Where Can New Parents Meet Each Other in the East Bay?

Looking for an opening to connect with other new parents? Here are some resources that bring together parents, from new mom support groups to scheduled activities.  We hope you’ll try a number of them. Sometimes it is easier to click with another new parent in the back row of a music class or while struggling to hold a plank.

Activity-based new mom meeting opportunities

A note for parents of all genders: Some of these groups and outings welcome parents of all genders while others are more mom-specific. When in doubt, please contact the business directly.

FIT4MOM 510 (Various)

Find a bring-your-baby (or toddler) fitness class with a playgroup to connect with your fitness and other mamas in your neighborhood. Locations for stroller-based classes are Memorial Park in Albany, San Pablo Park in Berkeley, Christie Park, and Doyle-Hollis Park in Emeryville. Additional events span the East Bay and are designed to welcome new members such as free walk/runs, family field trips, and playgroups each month. Your first class is always free.

Shalom Play (Oakland)

Hosted in a spacious activity room at Temple Beth Abraham near the Grand Lake Theater, this donation-based play program is designed for children under 5 from families raising Jewish children. Learn more >

Momleta (Oakland)

These Baby Bootcamp classes coach postpartum women through a fun outdoor workout with their jogging strollers. The current schedule has energetic classes at Lake Temescal with lots of free parking.

Baby Brigade Movies (The New Parkway, Oakland)

Date afternoon. Join other parents with crying babies for regular current-release movie evenings at the theater at Baby Brigade held on Thursday afternoons. The space is extremely casual, filled with comfy sofas and chairs that are great for nursing or snuggling with your little one. You can order beer and food, too. Find showtimes >

Berkeley Rose Waldorf  (Oakland)

For families interested in the Waldorf approach to education, Berkeley Rose offers a variety of parent-and-child programs. Expecting and new parents can find connection, support, and education through the Mothering Circle. Sweet Peas, an indoor playgroup for children ages 1–3, provides open play alongside parent support. For toddlers who love the outdoors, the Little Ferns program invites families to hike and explore the woods together in Oakland. Learn more >

Music Together (Various East Bay)

Classes and groups in-person. We love East Bay Music Together for its music curriculum and getting to know so many other families of similar-age babies during circle time when we let down our guard a little. Learn more >

Lotus Bloom (Oakland)

Drop-in friendly. A child and family resource center in Oakland with playgroups for kids 0-4. Tots learn to share toys and make friends during free play and circle time, giving caregivers a chance to chat. Learn more >

Little Seeds Family (Lafayette)

Choose from a variety of opportunities for families to meet and mingle, from Parent & Me classes and support groups to open play and engaging workshops. Plus, there’s a rental space for parties. Learn more >

Library storytimes (Various East Bay)

Free storytimes are indoors and outdoors. For babies over 6 months, there are baby-friendly circle time activities at nearly every East Bay library. Mix it up. Check our round-up of East Bay storytimes to see if there’s one you want to try.

Mom and baby yoga classes (Many locations)

Drop into any postpartum yoga class and find a supportive environment to spend time with your baby among other moms. If you’re shy, you might find it hard to meet women this way, but keep showing up and the same faces will become familiar. We love Yogalayam’s postnatal yoga class in Berkeley, near the Oakland border.

Tot & Family Swim (Various East Bay)

Many local pools offer special hours for young children (typically 0-6 years old) to enjoy the water with an adult caregiver. You may notice certain families become regulars. Look for Tot Swim or Family Swim on facility schedules. See our favorite places to swim in the East Bay >

Toddler classes (Dozens of East Bay locations)

So many cool places offer play classes for parents/babies for pre-crawlers on up in so many subject areas. Get inspired by our class guide for preschoolers, toddlers, and babies.

Support Groups for New Parents

When I joined the Support Group For Mothers back in the day, I had one simple goal: to make a friend with a same-age baby. I knew I was about to meet ten women with babies close in age to mine, and I thought, “If I truly like just one of them, this will be money well spent.” The support of fellow postpartum women turned out to be invaluable, but I was just thinking it would be nice to have someone to hang out with while I was on maternity leave.

I liked ALL of them, and some of us still get together. A handful of the kids are in high school together now, and they have a special (awkward?) bond, knowing that they were in the same “Moms Group”.

