Parent & Toddler Groups
Parent/toddler groups can be a great way of meeting other people with children the same age as yours in your area. While these were traditionally aimed at mothers, they are now aimed at parent as well as minders, grandparents and other guardians. Some are held in local community centres or church halls while others meet in the homes of group members.
You can get information about local groups by asking your GP or district nurse or by checking with your local health centre. You could also try Cuidiú a parent-to-parent voluntary support group, which runs parent and baby/toddler groups in 13 branches nationwide. Rollercoaster.ie includes a section on meeting points for parents in each region of the country. Early Childhood Ireland also provides information on groups.
If you are specifically interested in a group that focuses on breastfeeding support, you could ask your health nurse as many Health Centres now run Breastfeeding Support Groups. In addition, your local Cuidiu branch is likely to have a breastfeeding counsellor and group. The international organisation La Leche League also runs breastfeeding support groups in Ireland.