The best toy stores are the ones with a ton of fun products to mess with while you shop for the perfect toy, educational toy kit, or whatever it may be that you need! Luckily, we have a few super fun Raleigh, NC toy stores that parents love! 

Collage of photos of a baby girl wearing a white dress, sitting on a white bench and walking, with a pink textured canvas background

Three Engaging And Fun Raleigh, NC Toy Stores

Collage of three photos of a mom and dad holding their one year old baby girl

The Teach Me Store

An educational supply store for Raleigh parents, teachers, and more, The Teach Me Store is located at 3520 Spring Forest Road and offers over 18,000 products within their 12,000 square feet space. The Teach Me Store has been providing quality products for over 30 years, with a wide selection of products perfect for all ages from birth through high school! Their products include learning toys and games, plush animals and puppets, science and nature activities, math activities, language arts activities, craft kits, art supplies, puzzles, books, history and geography activities, fidget toys, and social/emotional tools. Even better, this store is wonderfully subdivided into categories, which just makes sense (plus they make it easier to find the products you’re looking for)!  

Collage of three photos of a one year old baby girl wearing a pink outfit and playing with a wooden toy

Collage of three photos of a cute one year old baby girl wearing a gray and white outfit and a pink bow.

Marbles Play Store

Located at 201 East Hargett Street, Marbles Play Store is a part of Raleigh’s Marbles Kids Museum. They opened in 2007 with a mission to encourage healthy and active lifestyles in children, encourage exploration, experimentation, innovation, and learning, as well as to connect families and community members together to unite each other. With a dedication to building intellectual, social, and emotional skills in children, Marbles Play Store offers a variety of innovative, educational, and whimsical children’s products. Their products perfectly complement the museum’s exhibits so your child can take home a piece of the museum while meeting their developmental needs through the power of play! A few items you can find here include:

  • Holiday-exclusive themed plushies
  • Children’s books
  • Puppets
  • Puzzles
  • Building kits
  • Art crafts
  • Problem-solving toys
  • Lego kits
  • Collectible knick-knacks! 

Collage of photos of a mom in a purple dress playing with and breast feeding her one year old daughter

Collage of photos of a dad playing with his baby girl, including holding her hands while she walks and flying her around like an airplane

Pop Shelf

With two Raleigh locations, Popshelf toy store is easy to access, meaning easy to shop at! Based on providing fun, on-trend products, Popshelf’s goal is to make it easy to find what you need while also providing a fun experience within their stores! Popshelf has a large selection of arts and crafts products, toys, and children’s seasonal items. 

Their categories and products include sports equipment, action figures, and sets, toy vehicles and sets, outdoor toys, toddler toys, craft toys, novelty toys, dolls, learning and educational toys, dress-up toys, pretend play products, games, puzzles, stuffed animals and plushes, kids arts and crafts, coloring books, activity sets, and so much more! But a few of their featured products include:

  • Magnetic drawing boards
  • Disney character products
  • Scented slime
  • Play-doh
  • Hot wheels classic cars.

Popshelf has everything you don’t even know you’re looking for! 

Collage of two photos of a cute one year old baby girl practicing walking while wearing a gray and white outfit and a pink bow.

Raleigh, NC Toy Stores

If they aren’t already, these fun Raleigh, NC toy stores need to be on your “go-to” list for the next holiday or birthday shopping trip! 

Sometimes finding that perfect toy to engage and entertain your little one is a challenge! So I hope these shops have just the thing to make them smile. In all honesty, capturing those smiles is one of my favorite parts of being a photographer! So check out more smiles and helpful Raleigh motherhood tips in the blog links below. Then reach out today to chat about your next session!

Collage of three photos of a one year old baby girl wearing a pink outfit and playing with a wooden toy

So much of your birth experience relies upon where you choose to deliver; the environment, people, and care can set you up for a successful, positive, and comfortable birth! These fantastic birthing centers in Raleigh, NC, dedicate themselves to maintaining cozy, family-centered atmospheres where families can excitedly and safely welcome their newest addition. 

3 Birthing Centers in Raleigh, NC Offering Welcoming, Comfortable Environments for Your Birthing Experience

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Birth Center at Rex

Rex Women’s Center prides itself on its comfortable and nurturing birth center, where its team of compassionate and skilled doctors, midwives, nurses, and staff are prepared to welcome your new baby into the world. Your care team will help you follow your birth preferences throughout your experience while ensuring your and your baby’s safety is always the priority. 

Their Birth Center offers comfortable, family-friendly rooms with:

  • convertible sleeper chairs and sofas for your support team,
  • a private bath with a shower,
  • tv and wifi, and
  • other birth tools to use throughout your labor and delivery.

Additionally, you don’t have to be concerned about safety; your baby’s security is paramount. They will always be protected by uniformed security, identification bracelets matching your and your partner’s, and intensive visitor check-ins. 

The Rex Women’s Center also practices Delayed Bath, meaning you and your baby will have extra time together immediately following delivery. Hence, you get a little extra time for bonding and appreciating your beautiful new baby.

Collage of two photos of a pregnant woman with long hair in a white dress standing on a pink canvas background.

Birthplace at WakeMed Cary Hospital

The Birthplace at WakeMed Cary Hospital was founded on a sense of community and well-being, offering high-quality obstetric care in a comfortable and flexible environment. Their private suites feature full showers and whirlpool tubs for you to utilize hydrotherapy throughout labor (which helps to ease tense muscles and promote gentle movement.) 

