Playing with a newborn is kinda hard, amiright?! Don’t get me wrong—there are go-tos, like pat-a-cake, peek-a-boo, and this little piggy. But so many parents—myself included—freeze a little beyond that.
We wonder: What’s the best way to connect? Am I connecting enough?!
That’s why I was so excited to discover a company that helps parents with this dilemma. It’s called Lovevery.
What is Lovevery?
Lovevery Play Kits
Lovevery is a company that creates fun and educational toys for kids. Each toy that the company manufactures—from a baby play gym, to high-contrast flash cards, to mobiles, and more—are all created to encourage early brain development.
“There is something magical about a toy if it’s done right, because it can help clue the parent into what the baby is hungry to do.” —Jessica Rolph, co-founder of Lovevery, told TIME
What Are Lovevery Play Kits?
Though you can buy select products individually (the play gym, a doll stroller, a block set, and more), Lovevery is best known for the Lovevery Play Kits—boxes that are specifically curated to suit various stages of learning and development. They currently have 10 different options, including:
Lovevery play kits for babies:
- The Looker Play Kit (Weeks 0-12): This play kit includes items like a mobile, high-contrast flash cards and various holders, high-contrast mittens, a wooden book, and a rattle with a removable ball.
- The Charmer Play Kit (Months 3-4): This play kit includes items like a wooden rattle, a rolling bell, a soft book, a mirror, high-contrast cards, a crinkle bag, and a soft teething ring.
- The Senser Play Kit (Months 5-6): This play kit includes items like a Montessori ball, play socks, a tummy time waddler, and a bib.
- The Inspector Play Kit (Months 7-8): This play kit includes items like a wooden box and ball set, stacking cups, a puzzle, felt balls, and a drinking cup.
- The Explorer Play Kit (Months 9-10): This play kit includes items like wooden blocks, stacking rings, an egg cup, bean bags, and a soft wool blanket.
- The Thinker Play Kit (Months 11-12): This play kit includes items like a doll, a pincer puzzle, a wallet and “credit cards,” and wooden coins.
See an unboxing of the Think Play Kit below:
Lovevery play kits for toddlers:
- The Babbler Play Kit (Months 13,14, and 15): This play kit includes items like a ball run, wooden stackers, puzzles, felt baskets, balls, and books.
- The Pioneer Play Kit (Months 16,17, and 18): This play kit includes items like a car ramp, a ball, a mirror, books, a puzzle, and a threadable bead kit.
- The Realist Play Kit (Months 19,20, and 21): This play kit includes items like a lockbox, balls, a matching game, a pitcher and glass, a flashlight, and books.
- The Companion Play Kit (Months 22, 23, and 24): This play kit includes items like
See inside some of the toddler play kits below:
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Lovevery Discount Code
Though Lovevery doesn’t currently have a discount code or coupon for the play kits, you can still get a great deal:
Buy a Lovevery Play Kit
You can subscribe to the play kits for as little as $36/month, and shipping is free.
My Honest Lovevery Play Kit Review
The Babbler Play Kit
Unboxing the play kit
When our first Lovevery Play Kit arrived, we dumped the whole thing out to let our daughter, Faith, explore. It was a really fun and delightful sensory experience for her.
But, next time, I think I’d opt to unbox myself and take one toy out at a time. This is actually something I recommend for all kids’ toys. It’s the paradox of choice—when kids have too many choices, none of them seem all that great. But if you grab one thing and cycle through it, kids have no choice but to explore. Generally, this is a very positive experience for them—and it’s a great way to capture their attention.
And with all of the different toys in each kit, you essentially have one toy for each day of the week!
Playing with the play kit
Lovevery Play Kit – Coin Bank
Faith had so much fun interacting with the play kit. And it really hit the mark developmentally.
The parental resources that comes in the crate are pretty fantastic, too. As I mentioned above, playing with a newborn has its own set of challenges, but the parental resources (essentially large-format flash cards secured with a ring) that come with each play kit really guide you through each toy and provide recommendations for how to use the toy to interact with your child.
Lovevery Parent Cards
These cards also provide information about why each toy is so great for this specific stage of baby’s development—it’s truly fascinating stuff!
What I Love About Lovevery Play Kits
It’s stimulating
Faith was delighted to explore a variety of new toys. I really saw her light up while she interacted with each and every item in the box. This was a huge win!
It teaches important skills
There’s a sensory element to discovering new toys, but I love that all of the included toys are specifically chosen, because they teach valuable skills. Through the toys in the box, I witnessed Faith extending her motor skills, problem-solving skills, and critical thinking skills. She also got to explore the concept of cause and effect and build upon her (soon-to-be) exploding vocabulary.
It’s expertly curated
These boxes are designed by academics (professors and researchers), as well as former educators and child development professionals to ensure all of the items in the Lovevery play kits are developmentally appropriate for each age group and facilitate early learning.
How Much Do Lovevery Play Kits Cost?
Baby play kits
The baby Lovevery play kits cost $80. Because each kit is designed to span two to three months, this equates to approximately $40 per month.
But if you pay for the whole kit upfront, you’ll receive a 10% discount, making the kit cost just $36 per month.
Toddler play kits
The toddler play kits cost $120. Because each kit is designed to span three months, this equates to $40 per month.
But if you pay for the whole kit upfront, you’ll receive a 10% discount, making the kit cost just $36 per month.
Buy a Lovevery Play Kit
You can subscribe to the play kits for as little as $36/month — and shipping is free.
Bonus: The Lovevery Play Gym
Lovevery Play Gym for Baby
Lovevery also makes the most beautiful and high-quality play gym I’ve ever seen! I wish I knew about this when Faith was younger—she would have loved it. The mat has won numerous awards, because both parents and kids love it. Why?
It’s aesthetically pleasing…
This play mat has a really beautiful design. It has pretty, muted colors that suit a wide range of decors (aka doesn’t scream baby toy), but is still very stimulating for baby. It also has gorgeous natural wood legs that are sustainably sourced. It’s one piece of baby gear you definitely won’t mind sitting out.
It’s amazingly versatile and stimulating…
This play gym doesn’t have any sounds or flashing lights, but is way more engaging than any of those mats could ever be. The comfortable cotton base has all kinds of interactive features, like crinkle fabric, pulleys, pockets, and textured fabric. It also comes with high-contrast flash cards that nestle into a folder that attaches to the play mat via velcro.
The play gym also comes with a number of engrossing items you can hang from the wooden legs—a high-contrast Montessori ball, a wooden batting ring complete with a bell and clappers, and an organic cotton crinkle teether.
Buy the Lovevery Play Gym
Buy this safe, stimulating, and attractive play gym
And one of the coolest parts is it grows with baby…
Lovevery Play Gym for Toddlers
We may have missed the newborn phase with Faith, but this play gym is a fun toy for toddlers too. In addition to all of the above, it comes with a cover that turns the whole thing into a play tent! The older kids have so much fun crawling in and out of the fort and turning it into their very own play space.
