Meeting new friends can sometimes be tricky, especially later in life. But having a circle of like-minded friends is never more important than when you become a parent for the first time.
As much as your childless friends might try, there are certain things that only other mums and dads will understand (like the 2am night feeds, poo explosions, and dreaded sleep regression).
A sympathetic ear can not only help you to make the most out of your paternity or maternity leave, it can also give you a source of support and advice and ease the potential isolation of new parenthood.
Thanks to technology, gaining a circle of parent friends has never been easier, with a number of dad and mum friends apps springing up to help parents connect.
Think of them like online dating apps but instead of finding romance they help dads and mums find local parents to hang out with! You can find people with similar interests, arrange play dates, or just find someone to chat to about the amazing and sometimes overwhelming world of new parenthood.
Here is a selection of the best (free) tried and tested apps that make making new parent friends easy.
NB: All apps are available for iOS in the App Store, or for Android at Google Play.
1) Peanut app
A frontrunner in the growing world of mum friends apps is called Peanut. It is as close to Tinder for mums as you will get, offering a swipe up/down ‘wave’ function. If both mums wave at each other's profile, you’re in! On registering you can choose three personality traits that sum up your vibe, from Wine Time to Mum Boss or Outdoorsy, making it easy to identify like-minded women while also giving you a good conversation starter.
It’s a slick platform that also offers a chat stream among the wider Peanut community, as well as helping mums find more localised groups. Happily, message boards are moderated to ban any posts relating to advertising, canvassing of mums by the media or hate, making it a peaceful and supportive space to meet other mums.
It's a safe space for mothers, expectant mothers and those trying to conceive to build friendships, ask questions and find support. Introducing you to women nearby who are at a similar stage in life, Peanut provides access to a community of women who are there to listen, share information and offer valuable advice.
Whether it’s understanding IVF, adoption, pregnancy, first years or nursery and beyond, Peanut is a place to connect with women like you.
2) DadPad
Because dads need friends too! This app is really well put together and looks great. It connects dads whether they are stay-at-home dads, working late in the office dads, single dads or haven’t got a clue dads.
The DadPad was developed and piloted by a Social Enterprise with no shareholders, putting any profit and feedback back into their product for the benefit of the new dads and their families. We all know that babies don't come with a set of instructions, and dads are quite often in the same boat as mums!
While many parenting resources focus on mothers, this app uniquely centers on fatherhood. Although it offers helpful advice, it currently lacks a feature to connect with other dads nearby.
Currently the app is only available in a few regions and counties including Cornwall, North Tyneside, Northumberland, Portsmouth City, Leicestershire, Derby City, Warwickshire and Wolverhampton to name a few.
3) Bumply
A bit more clunky than some of its competitors, Bumply is more basic but offers a similar service.
Locations are not postcode or GPS generated, which means you can pick the general area that you are based by dropping a pin and then select mums nearby from a map – a useful variation for those who might be more cautious about their privacy. Profiles with which to scope out mum mates are more basic, with only key stats requested but with the option of offering as much about your interests as you like.
Connect to mums by sending them a ‘bump’ to invite them to chat. It also offers a week-by-week guide to pregnancy, which is useful, but not vital as most mums I know use a separate, more detailed app, for tracking their pregnancy. Far fewer bells and whistles than some of its competitors but a simple, lo-fi app that does the job nonetheless, if enough mums in your area are signed up.
4) Blackmums
Brand new for 2025, this well-designed app for Black mums has been set up to provide access to a community who are there to listen, share information and offer valuable advice. You can swipe into Sisterhood Discover and connect with like-minded Black mums who share your journey. We also love that you can find local mums nearby who can join you on playdates and offer pregnancy and parenting tips.
Create a profile, share your experiences, interests, then you can connect with mums who truly get you.
There's also the opportunity to subscribe to the newsletter, tune into real-time wisdom with Blackmums' live audio sessions as well as share your concerns, seek guidance and support from those who truly understand the challenges and joys of motherhood. After all, it takes a village. Find yours.
5) The fatherli app
Dads are often the least supported in the parenting journey and this app aims to change that. The fatherli has been created to support, connect, and empowers dads it also provides a range of content, blogs, expert advice and support forums around topics that dads care about.
The fatherli app has been co-designed with over 60 dads from 11 countries so hopefully you can find someone to connect with no matter where you are.
What we love about this app is that it not only offers chat-based platforms to connect with other dad but also a Zoom meet ups for dads. They also offer coaching services covering everything from building parenting confidence and skills to navigating separation and divorce as a dad.
Currently the fatherli app and zoom meet ups are free. A consultation with a coach is free and then 1-1 coaching sessions are paid.
6) Carol app
Feeling lonely as a mum? Carol connects you with local mums for support and friendship.
It's perfect for first time mums, and connects mums to each other based on similar interests, location, child ages and/or pregnancy due dates. You can chat to one another, join groups, create groups and find real connections with mums. The free app also provides a 'Resource' Section where you can read articles from top experts across several motherhood topics.
When I first downloaded the app to test it out, there was a pop up offer to download Ella's Kitchen Weaning Pack for free - which I'm guessing a lot of mums will happily use.
To use the all, you have to create a profile including a photo. If the profile isn't complete you can still join groups and have access to resources but you won't be able to connect with other mums and the profile won't be visible.
The parent app also has an 'Offers' section with exclusive discounts across a range of products. Handy!
Keya Modessa, is our Senior Digital Writer and brings over a decade of experience from the digital realm to Mother&Baby. As a mother of two, Keya understands the joys and challenges of modern parenthood and uses her own experience, to give practical advice. Keya has worked across national publications including glossy women's mags, Food and Travel, and more recently as digital lead for Muddy Stilettos.