We Tested 3 Baby Toy Subscriptions and Toy Boxes: Do They Measure Up?

Lovevery play kits are age- and stage-appropriate toy subscription boxes sent to your doorstep every two to three months, from newborn through age four. Each box comes with about seven developmentally appropriate toys, a book or two and a play guide to help parents understand how their child learns at this stage (plus tips for creating even more fun activities). The kits are thoughtfully packaged with eco-friendly materials and easy to open with little to no set up involved. A parent definitely had to be involved in that design!

Our product tester Niki A. tried the newborn-aimed Looker Kit with her ten-week-old and said, “These guidelines and play suggestions are great, and almost as valuable as the items they refer to—how to spend wake windows is definitely a challenge at the outset, and this kit really does feel like it has everything you need to successfully engage with and stimulate your child on a daily basis.” And if parents need additional guidance, they can download the accompanying app for weekly updates on what to expect as their little one builds new skills.

Play and education value

The Lovevery play kits aren’t just adorable—they foster real learning based on your child’s current age and stage. The kits are screen- and electronic-free, which Hicks says is important to allow kids to learn in the most natural way. “If [toys] are electronic in nature, if they’re digital in nature, it’s going to totally transform the child’s play, and it’s going to become more prescriptive,” Hicks explains. “And what kids benefit from most is unsupervised, unregulated, organic play.”

Each box has carefully curated toys intended for the beginning of a developmental phase so your little one can practice important skills like reaching and grasping. Our tester Kayla W. loved being able to watch her 5-month-old learn in real time. “The books definitely helped my baby learn to flip the pages and explore how books work. It was really incredible to see her figure out how to turn the pages. She also was able to figure out cause and effect from spinning the rainbow,” she said.

And with so much research and care going into each product, your child is bound to love their options. Niki says, “[My newborn] flashes big gummy grins at the little wooden book and seems fixated by the high contrast cards.” Honestly, aren’t the gummy grins exactly what our postpartum sleep-deprived brains need to keep us going?

Plus, your kiddo won’t be the only one learning. Tester Jennifer W. found the tips almost as helpful for her as the toys were for her 3-month-old. “This kit not only provides educational and entertaining toys for baby, it provides educational information and learning tools for the parent. Knowing how and why each toy is beneficial for baby ultimately helps me understand how I can better help her learn,” she says. Babies and toddlers grow and change so quickly, meeting new developmental milestones each week or month. Anything that helps us understand these tiny creatures better is certainly a win-win.

Quality of toys

With kits coming every two to three months, the variety of toys is sure to leave any kid engaged and entertained. And even with so many offerings, there are no repeats from kit to kit. Each box comes with an average of seven unique toys and at least one book, plus the guide for parents. Toys range from puppets and contrast color cards for the newest babes through puzzles and matching games for preschoolers. And we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention that both of the testers who tried The Looker Kit raved about the two-sided mobile—Niki tells us, "Few things bring my newborn as much joy as the mobile in this kit." Everything is made with sustainable materials when possible and are built to meet (or exceed) global regulatory safety standards.

They’re also built to last, which is something I particularly love as a mom who has spent countless hours soothing a crying, confused tot over a popped balloon or wheelless racecar. “They’re definitely more Montessori-style so they’re made of sturdy materials like wood and cotton,” says Kayla. Strong materials mean they can hold up to the pulling, tugging, biting and chewing that even the most curious kiddo will put it through.

And for little ones, durability means safety. “Every toy that came in this play kit appears to be made with durable and high-quality materials. There is nothing that could easily break, snap off or get lost,” says Jennifer. That means no small pieces and no choking hazards—just peace of mind for parents!

Value

These play kits are on the more expensive side, ranging from $80 to $120. But there’s something to be said about the ease of having a professional pick out specially curated toys for each developmental stage of your little one’s growth. Parents have a lot of decision-making to do every day, so letting toy shopping go might be a big relief for some.

Tester Erin P. found the play kits to be completely worth it for her 8-week-old—and for herself. “First time moms could benefit from these things but even fourth time moms like me [do too]. Learning about early development again and realizing how much is happening in their little bodies all at once is a good eye opener all over again,” she says. Educational for both the little one and for us makes these kits a value-add in our eyes.

