Parenting secret: One of the best resources for parenting advice is other parents. Whether you’re a first-time parent, a mom of twins, a father looking to connect with other dads or in search of some neighborhood families to share info with, there’s an NYC parenting group for you. Read on to find your fit. For more ways to connect try these NYC Parenting Facebook groups. For ideas on what to do with your new addition, check out things to do before your baby turns one, and what all new NYC parents need to know.
A Mother is Born
Sometimes the best resource for Parenting 101 can be found by turning to another mother with some serious child-rearing knowledge. A Mother is Born is a business owned by a mother, Meredith Fein Lichtenberg, who also happens to be a registered international board-certified lactation consultant, certified childbirth educator, non-fiction writer, among other talents. The business offers pregnancy and parenting services for New York City moms. The website provides insights, tips, events, and information on classes and groups for pregnant couples, new moms, working moms, and moms seeking lactation advice. Meredith Fein Lichtenberg teaches group and private childbirth classes, prenatal workshops, new mom classes, and offers private consults to smooth the transition for moms going back to work.
Online: amotherisborn.com
Bad Moms of Long Island
One of the newer entries to our list, the Bad Moms of Long Island Facebook group was started by LI mom Jesse Curatolo back in September of 2018. It's a strictly no-judgement zone, and venting is encouraged! (If you get on a high horse, you'll be asked to leave.) Sorry dads—this one is just for moms. Talks of in-person meetups for the group are in the works for 2019.
Online: facebook.com
Big City Moms
Big City Moms was founded by city moms for city moms, and its biggest event is one no expectant mother or growing family should miss. Biggest Baby Shower Ever, held in NYC (and many other cities, including Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, and San Francisco) is a jam-packed event that promises and delivers and event filled with gear, info, demonstrations, and more. (Mocktails for all!) Expect to be pampered, receive goodies galore and gain some helpful information about the whole having-and-raising-a-baby thing. Plus, over 100 vendors attend hoping to seduce expecting parents with some of the newest and best baby and parenting products on the market.
Beyond this epic event, other Big City Moms upcoming events include UES New Moms Support Group weekly get together, Infant and Toddler Safety and CPR Class, Nanny Safety Class, and an Expectant Moms Dinner. The website includes a blog that offers tips for parents and those expecting, the hottest trends in the industry, as well as chances to win amazing baby products and more. The company was formed over 12 years ago and while they have accrued over 300,000 members throughout the years, they also acquired some hefty celebrity fans such as Jessica Alba, Christopher Gavigan, Susan Lucci and Kimberly and James Van Der Beek, to name a few.
Online: bigcitymoms.com
BoCoCa Parents
“BoCoCa” is not a widely used term but it means something for those families immediately south of Downtown Brooklyn. (It’s a blended word combining the names of three adjacent Brooklyn neighborhoods: Boerum Hill, Cobble Hill, and Carroll Gardens. BoCoCa Parents is a restricted Yahoo Group that is a free network for local parents residing in one of these three neighborhoods and boasts almost 11,000 members. The mission of the group is “to establish community and communication amongst Bococa's families and to provide our children with opportunities in which to play, cultivate friendships and establish their roots”. This group is an active and evolving forum for sharing information and advice, making connections, finding and selling items, arranging playdates, and much more.
Online: groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups
Bowery Babes
Once upon a time, in 2005, a group of women took a prenatal yoga class on Bowery Street, and they just couldn’t quite get enough of each other so they formed a group. Bowery Babes has evolved ever since and has become a large collection of local moms in Lower Manhattan. The group is a NY non-profit that supports women from the time they are expecting through motherhood, and offers endless amounts of opportunities to thrive in a lively and loving community. From playgroups to classes, organized events and book clubs to night outs and daddy brunches, holiday parties and FREE beauty mornings, you can plug right into this group's energy and keep on ticking. If that hasn’t sold you, they also offer discounts and educational lectures on parenting.
Online: bowerybabes.com
The Bronx New Mommies Group Inc.
