Tell Fairy Non Bio about how you and your DC make friends - win a £300 voucher! NOW CLOSED

[JustineBMumsnet]

As part of our partnership with Fairy Non Bio, we’ve produced the Mumsnet Babies Podcast. There are ten episodes in the series and episode 7, which you can listen to here, is about making friends and being nice. When you get the chance, Fairy Non Bio would like you to listen to the podcast and share your thoughts - not just about the new friends you’ve made since having a baby, but also about how your baby socialises with other children.

Whether you go to parenting groups and classes in your spare time or not, making friends as a new mother isn’t always easy. Have you felt like it can be isolating, and that you have nothing in common with the other mothers in your area (apart from the presence of your tiny children)? Or perhaps you’ve found that parenting can be a reason to bond with other people, even if it’s just a case of having someone to grumble with about sleepless nights and dirty nappies? And of course it would be negligent to forget to mention Mumsnet as a platform on which mums can socialise and make new friends!

And then, as your baby gets older, their social life may become the minefield you need to navigate. Have you been mystified by your little one's’ ability to make best friends with complete strangers in the playground? Perhaps you’ve struggled to deal with getting them to share nicely with other children?

Whatever your experiences of friendship during early motherhood, post on the thread below and you’ll be entered into a prize draw to win a £300 Love2Shop voucher!

If you’d like to rate the Mumsnet Babies Podcast, please go to the iTunes store and leave a review.

Thanks and good luck,

MNHQ

Standard Insight T&Cs apply

[Ganne1]

Making friends with young children around has to be based around them. Your friends are the parents of your childs' friends!

[phillie1]

get involved in lots of toddler groups, and make an effort to remember things about what people are doing, so you can mention them the following week

[jandoc]

mine and my neighbour's children are great friends and I hope it stays that way

[shellywkd]

Making friends at the school is actually the easiest place I find. Our school has lots of events for parents only which helps to have adult conversations but lots of events that include the children as well.

[maryandbuzz1]

As a new mum living in a tiny hamlet I was often very lonely. I didn't have access to a car and the bus service was virtually non existent. I was asked a couple of times to a coffee morning but found taking my baby out very stressful. However as he got older it became easier. We went to swimming classes at the w/e and made a few friends from that session. When he started nursery making friends became a whole lot easier with friends coming round to play.

[hiddenmichelle]

playgroups and friends of ours with kids. Sometimes at the local playground when you start seeing the same faces!

[nettymay]

hubby started a Rugby Club in Wales and we had a 'ladies night' when the boys baby-sat and a 'families night' when we all got together - it worked superbly

[MakeTeaNotWar]

NCT was a lifeline for me and 7 years on, I still see about half of the group regularly and our children are still close. Starting school was another great way to make friends, for both parents and the DC. I have found Rainbows in particular a great way for my 6 year old to form some very bonding friendships.

[lhlee62]

My 2DDs have no issue making friends, they wander up to children and they just start playing together. DD1 is hilarious, she frequently comes over to me saying "this is my new best friend", "what's her name?" "I don't know"!! is usually the answer! I did find it incredibly hard in the beginning as some groups were already well established and they all seemed to know each other, but keep going and they'll start talking to you. I've made some lovely friends with mums from the school, but I imagine it would be really hard if you were working full time 9-5 Mon- Fri as you'd never see any other parents. We even go out a few times a year to the local pub or for dinner.

[SSCRASE123]

Just encourage my kids to not be afraid to talk to new children and to welcome anyone new into their games.

[littlemonkeyz]

Just go along to the same activity every week and start chatting to other mums. A lot of people are in the same position as yourself which makes things easier. I invited another mum to go to baby swimming with me and we became friends from there.

[GuiltyFeet]

I struggled a lot at first because we joined the NCT group to meet others and, although perfectly nice, they were completely different to us in lifestyle, parenting style and interests. It wasn't until I went to a few baby / toddler groups that I started to find people who I clicked with more. I remember suggesting meeting up at the local playpark to a few mums I felt comfortable with, and from there a group of us built friendships which were such a support in those early years.

I envy my children their ability to just run up to another child and ask if they can join in! It's brilliant. But I think we can learn from this as adults - don't be afraid to reach out to someone you know a little bit who you think could become a friend, and ask if they fancy meeting for coffee, or popping round for a play, or similar. Some people complain they never have any friends, but they're not willing to reach out themselves.

[cluckyhen]

As a forces family we've all adapted to 'lets get stuck in'. I'm naturally a talker and I think this has passed on as we happily chat to anyone anytime! A smile can break a million boundaries

[twinklenic]

ive always found it quite difficult to make new friends, im quite shy and i think ive passed this on to my children. I am quite friendly and will talk to most people though . I always tell my kids to be kind and tolerant of other people and i think that if you have good manners it helps

[andywedge]

She's so chatty and friendly she has no problems making friends

[AR2012]

Playgroups where you get to meet up with other parents

[beckyinman]

Just being out and about - play groups, breastfeeding cafes, baby massage

[kassza]

Six solid friendships made from NCT classes when we were all pregnant. The children are all growing up together as well.

[MrsDramaQueen]

My DD is really shy and tends to struggle to make friends. Her brother plays with anyone, so he tends to draw her into the group which is nice.

[rachelmi]

mostly mums and tots and school gate. You have to be approachable and friendly too.

[JemIsMyNameNooneElseIsTheSame]

DS is an only child and will likely stay that way, so thankfully he's great at making friends with any child any where. I've taught him just to say, 'Would you like to play with me?' and 99% of the time it works. If only it was that easy to make mum friends...

[moosexxx]

Our most succesfully way has been playing in the local parks. Especially on the swings and climbing frames.

[shroney]

I made some good friends at our local toy library which has now sadly closed. Most of my other mum friends were made once the kids started nursery and when you meet and have a natter in the playground.

[barbsbarbs]

we go to lots of coffee mornings and mums and tots groups, they are so great for making new friends and meeting up with old ones. WE also meet peopel at the local park.

[glennamy]

DD just dives straight in and plays with anyone, she asks do you want to play? and that's it... Adult wise I think it depends on the situation but remember nearly everyone is in the same boat, so go from a good morning. and it builds from there, work out who is working and have no time to mingle and those that do have time. A smile does wonders!