Subscription experience

With so many offerings for different ages and stages, you may be wondering where to start. Luckily, Lovevery has a very clean, organized website that makes signing up a breeze. It’s a quick and simple process to get started and choose your box. You simply select your kiddo’s age, pick which kit you’d like to start with and go forth to check out.

I personally appreciated that information about the play kits and their contents weren’t hidden behind any walls requiring me to enter my email or personal information about my babies. It gave me pressure-free space to check out the kits and make my decision. Their pictures are clear, and they describe each item you can expect in the kit leaving little room for confusion.

If you choose to go with Lovevery, rest easy knowing you can cancel your subscription at any time. You just need to give three days’ notice before your next kit ships. One thing to keep in mind, however, is that you can only cancel your subscription from a browser. The app won’t allow you to say goodbye.

Subscription options: Every 2 months from 0 to 12 months; every 3 months from 1 to 4 years | Average toys per box: 7 | Shipping fee: $9.95

KiwiCo subscription boxes are packed full of engaging activities, with five to seven toys intended to build science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) skills through fun, developmentally appropriate play. And if you fall in love with them, you can keep the fun going through adulthood! We tested the Panda series, which covers 0 to 36 months. But the Koala, Kiwi, Atlas, Doodle and Tinker sets covers ages 3 to 12, which are then followed by Maker and Eureka crates that are designed for ages 12 through adult.

The Panda boxes are designed by experts, including pediatricians from Seattle Children’s Hospital, to ensure they’re developmentally appropriate for your kiddo’s age and stage. What’s more? Easy-to-open packaging with nothing more than Velcro to fiddle with.

Though the basic-price “essentials” kits have everything your child needs to fully engage their developing minds and bodies, you do have the option to upgrade the kits to grow with your little one. Each plus and deluxe box includes one to two “grow-with-me” toys that your child can continue to use after they’ve grown out of the other toys.

Play and education value

KiwiCo crates are thoughtfully designed and backed by science to engage your child at each appropriate age and stage of their growth. Each crate even tells you which developmental milestones you can expect in this period of your child’s life from fine motor skills to spatial awareness and everything in between. The toys are simple and low-sensory to ensure little ones are learning in a more natural way. And as Hicks tells us, “The more basic and simple the toy, the more value it has for the child actually being able to learn through their play.”

But even with toys specifically designed for your child’s age and stage, sometimes it’s hard to know if they’re getting out of it what they’re supposed to. Thankfully, like Lovevery, KiwiCo includes a grownup guide that helps parents understand how to use the toys in the box and other great ways to engage baby. Tester Hannah S. appreciated the instructions when she used the "Let's Listen!" Panda crate with her 6-month-old—she says, “Thanks to the Wonder Play guide that came with the box, we were encouraged to use each of the toys in multiple ways! Our son used the shakers as teethers because he could hold them himself while sitting up, and we encouraged him to crawl by having him reach for his favorites.”

The play factor isn’t just for the kiddo receiving the box either. Tester Dhee R. used the "Let's Sort!" Panda Crate with her 2-year-old, but her older child also loved the play opportunities it created. She says, “My son was very excited while I was opening the box and upon seeing the toys inside. The toys were perfect for two to three years old, but my seven-year-old son was also excited seeing it and he was playing with his brother.” What could be better than creating sweet memories for siblings?

Quality of toys

Each crate focuses on a different skill, so the range of toys is vast. Even if you keep your Panda crate subscription for the full three years of your child’s life as it’s intended, you’ll never find a repeat toy. And the products are sturdily built to stand up to multiple uses. “The wooden book will last for a long time, years even!” says tester Erin P. after using the "Let's Sense!" Panda crate with her 9-week-old. “The wooden rattles are very cute and they can roll which is fun, I think this could last through floor play and up to a year as far as play time but could be passed down for sure.” A toy durable enough that can be handed down to siblings or donated is a parent’s dream.

