Our Family Focus Media team is pleased to present the best services and businesses for growing families, as recommended by parents in the Philly Family Community. From expert doulas and lactation consultants to trusted childcare providers and birth education resources, these award-winning professionals offer invaluable support for every stage of your family’s journey. Whether you’re preparing for a new arrival or navigating the early years of parenthood, our guide highlights the most trusted resources Philadelphia has to offer.

Read the endorsements from local parents in our Philly Family Community about who they love and why. Then pop over to our Philadelphia Family Best for Families Guide to find more trusted resources! Best for Families Celebrations photos by AMC Photography.

“Using Baby Gear Group has been so helpful! As a first-time mom, I have learned that despite reading tons of reviews online, babies can be finicky and what is deemed ‘the best’ product in a certain category may not be the right fit for your family. Through Baby Gear Group, we have been able to try out different baby items to see what works best for our daughter. It is so easy to work with Bo and her team and we love being part of a sustainable solution, avoiding buying more stuff (that turns into clutter) or dealing with trying to buy and sell items secondhand!”

– Jessica Z.

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“Connected Doulas sent us Rhianna Gaehring who was our doula. We can’t imagine going through labor without her. She advocated for me, helped me navigate tough medical decisions, trouble-shooted when an epidural failed, and kept my eyes on the prize—healthy me, healthy baby.”

– Kate B.

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“I truly don’t think we would have made it through the early months of feeding without Crescent Lactation Care! Our lactation consultant was an absolute lifesaver — knowledgeable, compassionate, and endlessly patient. She helped us with latch issues, made sure our daughter was gaining weight on track, supported me through supply challenges, and guided us through adjusting our feeding and pumping routines as our needs changed. She was also incredibly helpful during our daughter’s tongue tie release and recovery, making sure the process went smoothly and that we felt confident every step of the way. Her calm presence and expertise gave me so much reassurance during such a vulnerable time.”

– Kathryn R.

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“Graziana from Eighth Sense Wellness is an angel! She really changed the game for me during my second postpartum experience through her baby yoga classes at Everland. She is so knowledgable with her background as an OT and her classes strike the perfect balance of teaching moms techniques to assist with our babies’ development, but through the lens of prioritizing our own healing postpartum bodies and mental health. Once when I was home sick and couldn’t make the class, she took it upon herself to send me a summary of what they discussed and some exercise videos so I could practice with my son at home. She also offered guidance and advice related to my older toddler when she heard me talking to another mom. She goes above and beyond, and I think she’s been such an amazing addition to the Philadelphia community.”

– Katlyn D.

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“Ria Savoy with Little Angel Sleep Solutions understand babies…and more importantly…understands babies’ sleep! Ria joined our family a month after our son was born to initially assist with overnight care to get my husband and I the sleep we so desperately needed! My first baby was a unicorn and slept through the night at 6 weeks old! My son…not so much! Ria jumped in to support my son’s sleep journey beyond the 1–2 overnight shifts. She helped us learn (or relearn!) the best wake windows for him as well as age-appropriate techniques to lay the foundation for independent sleep. When my son went through the dreaded 4-month regression and we decided it was time to formally “sleep train,” Ria gave us the confidence we needed to follow through on the plan. The first night, I texted Ria updates throughout the night. Even at 1am, she was on the other end of the phone giving me the confidence I needed to stay the course. Even though our son ‘graduated’ from sleep school, Ria still checks in to see how our little guy is doing. She has become an extended part of our family.”

– Autumn H.

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“I cannot recommend MBR Nanny Network enough! Going back to work and worrying about finding child care can be very stressful for parents but Marissa and the MBR team were great to work with and we have been so happy with our experience! They are great at communicating and Marissa makes the experience personal, adding in her experience in the industry for many years. We trusted them and they made the process of finding a nanny very easy. We have loved our nanny and have been so happy with the whole process!”

– Megan N.

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“Estee’s Philly HypnoBirthing course gave me the birth I always wanted, even with the curveballs that were thrown in along the way. When I found out I was pregnant, I knew I wanted to have an unmedicated hospital birth. After some research, it seemed that a Hypnobirthing course would help me obtain my goal the best. Estee came highly recommended, so I signed up! From the beginning, I practiced the tools she taught daily and really started to feel more connected to my body and my baby. It made me not only feel positive, but powerful. I will cherish my daughter’s birth for the rest of my life, and I have Estee to thank!”

– Mallory F.

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“I attended Sarah with Phun Phit Pham’s Roll Stroll Playgroup at Rutabaga Toy Library. My son was struggling with some milestones (rolling/crawling/sitting up), and Sarah organized group ‘physical therapy’ playgroups where she was able to interact with each child and give the parents guidance on how to support their child’s development. There was one class where just hours later, my son started rolling (after using the tweaks/set ups Sarah suggested). But the best part was that it was fun, low stress and the kids just felt like they were playing!”

– Serena S.

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“You can tell this is Heather’s passion. From the moment you first reach out you feel special and seen. Heather’s attention to detail in each Placenta Encapsulation Services package is so thoughtful. Knowing she’s APPA certified is a huge plus as I knew everything was evidence-based and my placenta was handled with care and attention. The package arrived filled with lovely surprises and it just made me feel amazing.”

– Philadelphia Community Parent

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“Joe and Safer Babies did an excellent job making our home safe for our infant. He just learned how to crawl and pick himself up to stand, so we needed to install baby gates to prevent him from going down the stairs. Joe was able to come within a few weeks to install and even recommended some other safety measures that we had not considered.”

