  Yoga classes are idea for getting your core toned up.  In New Moms rely on the Baby & Me classes at Mala Yoga for a playdate full of downward dogs and giggles.

If the thought of an organized outing seems a little overwhelming, I suggest heading to the local coffee shop, park or playground. Wear a smile (and your baby) and you'll start meeting new moms in no time at all.

Online Options: Working moms often only have nighttime hours to bond with gal pals.  Thank goodness a slew of virtual groups provide support and saucy conversation.  Newbies to the world of social networking will love the ease of Cafe Mom for meeting moms with similar interests.

Once you've gotten the hang of this, you might consider Twitter Moms (for moms that want to keep their messages short and sweet--140 characters or less) is a fun group and you can join in the fun without having to leave the house or commit to a lengthy chat.

Remember you are not alone in your quest to get your baby to eat, sleep and communicate.