Is it common for new mums to have organised meetups in parks?

[Yappydogs]

Yesterday afternoon, I was out walking the dog in a local park. It's a popular park for dog walkers, joggers and others, and just a nice park to visit generally. Whilst I was making my way around, I passed a group of 6 mums sitting in a circle with their babies (along with their prams). One mum was talking to the others in the group while they sat and listened to her intently. I overheard her talking about her baby's sleep routine. I think she was sharing experiences with other mums in the group. I am assuming it was a pre-arranged new mum meetup, as it seems unlikely to me that 6 mums would have randomly been in the same park, at the same time, and just suddenly decided to have a spontaneous meetup.

Whatever it was, I thought it was a lovely idea that I am sure was a positive experience for the mums and babies concerned. I'm an old hag now, but there was nothing like that when my DCs (now adults) were still babies. I'm wondering if these mum meetups are common nowadays.

Yeah pretty common nowadays especially if they’ve met at a NCT class.

I made 2 lovely friends 16 years ago like this. Usually arranged through Facebook groups or ahem, other parenting sites!
Nothing like it nearly 30 years ago for eldest though.

I went to some baby massage classes. ( I thought it sounded mad, but was pleasantly surprised how nice it was). I discovered one of my neighbours, who lived on the other side of the road, with a baby the same age.
Some of us used to meet up in the local park, and I am still friends with my neighbour.

It’s not uncommon, no. But some of these will also be organised classes or sessions. Like a buggy fitness class or postnatal support of some kind. I used to come across a group randomly in our local wood, very similar everyone listening to someone talking. It was a natural parenting support group.

Yes, although we tended to go to each others houses, I was part of a group of 6 who met at ante-natal class. The friendships are still going strong 21 years later with the DCs grown up.

I had a set routine park date on a Monday after for my toddler with 3 other mum friends, we know it’s always in the diary but sometimes it’s just me or 2 of us, sometimes it’s all of us! It’s nice to have it set as a weekly thing but no pressure to have to organise or cancel or anything berry we are all happy enough going on our own if no one else can make it!

My dc are in twenties. We used to sometimes meet at parks .

Yes- my DD1 is 17 and we did this in London.It was through NCT /Netmums that we met and all our babies were born around the same due date.It was a godsend and stopped me going mad/ allowed me to talk babies non stop to people that also wanted to.

What a nice thread. When I saw the title and starting reading the first few few sentences I was fully expecting OP to complain about new mums being out in parks, as most threads on MN are people complaining.

A nice surprise to see a positive thread!

Yes,it was really common 24 years ago when D's was a baby.

It's not that new, OP. A lot of people find maternity leave incredibly isolating and structureless, so put structures in place that give some shape to their days.

In my village we used to meet in the local pub on a Wednesday mornings. Sometimes the public health nurse would show up and bring her weighing scales. (Ireland).

Keep in mind that many people are starting families now in quite small flats - so finding suitable “third spaces” to meet up becomes more important, since people may not have the living space to invite five (or any!) people and their prams, babies etc over.

We (antenatal group) used to do this! Took a bunch of picnic food and spent a few hours chatting, eating, feeding babies, etc. I miss those days!

Certainly was a thing when my children were pre school age, parks, soft play, walks, outdoor activity type places.

Is it the park or the meeting up element that has surprised you?

Mine are mid 20s now and we used to do this, it was a lifesaver. Also used to go round each other's houses/gardens.

Yes very common and an excellent idea. Our local park does a pram exercise walk for parents and babies

I did this 20 years ago with my NCT group. I made great friends through baby groups and activities and we’re still close today.

Yes pretty common, I used to go to a mums walking group when one of mine was a baby - it was basically go along for a walk with your baby and have a chat

My NCT group has a WhatsApp group and when we were all on mat leave would arrange things like this all the time. Now that we’re back at work we have a standing monthly meet up on a weekend (with no pressure to join). I imagine it’s common and it has been great to have that community, I feel very fortunate.

My DM is 85 and she went to NCT classes and baby & toddler groups!

I have adult DC, I met other mums through NCT antenatal classes and my HV ran an excellent postnatal group, both groups continued to meet up weekly at home, soft play or the park while we were on maternity leave and regularly at weekends after the DC started nursery. I also went to lots of baby groups and classes.

I appreciate not everyone finds friends through antenatal groups but I am surprised that so many people say that there was nothing available for new mums when their DC were little. My friends and family in my generation, from all over the country, all attended antenatal groups and baby groups. The Sure Start centres were launched in 1999. If anything, it seems like there are less free/low cost options for antenatal and postnatal groups and classes now.