There are also plenty of amenities to ensure your partner’s comfort, including:

  • a sleeper couch,
  • mini-fridge,
  • television, and
  • Wi-Fi.

Should your baby require additional medical attention, you’re right down the hall from a Level III Special Care Nursery, with plenty of expert physicians and neonatologists on call to provide exceptional care. 

WakeMed utilizes a family-centered approach that encourages rooming-in, where your baby stays with you rather than in a nursery. Studies show that moms can rest when their new babies are nearby, and babies do better with breastfeeding when mama is close.

Collage of three images of a pregnant woman in a long white off-shoulder maternity dress.

Duke Birthing Center

Duke Birthing Center delivers more than 3,400 babies every year. They commit to helping families celebrate this momentous milestone in a safe, comfortable environment! Duke Birthing Center individualizes your care to your and your baby’s needs. Their team ensures that you have a positive, memorable experience. 

The Duke Birthing Center team comprises reputable obstetricians, perinatologists, pediatricians, neonatologists, nurse midwives, and so many more. Hence, whatever the situation, plenty of trained and skilled people can handle it. Their Birthing Center includes:

  • 20 labor rooms, each with a whirlpool bath, TV, and couches
  • 28 mother/baby postpartum rooms with private showers. 

Plus, their prenatal care includes classes to help you and your partner prepare for childbirth, better understand your labor and delivery options, and prepare for life once your beautiful baby has arrived! 

Collage of three photos of a pregnant woman and her husband posing for maternity portraits

Birthing Centers in Raleigh, NC

Check out the websites of these birthing centers in Raleigh, NC, for pictures of their facilities, information on their providers, and various additional resources to help you prepare for your big day!

So are you ready for more Raleigh motherhood content? Then check out the blog links below! But before you go, let’s chat about your newborn photo session!

Collage of two photos of a pregnant woman with long hair in a white dress standing on a pink canvas background.

Your baby’s pediatrician can practically become part of the family over time, so who you choose to entrust with your child’s health matters! Whether you need help keeping your baby healthy, timely care for an acute issue, or someone who can help reassure you when you have questions or concerns, the right pediatrician can make all the difference. These Raleigh, NC pediatricians are known for their quality care, investment in building personalized relationships, and dedication to keeping the kids in our community well. 

Happy couple dressed in white and cream smiling at their newborn baby

3 Raleigh NC Pediatricians Providing Personalized Patient-Centered Care

Little Oaks Pediatrics

A board-certified pediatrician team lead Little Oaks Pediatrics in the heart of Leesville Town Center in North Raleigh. Along with the other qualified, courteous, and knowledgeable people on their team, they work hard to ensure that every experience you have with their office is positive. 

They aim to ensure that you and your child are comfortable and informed. They also take the time to help you understand your baby’s needs and ensure you have the proper education needed to encourage a lifetime of health and wellness. 

Whether you have an infant or a teenager, Little Oaks Pediatrics treats each patient with the care they would want for their own children. From ongoing wellness to acute care for time-sensitive needs to even prenatal care, this exceptional clinic always puts children first.

Black and white photo of a newborn baby girl with a head of dark hair, wrapped in a white swaddle

Kids First Raleigh

Kids First Raleigh has been serving families in our community for the past fifteen years, providing high-quality healthcare in a fun and comfortable environment. The office includes a team of three physicians and six rockstar registered nurses. Their mission is to treat the entire well-being of a child, not just the current list of symptoms. 

They utilize the “Patient-Centered Medical Home” approach to care, meaning they get to know your child and your family’s unique needs. Then, they help you access and coordinate care across hospitals, specialists, pharmacies, schools, and other community resources. As such, they act as your medical home base for your child’s wellness. Electronic medical records make accessing your child’s information easy. You can spend less time on paperwork and phone calls and more time caring for your kiddos.

Collage of two photos of mom and dad snuggling with their newborn baby girl.

Pediatric Partners

Pediatric Partners provides honest communication between providers, patients, and parents and up-to-date, evidence-based medical knowledge. They also prioritize continuity of care for each patient. Hence, they allow every family to choose their clinician to work with throughout their child’s wellness journey. 

The relationship and bond between a patient and their primary care provider are unique. They should be honored, and Pediatric Partners will always try to schedule patients with their provider. As such, each provider’s daily schedule is structured to offer same-day appointments when needed. 

With only five physicians in the practice, many patients get to know more than one – if not all – of the providers. Families feel comfortable with another provider if their specific physician is unavailable. Suppose building a unique and lasting relationship with your child’s doctor is important to you. In that case, Pediatric Partners may be the perfect clinic for your family.

Collage of two photos of a newborn baby girl. The first photo is a backlit image of baby's feet. The second photo is of baby wrapped in a white swaddle, wearing a white headband, and laid in a light colored wood bowl.

Raleigh NC Pediatricians

You just want the best for your child, and these Raleigh, NC, pediatricians represent some of the best of the best care providers. Spend time on their websites to get to know their providers, services, and more to find the right pediatrician for your family.

So are you ready for more Raleigh motherhood content? Then check out the blog links below! But before you go, reach out today to chat about your next session!

Black and white photo of a dark-haired newborn baby girl wrapped in a white swaddle blanket by Christy Johnson Photography
How to Prepare for Your Newborn Photo Session: A Step-by-Step Guide

Picture this: it’s your first time leaving the house as a brand-new family. You’ve managed to get the diaper bag packed, the baby dressed (twice), and everyone buckled in. As you pull into my studio parking lot, your mind is spinning with questions. Will the baby cry the whole time? What are we even supposed […]

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