This mommy group was formed by necessity in 2002 when a new mommy by the name of Roxanne Taylor felt a strong need to bond with other moms that shared similar interests and yet she didn’t know how to make such connections happen. Enter, The Bronx New Mommies Group, which grew from a group into a non-profit organization and then a registered charity. This social support group offers a range of support group meetings, activities and special events geared toward fostering a positive and nurturing community for parents and their families. Its website includes a resource directory that lists some key resources such as Walk Safer NYC, Parent Pledge Project, and more. But it doesn’t stop there. Their Sister Group, Dynamic Metro Moms, is geared towards moms with older children from 11 to 13 years old.
Online: bronx-new-mommies-group.org
Dynamic Metro Moms
Sister Group to The Bronx New Mommies Group, this Bronx-based mommy group offers an abundance of weekly social activities, classes and events for moms and their kids throughout the year, as well as special interest clubs including fitness bootcamp, yoga club and more. Upcoming events include an Annual Summer Outing and Mini Spa Party.
Online: dynamicmetromoms.com
Families First Brooklyn
Founded by two therapists and parents themselves, Families First is a not-for-profit member based early childhood center located in Cobble Hill. The organization offers parents and caregivers a safe and nurturing place to bring their young children. Among many things, it holds a Moms’ Meet Up every Friday at 11:30 a.m., where you can meet with other moms to talk about a variety topics, express ideas, and share and gather advice in a supportive environment. This meet up does not require membership or a fee to participate.
Online: familiesfirstbrooklyn.org
First Time Upper West Side Moms
For just 10 dollars a year, this group will give you a huge Upper West Side slice out of the Big Apple, from midtown to Harlem. First Time Upper West Side Moms can be found on Meetup.com and offers moms and dads literally hundreds of free and/or heavily-discounted events each year. Parents can get discounts on a variety of classes such as music, baby sign, soccer, pilates and yoga, as well as trips to museums and zoos, diverse special events, and an assortment of get togethers at local libraries, Whole Foods, and local cafes and restaurants. Plus: stroller walks for those who want to burn off some extra calories.
Online: meetup.com/Upper-West-Side-Moms
HRP Mamas
With over 2,000 members, the Hudson River Park Mothers Group serves as a vital and active community for mothers and expectant moms that reside in Lower Manhattan. There are many benefits to this group such as their online social network of verified Lower Manhattan neighborhood moms, weekly playgroups that meet in a comfortable and welcoming place and are facilitated by membership coordinators, educational events arranged through the group, and discounts at local retail stores. But what really stands out as a must for Lower Manhattan moms is this group's New Moms Group Series. Guided by childhood development educators, this weekly get-together for moms and their newborns or infants provides a child-friendly place to share experiences and get support on challenging topics ranging from sleep, development, and establishing routines to issues finding childcare.
Online: hrpmamas.com
Hoboken Family Alliance
While there are many niche parent groups in Hoboken, one of the biggest and most active is the Hoboken Family Alliance. The HFA produces several big events throughout the year, including an all-schools open house and "Cabin Fever," a big summer camp open house event. It also sponsors several philanthropic initiatives, such as a school supply drive in the fall and holiday toy drive in December. Events include holiday party in December and a "spring fling" event that includes Hoboken's biggest egg hunt.
Online: hobokenfamily.com
LGBTQI GROUPS
API Rainbow Parents
API Rainbow Parents provides information and support to Asian-Pacific Islander (API) families with a family member who is lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT). The group is open to parents, other relatives and family members, and friends, as well as to LGBT people themselves. API Rainbow Parents helps families in the same way as PFLAG NYC’s other regular support groups, but has a special focus on meeting the cultural and language needs of API families. Find them on Facebook here.
Online: pflagnyc.org
Black Family Circle
This is a free online meeting that provides a safe space for individuals who identify as Black and who have lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) loved ones. The group provides family-to-family support with a focus on the intersection of acceptance and one’s experience as a member of the Black diaspora. The group meets online on the fourth Sunday of every month from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. starting Sunday, July 26. Register in advance to receive a link to the Zoom meeting; the link is not posted publicly, so you must register to attend each meeting. To register and to receive more information, click here.
Love Makes a Family
PFLAG NYC has now launched a support group for Latino families in collaboration with Oasis Latino LGBTS Wellness Center. “El Amor Hace la Familia - Love Makes a Family” is a group of parents and LGBTQ people that has come together for mutual support. The group meets every second Saturday of the month at 10 a.m. at Oasis Wellness Center. The group uses primarily Spanish, but flexibly uses English and Spanglish too.
