Babble

i know moms who go to "mommy groups" but is there such a thing for dads? what is a stay at home dad to do? woudl i be welcome at a "mommy group"? any thoughts or ideas of where i should start?

 Good luck with that!

I find that even when I attend the local babysitting coop meetings when my wife is busy, I as a male am looked on as some kind of freak.

There used to be some good online groups in Yahoo and they were fairly active.

You may want to start there and try creating your own group based on locale.

 

OldParrothead

Know Fear...................Have Twins 

Actually my husband goes to a dads group at our local hospital that is run by a male pediatrician in the area.  He is not our daughter's ped, but he has given my husband some great advice.  It isn't a big group, but they do meet in the evenings ( without the babies obviously) so the working dads can go as well.  He is also a member of a Yahoo group that is for dads only.  So search Yahoo group, Google groups, also a site called Meetup has groups. I joined a local mom's group through Meetup.  Also ask your ped if they know of a group...check with your local hospital education center - the ones that do the prenatal classes etc.  Also check with the local library.  My husband takes our daughter to a music group on Saturday morning at our local library, and there seems to be more men there than during the week.  Good luck.

the library sounds like a good lead... im looking for something i can go to during the day with other moms / dads.... maybe on the upper west side? just so i can get some advice and have some comrades to hash things out with...

There are groups for dads at the 92nd St Y.  I went to a New Dads/New Babies group on weekends.  There's also a New Parents Get-Together, on Wednesdays I believe, that is open to both moms and dads.  I haven't been myself but my wife has mentioned that some dads do attend.

Otherwise, another way to meet other parents and babies in group settings is to attend play/music activities at places like Gymboree or baby swim lessons at 92nd St Y or Asphalt Green.  For better or for worse, you'll likely see more moms than dads there during the week, with more dads attending on weekends, but they are certainly open to all, and I have enjoyed attending these with my daughter.

Good luck!

You can search the AHD playgroups at http://www.athomedad.org to see if there is a group in your hometown.  If you don't find a group, you can customize your own playgroup and plan events yourself within the playgroup sub-forum.  Next time you see an at-home Dad on the playground, invite him to join your new group. 

 There are also Dads groups on meetup.com. 

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