Must-have apps for Charlotte parents

Search for parenting apps and you get a long list of how to control everything from your kids’ passwords to bed time to lunch money.

While monitoring is an essential part of parenting, we’ve put together a Charlotte-based app list that will help you stay on track, healthy, entertained and caffeinated.

Bambino

First of all, you probably need a night out or a day off, and a reliable babysitter can be a rare find. Enter Bambino, an app that you can localize to your neighborhood. It works because parents can review sitters, and sitters can see their connection to parents before they sit for them. Think of it like a digital neighborhood for babysitting.

Atrium Health

With the Atrium Health Virtual Visit app, you can immediately connect to a medical provider for a live healthcare visit via your mobile device, 24 hours a day (because kids only get sick in the middle of the night). You can also reserve a spot at urgent care facilities with the MyAtriumHealth app.

My Charlotte

My Charlotte is another great local app giving you access to municipal services on the go. Wondering how this one may be relevant to parenting? Here’s just a few reasons why: the app provides current airport parking and flight information, searchable traffic accident locations, and daily air-quality stats which can be essential for kids with breathing issues and environmental allergies.

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library app gives you access to the library’s extensive catalog so you can find your kids’ next favorite book, magazine, movie or song. You can also get library hours and directions, and find upcoming children events at all of the branches.

Cloosiv

Parenting equals the need for a lot of caffeine. Cloosiv lets you order ahead at several Charlotte coffee shops (not Starbucks), saving you time and most likely from yelling at your kids. It also means you get to show a little love to locally-owned shops.

Honorable Mention: 2ULaundry

OK, so this one doesn’t have an app yet – but 2ULaundry-Charlotte’s lightning fast response time to texts is amazing – as is the service. They drop off empty bags, you fill them with your dirty laundry, and it magically returns to you clean and folded (or even hung to dry). Depending on the age of your kids and size of your family this one can be a real game-changer whether you schedule an occasional pick-up after a vacation or need frequent help to keep up with your kids’ multiple outfit changes.

7 more to try:

These apps aren’t Charlotte-based but they get high reviews from parents everywhere.

Pregnancy Tracker & Baby App and What To Expect track developmental milestones, and offer educational resources and tips on everything from fertility to fitness with one quick swipe (and images in stunning clarity).

Qustodio Parental Control is billed as the easiest way to supervise your kids’ online activity. There’s a digital dashboard and an app that allows you to see how your child uses devices, apps and websites. Parents can also set limits and filters to manage online experiences.

Depending on the age of your child you probably either can’t get them to go and stay asleep, or you can’t wake them up. Moshi Twilight offers guided mediation stories that kids love and adults can handle. For a somewhat-unconventional choice, try listening to the UK’s shipping forecast available from the Calm app and recently featured on the podcast “99% Invisible”.

For those trying to raise good little humans who pitch in and have a sense of responsibly, ChoreMonster helps you create weekly tasks with equivalent points for your kids. The idea is that kids will see the task due date and how many points they’ll receive for completing it. Points can be traded in for family-decided rewards and activities.

And just for fun, Lifecake helps you create and keep a visual timeline of your kids. You also can make photo albums, and send them to print. But, perhaps the best part is you can add family members and friends to the app so they can securely see what you post. Perfect for out-of-town family and sharing the images you don’t want the world to see on Instagram or Facebook.

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This paid content was created in partnership with Charlotte Country Day School.