Online: pflagnyc.org
The TransFamilies Project (TFP)
The TransFamilies Project (TFP) is a support group for parents, relatives and friends of transgender children. No matter when a child disclosed his/her gender identity issues, or what stage of transition he/she is in, the TransFamilies Project is a place to meet understanding friends, share important information, and get (and provide) support. Meetings are currently twice a month online, and will take place in Greenwich Village when in-person meetings resume. For questions about the group, please contact group leader Judy Sennesh through PFLAG NYC at transgender@pflagnyc.org. Please note: If you are going to bring someone with you to a TFP meeting who is younger than high-school age, notify Sennesh prior to the meeting.
Online: pflagnyc.org
Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan
Located on the Upper West Side, Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan's mission is to create “opportunities for people to connect, grow, and learn within an ever-changing Jewish landscape." Among the many types of programs and classes offered by the JCC are those geared to family life including breastfeeding and tummy time for new parents, parenting resources that offer infant CPR classes, a dad's meetup brunch and a bump bash complete with mock-tails for expectant parents. You'll also find prenatal and postnatal fitness classes here, such as innovative and safe yoga and water classes, as well as caregiver programs.
Online: jccmanhattan.org
JC Families
A great resource for all things parenting in Jersey City, JC Families is a go-to for info on local events, family-friendly businesses and school options for all ages. You'll also find listings for childcare, kids' stuff for sale, and more.
Online: jcfamilies.com
Long Island City Parents Meetup Group
Established in 2007, this active Meetup group is more than 1000 parents strong. Members use it to coordinate playdates, parties, readings, workshops, and events, as well as advocate for improved playgrounds, schools, and housing. To join, you must live in the 11101 or 11109 zip codes or neighboring areas of Astoria, Greenpoint, or Sunnyside.
Online: meetup.com/LICParentsGroup
Lower East Side / East Village Parents
Lower East Side and East Village parents and parents-to-be are invited to register and visit this online forum that connects local parents and covers a broad range of topics such as sleep, feeding, pediatricians, caregivers and challenges in parenthood.
Online: lesparents.com
Manhattan Twins Club
As one of the largest multiples communities in the United States, this 25-year-old nonprofit club was founded with the mission to provide support for parents of twins and those expecting multiples. The club offers events throughout the year (many of them free) which address perennial parenting topics, hosts friendly get-togethers such as family picnics and parent socials. A sampling of this years’ past events includes Twiniversity 101 to help parents.
Online: manhattantwinsclub.org
MOMally Astoria
Founded by lactation consultant, parent coach, and sleep consultant Andrea Scannell, MOMally Astoria has both an active Facebook group and Meetup calendar. (There's also a general parenting FB group.) Members can request access so they can plan meetups, playdates, etc., and Scannell aims to have mom-hosted, free area events posted daily. She's also hosted experts on New York State family leave policy and District 30 schools. Past events with local parents include holiday parties, crafting events and singalongs.
Facebook group: facebook.com
Meetup: meetup.com/momallyastoria
Website: momally.com
The Moms Groups
Founded by parent and lifestyle coach Renee Sullivan in 2008, this NYC mommy group is one of the most expansive, hosting groups in the Upper East Side, Upper West Side, Union Square, Chelsea, Flatiron, and Midtown in Manhattan, and Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, Brooklyn Heights, Williamsburg and Park Slope in Brooklyn. The Moms Groups hold weekly sessions mostly led by either Renee Sullivan or therapists on her team and caters to Expectant Moms, New Moms, Moms of Older Babies, and Second Time Moms.
Online: themomsgroups.com
Motherhood Later than Sooner
If you’re 35 or older and you’re a mommy, then you may want to join this group. Motherhood Later than Sooner is a group formed by Robin Gorman Newman, who at the age of 42 became a mom and found it hard to connect to the younger moms. This midlife moms group offers online and face-to-face support for mothers who are 35+ and want to be a part of a community of moms that are raising kids later in life. Benefits of this group include mom group meetings, moms night out dinners, family events, as well as discounts on products and services.
