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As a new mum or even an experienced one, navigating motherhood can sometimes be overwhelming and isolating. Building a support system is crucial to ensure you have people to share your experiences, seek advice, and simply enjoy the company of like-minded individuals. That's where finding mum friends and joining mum groups can be incredibly beneficial. In this article, we will explore the importance of finding mum friends, the advantages of joining mum groups, and how to go about forming these valuable connections. The Importance of Mum Friends Having mum friends can make a significant difference in a mother's life. Here's why they are so important: A Sense of Belonging Motherhood can feel lonely, especially if you don't have a strong support system. Mum friends can provide a sense of belonging and understanding as they are going through similar experiences. Emotional Support Motherhood comes with its ups and downs. Having someone to lean on and talk to during challenging times can be emotionally comforting. Sharing Parenting Tips Mum friends often exchange parenting tips and tricks, which can be invaluable in navigating the journey of motherhood. Advantages of Joining Mum Groups Mum groups are organised gatherings or online communities of mothers who come together to share their experiences and support one another. Here are some advantages of joining mum groups: Diverse Perspectives Mum groups bring together mothers from different backgrounds and experiences, offering a diverse range of perspectives and solutions. Playdates and Socialisation For mothers with young children, mum groups offer an opportunity for playdates and socialisation, which is crucial for a child's development. Access to Information and Resources Within mum groups, there is a wealth of knowledge about various parenting topics, ranging from childcare to health and nutrition. How to Find Mum Friends and Mum Groups Now that we understand the importance of mum friends and mum groups, let's explore how to find them, along with joining Carol App... Attend Local Parenting Events Many communities host parenting events, workshops, or playgroups where you can meet other mums in your area. Utilize Social Media Social media platforms often have dedicated groups for mums. Joining these groups can be an excellent way to connect with like-minded individuals. Consider Online Forums There are numerous online forums and websites where mums share their experiences and seek advice. Attend Mummy-and-Me Classes Enrolling in mummy-and-me classes or baby-oriented activities can be a great way to meet other mums with similar interests. Forming Lasting Connections Finding mum friends is only the first step. Here are some tips to form lasting and meaningful connections: Be Genuine and Open Authenticity goes a long way in forming friendships. Be open about your experiences and feelings. Respect Differences Not all mums will have the same parenting style or beliefs. Respect these differences and focus on what brings you together. Engage in Regular Meetups Consistency is key. Try to meet up regularly with your mum friends to strengthen the bond. Conclusion Motherhood is a journey filled with joy, challenges, and growth. Having a strong support system of mum friends and being part of mum groups can make this journey more fulfilling and enjoyable. So, take the first step today – reach out, connect, and discover the incredible world of motherhood together. FAQs 1. How do I find mum friends? Finding mum friends can be done by attending local parenting events, using social media, considering online forums, and participating in mummy-and-me classes. Join Carol App too, obviously! 2. Why are mum friends important? Mum friends provide a sense of belonging, emotional support, and a platform to share parenting tips. 3. What are the benefits of joining mum groups? Joining mum groups offers diverse perspectives, opportunities for playdates, and access to valuable information and resources. 4. How can I form lasting connections with mum friends? Being genuine and open, respecting differences, and engaging in regular meetups can help form lasting connections with mum friends. 5. Can mum groups help with a child's development? Yes, mum groups provide socialisation opportunities that are beneficial for a child's development and growth.

"We are thinking about getting our daughter a ball pit as she loved it at soft play, can you please share any recommendations?" Baby ball pits are so much fun for little ones, a few of us mums at Carol App have bought our little ones them and they have had provided hours of entertainment as baby gets older! We got ours when our babies were 8 and 10 months and although this goes without saying, always make sure you are supervising your little one when they are playing in a ball pit. There are a number of different brands out there and it depends on what your preference is in terms of size, colour and budget, too! We loved the Selonis Soft Ball Pit which is on amazon - they have a range of colours to choose from for the balls and pit, are made from non-toxic materials, easy to clean and is recommended from 9 months +. The pit comes with 200 balls. KiddyMoon Ball Pit - also available on amazon, the KiddyMoon ball pit is perfect for fitting into a corner of a room and is more space-efficient than the Selonis - the KiddyMoon also comes with 200 balls and is made from non-toxic materials. Eocusun Kids - this pop-up ball bit is great as you can fold it away and keep it in storage when not in use. It's affordable (£8.99) however doesn't come with the balls so they will need to be purchased separately. The Eocusun is suitable from 6 months +. Another pop-up ball pool tent is the Amison which also doesn't come with the balls - however this ball pool tent also has a net so your little one can throw the balls to the net as they get older. The Amison is also foldable and can be stored when not in use. You want to make sure that the ball pit isn't filled too full for your little one and that they can sit inside comfortably making sure the balls aren't completely covering them.

"I'm wondering if there's any baby slip/wraps you would recommend from newborn? Thank you" We absolutely loved our baby wrap, especially with our second! Having hands free with a toddler running around was very helpful to say the least! Always remember to double check the safe positioning of your little one with TICKS: TICKS is a set of rules created by the UK Sling Consortium to help parents baby wear safely. TICKS stands for: Tight In view at all times Close enough to kiss Keep chin off chest Supported back Our favourite baby wrap/slings are: Boba Wrap - Easy to use once you have used a few times, very comfortable, can be used from birth and has a good amount of stretch! Organic Stretchy Wrap - Easy to use, comfortable, breathable and can be used from birth! Also affordable. Izmi Wrap - A little more expensive, the Izmi is a very popular baby wrap/sling. It can be used from birth, has soft stretch natural cotton material, and has a hip healthy design for your little one.