– Rakesh J.

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“Georgette Kerr and the rest of the girls at After the Stork have gone above and beyond to help support our family after we had our second child. The administrative office has been very responsive and helpful, even responding to my emails on a weekend. Our postpartum doulas helped us feel more well rested and provided helpful guidance on everything from newborn sleep to feeding. They took such wonderful care of our newborn overnight so that my husband and I could get some much-needed sleep and made the newborn trenches so much more manageable.”

– Marina P.

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“My husband and I took Brittany’s birth class with Blossoming Bellies Wholistic Birth Services and honestly wished it was longer than the 6 hours we had. She is incredibly knowledgeable, well-versed, and clearly passionate about what she teaches. Every topic was explained thoroughly in a way that was easy to understand without ever feeling overwhelming. What stood out most to my husband and I was how open and judgment-free the environment was. Any question could be asked and Brittany answered everything thoughtfully and respectfully, which made the entire group feel comfortable participating. I especially appreciated how much my husband gained from the class. He left feeling educated, prepared, and confident in his role as my support person and advocate during delivery.”

– Koryn H.

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“I reached out to Marcella, owner of Born With Love Doulas, because I was concerned that I wasn’t making enough milk for my baby. We talked about what was going on and we did a weighted feed on my newborn. We found out that he was not transferring milk. She assessed my son and determined he may have a tongue tie. She referred us to a pediatric dentist, and a baby-based occupational therapist. She explained to me what it could look like moving forward and we decided for me to move toward exclusive pumping to try to increase my milk supply. Over roughly 6 weeks i increased my supply to make an average of 28-30oz of milk a day! At 2 months postpartum I was even able to start successfully nurse my baby. Without Marcella’s help i would not have been able to successfully breastfeed my baby for the last 6 months.”

– Taylor H.

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“Kate of How to Doula This is compassionate, nurturing, and a self-professed (although clearly evident) ‘birth nerd.’ She helped us immensely as we struggled through breastfeeding and armed us with research-based information when we felt overwhelmed by articles on the internet when it ultimately came time to select a formula brand. More so than our friends and family who offered us their opinions and the medical professionals who offered us the formula that they ‘weren’t out of,’ Kate provided us with the neutral yet scientific-based information that we needed and craved, which empowered us as new parents to make the decisions that were best for our family.”

– A. F.

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“Little Travelers is a family-run baby gear rental company founded by husband-and-wife team Jill and Andy, created after they experienced firsthand how stressful and bulky traveling with young children can be. When families visit the Shore, baby gear such as full-size cribs, BOB beach strollers, highchairs and more is delivered straight to their door. Jill personally works with every family who places an order with Little Travelers providing a personal, hands-on experience. What sets Little Travelers apart is how they go beyond rentals to support families who need it most. This February, Little Travelers is launching a FREE adaptive and specialized stroller program so children with disabilities can fully enjoy boardwalks and beaches alongside everyone else. Their kindness, responsiveness, and commitment to inclusion have made a meaningful impact on visiting families.”

– Philadelphia Community Parent

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“Liz Brooks is truly a God send! She went to the beginning of my first breastfeeding journey and tried to troubleshoot any possible area that could have gone wrong before I even had my baby! She supported me through home visits, education, advice, and provided a listening ear! She truly cares about her patients and their babies! Our community needs more people like her, and more mamas deserve to know the type of support they have in their backyard!”

– Lauren M.

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“Mariah Martin helped us sleep train our oldest son at six months. I was going through the motions hoping his lack of sleep would pass without any relief and came across Mariah’s services. It was the absolute best decision I made. She saved me in ways she’ll never know. My son sleeps amazingly and is overall a much happier baby now. Mariah was empathetic, available 24/7 and offered endless support. She truly cared about me and my son and that was palpable. Mariah is extremely knowledgeable in newborn, infant, and toddler development and applies evidence-based research along with applying an intuitive approach to aid in optimal outcomes. She also helped my sisters in-law with their infants too. She’s just truly a gem and helps in ways moms need any appreciate. Mariah Martin Sleep Consultant helped my postpartum period turn positive and enjoyable, I’ll forever be thankful.”

– Jennifer D.

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“My stay at The Shoshana was everything I needed postpartum. The private suite felt calm and restorative, and the 24-hour doula support gave me the space to truly rest and recover. Having access to see my baby at any time brought so much peace of mind. Postpartum is treated as the fourth trimester here, and it shows in every detail. I would recommend The Shoshana to any mother – don’t just prepare for birth, prepare for recovery.”

– Erikah H.

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As we celebrate these outstanding Philadelphia Family LOVE Award Winners and Family Favorite Honorees, it’s clear that the Philly Family community is rich with resources for new and expecting parents. These exceptional businesses and professionals are dedicated to supporting families through life’s big transitions and with everyday care needs. Whether you’re preparing for birth, looking for expert help with breastfeeding or sleep, or exploring trusted childcare options, these award-winning providers offer the knowledge, compassion, and quality care your family deserves. We invite you to explore these trusted resources and connect with the caring professionals here to support you every step of the way.

Be sure to explore the Main Line Parent Best for Families Guide and Bucks County Parent Best for Families Guide to find even more resources that can support your family’s journey.

Know a fantastic local resource that should be on this list? Share your experience with a Philadelphia Family Member on their Profile Page (we count new endorsements as nominations year-round)! If you would like YOUR organization to be more connected with local parents, caregivers, and family-focused business leaders in our community, we invite you to join our Philadelphia Family Membership Program.