Health & Development Page

Breastfeeding 101

Breastfeeding is an extraordinarily rewarding experience, but there’s often a learning curve for both mom and baby. It may be natural, but it’s not always easy. If you’re a new mom struggling to breastfeed, talk to your pediatrician. They can…

48 Hours in High Point

High Point, just 90 minutes north of Charlotte, is known as the furniture capital of the world. It’s also the first Certified Autism Destination (CAD) on the East Coast, and the second in the country. Becoming a CAD means tourism,…

Best Pediatricians in Charlotte

Each year our sister publication, Charlotte magazine, releases a list of the Castle Connolly Top Doctors in Charlotte, based on a peer survey conducted by Castle Connolly. Doctors are selected through a peer nomination process, and then evaluated by a physician-led research…

Clean Up!

Getting kids to keep their rooms clean is an ongoing struggle for many parents. Kids often view their bedroom as "their space" and feel they should have autonomy. But for the parent, walking past a room with clothes all over…

Indoor Swim Lessons Around Charlotte

Updated March 2023 Aqua-Tots Founded in Arizona in 1991, this swim franchise offers group lessons for babies as young as 4 months old (with a parent) up to age 12. Instruction is available for children with special needs, and classes are…

Charlotte’s Best Indoor Playgrounds

Updated March 2023 MULTI-ACTIVITY FREE PLAY Sports Connection 11611 Ardrey Kell Rd. 704-583-1444 Pricing: Varies by activity Enjoy bounce houses, laser tag, bowling, arcade games, bumper cars, a ropes course, virtual reality, and more at this Ballantyne mega center. The…

Best OB/GYNs in Charlotte

Each year our sister publication, Charlotte magazine, releases a list of the Castle Connolly Top Doctors in Charlotte, based on a peer survey conducted by Castle Connolly. Doctors are selected through a peer nomination process, and then evaluated by a physician-led research…

A Guide to Pregnancy

Ah, pregnancy. One of the most beautiful and strangest experiences of your life. From the nausea and constant need to pee to the first flutters of movement from the tiny creature inside you, you quickly learn your body is not…

Stress-Free Bedtimes

One of the biggest challenges we face as parents is sleep—making sure our children get enough of it and finding a little for ourselves along the way. In addition to helping parents keep their sanity, adequate sleep is a huge…

How Does Your Garden Grow?

As parents, it's common to worry about what our children are eating. We want them to enjoy a wide range of nutritious foods and to develop a healthy relationship with food, but getting children to try new flavors and eat…

Books for Back to School

The Kissing Hand, by Audrey Penn (2007) Age group: preschool, early elementary It’s time for Chester Raccoon to start school, but he doesn’t want to go without his mom. Mrs. Raccoon soothes his worries with the Kissing Hand—a family secret…

PARENT TO KNOW: Clary Hilliard Gray

In honor of National Childhood Cancer Awareness month, we’re passing the pen to local mom, Clary Hilliard Gray. You might recognize her from Hilliard Studio Method, the popular fitness studio she co-founded with her mom, Liz Hilliard, in 2008. In…

A DIGITAL DETOX

Because children’s brains are malleable, they can learn and retain new skills, like foreign languages, more rapidly than we can as adults. But bad habits tend to stick, too. In other words, a child who learns to love screens in…

Spontaneous Summer Fun

Summer may already be in full swing, but that doesn't mean it’s too late to plan some family fun. We’ve got a roundup of outdoor adventures and weekend getaways you can still add to your calendar. *See approximate driving time from Charlotte listed…