Becoming a first-time mom is full of challenges and excitement. Of course you have your new little bundle of joy, but you also get the privilege of being inducted into the mom club! Most of us want to find community, build our village, and make mom friends. However, like most things with first-time parenthood, this can feel challenging.
There is no shortage of kid-friendly activities around town, but they can sometimes feel intimidating to attend when your little one cannot yet run around or even sit up by themselves. Thankfully, Albuquerque has many options for you to get out of the house with your baby and find other moms in your stage of life.
Baby and Toddler Story Times
As soon as you feel comfortable entering the world with your baby, you are ready for story time! Story times aimed at babies and toddlers tend to be brief, leaving lots of time to chat with other moms after the songs and stories end. The key to building community at an event like this is to be as consistent as you can. If you find a story time that works for you and your little one and commit to attending each week, it will help you find familiar faces and strike up a conversation. This article will take you to the complete list of story times in the ABQ area.
Walking Clubs
Whether you are pushing a stroller or wearing your baby in a carrier, walking is a great way to bond with other moms without the hassle of wrangling your baby every few minutes.
The Mom Walk Co is a group that posts local meet-ups and walks around Albuquerque each month. Their slogan is “Find Your Village, One Step at a Time.” You can follow them on Instagram or Facebook. While these walks are completely free, they ask that you RSVP through the links provided on their social media pages.
ABQ Girls Who Walk is another local group that posts weekly walks. While this group is not specifically focused on motherhood, it includes information on whether walks are stroller-friendly. You can follow them on their various social media pages to stay up to date with their walking calendar.
Swimming Lessons
In addition to getting your baby comfortable in the water, swimming lessons can be a great way to get out and meet other local moms. Your six-month-old may not be learning breaststroke, but at this age, you will be in the pool with them, giving you an opportunity to chat with other mommas.
City of Albuquerque Swimming Lessons: The city offers swimming lessons for babies six months and above for a modest cost. To sign up, create an account with the city of Albuquerque and search for Parent Tot 1 classes.
Fish Factory Swim School: This swim school has locations in the NE Heights and Rio Rancho and has classes for babies starting at 3 months of age.
SwimLabs ABQ: This school is located in the NE Heights and has parent tot classes starting at 6 months.
Mommy and Me Classes
As a mom to a little one, the days can meld together, and before you know it, you don’t know the date or the last time you showered. These weekly classes will give you a reason to get out of the house, do something fun, and make connections with the other parents.
UNM Music Prep School offers a Spanish bilingual family music class for ages 0-3 on Saturday mornings. You and your baby can sing, dance, and explore rhythm and movement together.
Bounce N Boogie offers weekly music and movement classes for parents and infants starting at 3 months. You can choose a membership plan or pay per class, and there is a discount for siblings. Your first class is free.
The Little Gym is a children’s gymnastics center located on the west side of Albuquerque. They offer parent and infant gymnastic classes starting at 4 months. They offer monthly memberships and a free introductory class to give it a try.
Baby Moon Tri-Fit Yoga offers classes for expecting and postpartum mothers. Each week, they host several baby and me yoga classes for babies as young as 6 weeks. These classes take place virtually and at locations across the city.
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Church Groups
You may have heard your mother or aunts talk about MOPs or Mothers of Preschoolers. Today, the name has been changed to MomCo. These communities are a great way to grow in your faith and build friendships with other moms in all stages of motherhood.
Los Ranchos MomCo: This group meets at Alameda Bible Church on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of every month. It is open to moms of children from birth to kindergarten and childcare is available.
MOCHA at Hoffmantown: Mother of Children, Hearts Adorned meets three times a month at Hoffmantown Church. This community includes a monthly bible study, crafts, speakers, and discussion groups. It is open to any mom with children from birth to 18 years old. Childcare is provided for children up to 6 years old.
Miscellaneous
The Village Motherhood Company is a one-stop shop for mom support and connection during the first year. They offer services, classes, and groups for mothers to connect as well as learn from experts in their field. They offer a “New Mama Circle” group that is $10 per visit or free for members. This group is for mothers of babies 0-12 months. They also offer grief support groups and conversations with an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant.
Dar a Luz Postpartum Feeding & Support Group is hosted at the Dar a Luz birthing center every Wednesday morning and is free and open to all mothers.
Great article!