Online: motherhoodlater.com
The New Mom Support Group
This community-funded group found on Meetup.com offers Queens Moms (and Dads!) with kids 0-3 years of age a place to vent about parenthood safely and without judgement. For nine dollars a month, members can participate in Meetup activities such as play dates, stroller walks, Mommy and me classes and activities for dads. While the title of the group sounds exclusive, stay at home dads, expectant moms, second time moms, and moms with older children are also welcome.
Online: meetup.com/New-Moms-Group-of-Queens
Newport Mommy
Another Jersey City group, Newport Mommy is more than 4,300 families strong. Head here for nanny leads and info, local news and events, classifieds, parenting resources, birthday party ideas and more!
Online: newportmommy.com
NYC Dads Group
Finally, a parent group that is just for Dads! There are so many mommy groups that may mention the word “dad” but don’t cater to them. NYC Dads Group is a community started by dads with the simple desire to share similar benefits of being part of a parenthood community as those found in staple mommy groups. The mission of this group has expanded beyond NYC and across the nation, and has become City Dads Group. Meetups include outings, Dads’ Night Out, workshops and special events. Partnering with Boot Camp for New Dads, a nationally-acclaimed 20 year old program for training dads-to-be, this group offers a Boot Camp facilitated by a nationally-certified trainer for expectant fathers and new dads that want to learn baby-raising basics.
Online: citydadsgroup.com/nyc
New York Single Parents Meetup Group
Founded in 2006, this Meetup.com group offers single parents a community to connect with other single parents. With over 2,500 members, this group not only hosts activities for single parents and their kids to meet and make new friends, but also serves as a springboard for special events happening in the city geared toward single parent families. A recent meetup like this was the Microsoft Youthspark Free Weekend Summer Camp for Kids, which offered single parents a free, in-store summer camp for their children.
Online: meetup.com/singleparent
Parents of NY Teens
The Italian proverb “Little children, headache; big children, heartache” may resonate particularly with parents raising kids in the city that doesn’t sleep. But this Yahoo group makes it a heck of a lot easier by offering a place for parents of teens and young adults located in the five boroughs to unite and confront the challenges of raising city kids head on. They actively post on their Facebook page and their blog site to keep parents informed and plugged in.
Online: ponytya
Park Slope Parents
This parenting group originally began in 2002 on Yahoo groups as a way for local parents to connect and exchange ideas on a number of parent-related topics. The membership base grew and grew, which led to the development of a PSP website. The website covers a lot of territory in content and offers expectant parents, new parents and working parents that live in Park Slope, Brooklyn, New York and the surrounding neighborhoods an extensive amount of local resources, parenting information, tips and advice, and organizes local family events throughout the year. The group is also host to a diverse range of subgroups for parents looking to connect with other members of similar professions, interests and life situations.
Online: parkslopeparents.com
SoHo Parenting
Located in its namesake neighborhood, SoHo Parenting is a center offering myriad services to new and expecting parents, as well as parents of older children. While many of its services, such as advice on sleep or developmental issues are fee-based, its popular ParenTalk blog offers help on a wide range of parenting topics.
Online: sohoparenting.com
Sunnyside Moms
Queens moms in Sunnyside and nearby Woodside gather at this Facebook group and in real life to exchange info about all things parenting in their neck of the woods. It's more than 2,000 members strong, so that a lotta knowledge!
Online: facebook.com
UES Mommas
With nearly 28,000 members, this private Facebook group for moms on the Upper East Side is a go-to forum for advice on everything from breastfeeding, local resources and shops to sleep issues, childcare, and preschool. (You can also score second-hand gear like strollers, furniture and more.) Yes, you'll find strong opinions here, and the community is not without drama, but aren't diversity and people with a point of view why we all love NYC?
Online: facebook.com/UES-Mommas
UES Mommas
With nearly 28,000 members, this private Facebook group for moms on the Upper East Side is a go-to forum for advice on everything from breastfeeding, local resources and shops to sleep issues, childcare, and preschool. (You can also score second-hand gear like strollers, furniture and more.) Yes, you'll find strong opinions here, and the community is not without drama, but aren't diversity and people with a point of view why we all love NYC?
Online: facebook.com/UES-Mommas
RELATED STORIES:
30 Things You Have to Do in NYC Before Baby Turns One
The Best Facebook Groups for NYC Parents
What New NYC Moms Need To Know
