How to get my toddler to meet people Newcastle

[Kinghum]

Hey,

I have a 16 month old baby boy, I live in Newcastle NSW. My husband and I we have no friends which have children, everyone else is career orientated, we are both 28.

I am worried about my little boy, I saw him looking at babies in his pram when I was getting a few groceries the other day and it hurt because we don't have anyone for him to play with.

We go to music classes once a week but unfortunately everyone leaves very quickly after class and random people come each week so never where there are same parent same child for my son to make friends with.

I would like some advice on how I should go about getting him friends, my husband and I are both academics, so it's not like we are scarying people off, we just don't have family or friends with children. I see at Gloria Jeans a lot of mums and baby's meet up a lot younger than my son and I don't know how we missed out on all of this?

In all honesty does anyone have any tips for places I should take him?

Thanks so much this must sound really weird but i thought if I asked honestly maybe someone can help lead me in the right direction, I don't want to wait until preschool to make friends.

Thanks so much
Charlotte

[Angidee]

Hi there Charlotte

I know exactly how you feel not having friends with kids around. We are pretty much in the same boat. When my DD (also 16 months) was really little I went to mum's group through my Child and Youth Health. So now we still try and catch up for a play in the park once a week. We also joined a local playgroup, which has been great. It was a baby one, so we think we may need to move up to the toddler one soon. And the other activity we have just started is Kindergym, although I haven't bonded with anyone there yet. Maybe if you go to your local library there may be some notices around about activities that you could do with toddlers.

Hopefully you will meet some other parents with kids soon.

Take care
Ang

[Lock and Lu]

Check the Playgroup NSW website. You should be able to search for a playgroup in your area.

I also agree that your local Maternal and Child Health Clinic might be able to assist too.

Good luck finding other parents and kids.