"Do you have any recommendations for maternity jeans that are high-waisted and slim fit? Thank you " It can be such a challenge finding the right type of maternity jeans for you, and it will differ from mum to mum as we are all different shapes and jeans do fit everyone slightly different! However, our top brands for maternity jeans are: H&M do a great range of maternity jeans - lots of different cuts, denim colours and lengths too! There's also some popular brands of maternity jeans on amazon that you may like too - Pacbreeze Over-Bump Maternity Jeans ChicWhisper

"Do you have any suggestions for floor beds? I'm pregnant with my second but my 2 year old still needs cuddles to go to sleep so wanting to get him a floor bed to make it easier for all of us!" Floor beds are great as your little one gets older and are becoming increasingly more popular. They are especially great for still supporting your toddler to fall asleep and then slowly leaving the bed without them realising. There are a few things to note with floor beds - we want to make sure that the entire space is baby proofed including hiding plugs, the bed shouldn't be next to/cover a radiator, remove all choking or potentially dangerous toys from the room, making sure all windows in the room are secured shut and making sure no cupboards/drawers could fall and ideally a baby gate on the bedroom with the floor bed in and place the bed away from walls or furniture, ideally in the middle of the room, so your little one doesn't become trapped if they roll during their sleep - more information can be found on the Lullaby Trust website for safe sleep, we just wanted to highlight this! Floor beds mean that your little one can get out of bed and explore their surroundings freely. Floor beds give little ones confidence and sleep independence and come from the Montessori style of principles. In terms of suggestions for floor beds: Strictly Beds and Bunks - This floor bed is very god value for money. You can paint the bed yourself or leave it natural and it's very easy to assemble. The bed doesn't come with a mattress so that will need to be bought separately. VidaKL Solid Pine Wood Kids Bed - This bed is recommended for over 4 year olds, and is a great option for a floor bed. Easy to assemble, affordable and also looks cute! You can also find some great options at Bedoo for floor beds.

"We have been weaning our son and he has been showing signs of being interested in drinking from an open cup instead of his bottle, we have been letting him sip out of our cups with us holding it and he loves it - any tips on transitioning from a bottle to baby cup?" When transitioning from a bottle to a cup, things that have worked for us with our little ones has been making sure that the cup is small enough for baby to grab on to so it isn't too heavy when full. We would also recommend not filling their cup too full to start with and guide them as much as they need. Positive reinforcement really does go a long way too, so lots of smiles, claps and telling them how well they are doing. Babies also do a great job of watching you and copying, so making sure you are sitting with them and showing them how to hold the cup, how to drink from the cup, using both hands and gently putting the cup back down can help their modelling of behaviour for drinking from a sippy cup. Some of our top sippy-cup brands for babies are: Babycup Sippeco PandaEar Sippy Cups bamboo+bamboo sippy cup

"My daughter is almost 3 and is showing signs of wanting to use her potty, do you have any advice on potty training and what you would recommend that worked?" Potty training can be a tricky one and it's likely you've heard some horror stories from family or friends who have successfully potty trained! Here are some tips that helped us when our little ones were showing signs of being ready for potty training - remember every child is different and will be ready at different stages! We want to make potty training as fun and engaging as possible without making the process feel stressful. There are some Potty Training products which can help with this: My Carry Potty Potty Training Pants No More Nappies Book Pirate Pete's Potty We also want to make sure we aren't rushing our little ones - from our experiences, it's much quicker to potty train a child that shows signs than one that doesn't and it can actually be a much longer process if your little one isn't ready. Focus on day-time at first and then night time - consider removing the night time nappy after you both have the day-time figured out. We would recommend staying at home/staying very close by to home for 3-5 days for consistency, making sure they aren't wearing a nappy and have their potty training pants on - when your child has an accident, we want to stay calm and positive and make them feel that they are doing great - remember that this is a big change for them. We want to keep a close eye on them and when they show signs of needing the toilet, put them straight on the potty and be reassuring and comforting for them. This also links to noticing patterns in their toilet habits, after a few days you will notice a pattern which can help you to be more prepared with getting them to the potty in time. Support your child to notice any signs that they may need the toilet but try not over ask - this can actually have a counter productive effect. Every child really is different but taking time to really be present with your little one over a series of days and having consistency can help them to succeed with their potty training journey!

"I'm due with my first in 8 weeks and wondered if you could help with which manual breast pump I should get?" Absolutely! We have all returned to work after having our little ones and all used different manual breast pumps to keep our supply up. Manual breast pumps are great as not only are they more affordable than electric pumps, but they enable you to determine how you want to pump with much more control. The manual breast pumps recommended by the Carol App Team are: Tommee Tippee Manual Breast Pump - this pump is comfortable, simple to use, lightweight and easy to carry out and about. The milk gets collected straight into a Tommee Tippee bottle which is very handy and it's very easy to clean too! The Elvie Curve - a little more expensive, but the Elvie Curve can be worn discreetly, can be used whilst breastfeeding on your other breast, is comfortable and easy to carry out and about with you! Haaka Manual Breast Pump - The Haaka is very affordable, fuss free, very popular, easy to clean and easy to take with you on the go. The Haaka isn't as discreet as the Elvie if this is something that's important to you, but it's brilliant and simple to use! MAM Manual Breast Pump - We are big fans of MAM here at Carol, we find their products long lasting, good quality and good value for money and their manual breast pump is no exception. The MAM breast pump enables you to pump directly into a MAM bottle.