The best advice my husband and I received since becoming parents is: “Do not try to do this alone. You might want to and some days you will be able to manage on your own (or with your partner). But do not try to do this alone in the long run. Find your community.”

Part of having a healthy pregnancy, labor and parenting experience is about having a strong support system around you. Having a community to rely on (or lack thereof) can make or break your experience in a new place or journey. Being a new parent becomes more challenging when you are the only person (or couple) in your friends and family group with a baby. But, while it might seem intimidating when it comes to building your parents community – there are some easy ways you can get started.

Where to Meet other Parents in Germany

My favorite place to start is social media, Facebook, or Instagram! Groups such as ExpatBabies Frankfurt offers an online platform for knowledge sharing and connecting with other international parents. Another helpful site to meet local parents is MeetUp. Offering tons of events and gatherings for new parents looking to connect with other parents in the area.

Many major cities like Frankfurt, have non-profit organizations and support groups. One of my favorite resources is Afloat, a non-profit organization based in Frankfurt focused on providing support to international parents in Germany, with a focus on maternal mental health. These sites and resources offer you the chance to meet online or in person from the comfort of your home.

You can also begin your search where many of us begin our search these days, simply typing in “parenting resources and groups in XXX city” or “new parents in XXX city” on Google. Germany has many international and diverse cities where you can always find your community.

How to Foster those New Connections

Once the baby is here, our days revolve around napping, feeding and changing schedules. No day is the same as the other and sometimes, we make plans to then have to readjust. Add on top the fact that you want to maintain your social life and personal connections – it may feel that it takes ages to reply back to simple Whatsapp messages let alone make the effort to meet and join new parent groups.

My best recommendation is to start the research before the baby is born. Compile a list of 3-4 groups you would like to get involved with or learn more about. Start there and join some of the meet-up events during pregnancy and make those connections earlier so you can carry them throughout those first few months of parenting. Labor prep courses offered in places such as your local Familien Gesundheitszentrum or Family Health Center offer labor prep and parenting courses which are always a great way to meet people in similar situations.

Utilize your new community for support and encouragement. Whether that is posting a quick question in your new parents Whatsapp or Facebook group or inviting some of your new parent-friends over for a playdate with the kids – making the effort to maintain these connections is crucial to have a positive parenting experience down the road.

Remember, in-between sleepless nights and stressful days in parenting, we are not alone on this journey. Do not try to parent alone and start building your community today. Let’s connect to help you get started on your unique and exciting journey into parenting abroad.