BANANAS Support Groups

Offered periodically on the “Parents & Family Workshops” page, moms can share their feelings, ask questions, and build friendships with one another. There are also playgroups and free classes about all things parenting! Check the schedule to find the next group >

Berkeley Little Ones and Parents

Cohorts of 12 new moms start every 6 weeks to join the community with a facilitator. For babies 1-6 months old. Find the next group >

Cosmic Motherhood (Orinda)

Weekly gatherings in a session-based model are designed to bond cohorts of women with similar-aged babies. Meetings are held in a private home with snacks and tea, with a maximum of eight participants in each group. Website >

Center for Early Childhood Connections (Albany)

All parents are welcome. The Center for Early Childhood Connections is a non-profit organization on Solano Ave that is providing therapy, support groups, parent and parent-to-be groups, as well as programs and therapy for young children (birth to 5). Website >

FUN Mother’s Club (Fremont, Union City, Newark)

A Tri-city organization for families with young children, they do support groups and fun activities, too. Learn more if you’re near FUN >

Jewish Baby Network

Jewish Baby Network welcomes everyone with little ones 0 to 36 months to their in-person events, including unaffiliated, single and multi-parent, multi-faith, multi-ethnic, multi-abled, and LGBTQ families. Learn more at jewishbabynetwork.org.

La Leche League meetings (Online, groups by region)

Dedicated to supporting breastfeeding, you’ll find locations and details on their interactive map, which includes groups for Alameda and Oakland/Berkeley.

Kaiser new parents support groups (Multiple)

Groups for Kaiser members and are facilitated by a lactation consultant or licensed therapist in Oakland, San Leandro, Fremont, and more. Find a new parent support group near you >

Alta Bates New Parents Groups

For brand-new moms recovering from childbirth. There’s a variety of groups, classes, and workshops, like breastfeeding support, at Alta Bates. Find one that works for you >

Find more places to meet parents in an active setting in our round-up of Best Classes for Babies and Parents >

East Bay Birth Collective (Oakland)

For moms and dads. A hub for parents to build connections through in-person support groups, casual meetups and classes during various stages of the pregnancy and postpartum journey. Check out the postportum group, 2nd+ Time Moms Group, or Dads Group. See all the community building offerings > 

Our Family Coalition (Various Bay Area)

LGBTQ+ families can meet each other and get support services through Our Family Coalition. They host  playgroups, activities. and support meetings. Meet other LGBTQ parents with infants >

PRAM (Richmond)

Parents, Resources & More (PRAM) is a community-driven formed in 1998 to support families with young children (ages 0 to 12 years old) living in the Greater Richmond area. Check them out >

Lamorinda Moms (Lafayette)

For all parents. This group builds community over regular playdates and community events. Learn how to join >

Sprinkles Parents’ Community (Various)

Parent meetups and speaker series’ have in-person and virtual options. Sprinkles Parents hosts creative kid-friendly social events and speakers to help parents with children under 5 years old connect with each other. Website >

Chime (Oakland)

Chime offers small, in-person nine-week postpartum support programs rooted in mindfulness, along with six-week workshops designed for parents of children of any age. Register >

Mocha Moms (Contra Costa County)

This local support network for Mothers of Color brings together moms at all stages of motherhood through both virtual and in-person meetups. Learn More >

Support Groups For Mothers (Emeryville)

Facilitated weekly meetings put new moms on a path to a support group and a baby-friendly social life in these non-hospital, non-religious affiliated groups held in Emeryville. There are groups for first-time moms as well as second- and third-time moms. Learn more >

MOPS, Mothers of Preschoolers (Alameda, Walnut Creek, Online)

This church-affiliated national group is a place for parents from pregnancy through pre-K. They meet in many different locations across the country. Find out if there’s a group near you >

MeetUp.com (Various)

Look for an existing group near you or start your own. Hoping to find fellowship among mothers of color, working moms, lesbian moms, triathlete moms, or moms with babies who have special needs? MeetUp is a great tool for that. Learn more >

tum-e-time (Online)

Classes and groups now remote. 4-week sessions offer new parents tips on infant massage, baby songs, and tips on how to spend time together. See dates, times, and locations.

Push your stroller down the street

In order to make new parent friends, you will need to put yourself out there. Though it can be easier just to stay home, the simple act of putting on your shoes and making sure you know all the features of your stroller will give you the confidence to keep on keeping on.

Start simple: walk around your block and neighborhood. Broaden your activities to scope out the playgrounds and coffee shops (can you push the stroller and sip a latte?). When you’re ready for a more exciting destination, push your stroller through a shopping district like Fourth Street or College Ave. in Rockridge. Visit a cafe and a family-friendly business as your destination. You got this.

15 Terrific places to push your jogging stroller >

Another way we meet each other is by hanging out at our nearby playgrounds. Starting at about six months, this is a totally normal thing for parents to do. 22 more ideas of things to do with a baby.

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