And high-quality materials make toys even safer. Hannah says, “They don't have parts that look like they will break off, and the wood is smooth and glossy without any suggestion of splintering. Even the toys that have plastic are nice and thick and don't bend or scratch easily.” Plus, all products are tested by certified, independent product safety testing labs.

Value

Although none of these services are cheap, at $80 a box with free shipping, the essentials tier offers the most affordable option we tested. And the products are high-quality, sturdy and meant to last through multiple stages of your little one’s growth. As Hannah says, “Ironically, the toys are of such good quality that I don't know if I would subscribe to this box—I think that my son can enjoy these toys for far longer than it would take for the next box to come!” That seems like great value for the price!

With three available price options, you may be able to find the right one to meet your family’s needs. Dhee R. says, “Overall, I would definitely recommend this toy to parents or anyone looking for a gift for toddlers who has the budget and prefers high quality, environment-friendly toys that will last a lifetime.”

Subscription experience

One downside to this service is that the KiwiCo site is designed in such a way that you have to choose your subscription and start entering information before you get a great look at the boxes. You choose your child’s age and click “get started," at which point you'll be prompted to enter your child’s name and age (or due date). This is so they can address the boxes to your little one (how sweet!) and also so they know exactly what stage they’re at to send the most appropriate box. But it would be nice if you could window shop a little before getting the process underway.

That being said, once you get started each kit has a full description, complete with pictures, of what’s included. They also list the skills your little one will be working on with each crate. There are a lot of choices to make in terms of what kind of kit you want (essentials, plus or deluxe) and what kind of payment plan you’d like.

Pausing or editing your subscription at any time is super easy. But if you choose a quarterly or annual subscription, you can't cancel midway through—you have to wait until the full quarter or year runs out. If you have a month-to-month subscription, then you can cancel anytime. And of course, the free shipping is a nice bonus.

Subscription options: Every 2 months | Average toys per box: 5 to 7 | Shipping fee: No additional charge

Until recently, Lalo offered a toy subscription service similar to the ones from Lovevery and KiwiCo. And although they've ended their monthly toy subscriptions, you can still buy individual play boxes, packed with engaging activities, as one-off purchases. You can even bundle a few boxes together, so you’re prepared for when your little one reaches that next stage of development. If you choose to try them all, there are 10 total play boxes, each for a developmental phase from newborn up through age 2. The simple, recyclable packaging is easy to open and makes set up quick so you can get right to playing.

For parents who aren’t sure how to get the most out of each toy, Lalo, like its competitors, includes a play guide to make meaningful play simple. Even if you’re not sure what current developmental stage your little one is in, the play guide makes it easy to understand how to help your kiddo engage with and enjoy their new items.

Lalo products are also great for sustainability-minded parents—their Re-Play program lets you donate outgrown items to a nonprofit in your community.

Play and education value

Each play box comes with four to six toys that are meant to help your child thrive in a specific developmental stage. Even the youngest players can find value in the early-stage toys. After all, building neck and core strength through tummy time is so important for young babies so anything that can reduce those heartbreaking cries is essential. Tester Erin P. agreed, and loved using the play box contents with her 8-week-old, saying, “The vision cards with different contrast was an easy one! I loved using them during tummy time.” Plus, some toys were engaging enough for her to fill the gap between naps. “I used the crinkle book if I need some extra time before his next feeding or wake window.”

Tester Mackenzie Y. used the play box with her 5-month-old, and appreciated that it "encouraged open, Montessori style of play which I loved and so did my child." She adds that her child was "delighted by the toys." And the learning through play continues into the toddler months—tester Olivia P. reports that her 20-month-old was a big fan of the play box's included toy rocket ship. "The rocket was both of our favorite toys and he was showing me how he could make the astronaut at the top disappear by stacking it." He used it for problem solving, puzzle solving, color identification and shape identification.

Quality of toys

With ten play boxes available for different ages and stages through age two, there’s a vast range of toys sure to keep your little one engaged and learning. Some examples include tummy time crinkle books designed to build motor skills and neck strength, puppets for discovering tiny hands and toes, disappearing balls to coach baby through object permanence and even a dog walker to help with those first teetering steps.

The toys may all be simple in design, but there are no significant duplicates from box to box (though a few do include similar blocks or balls). And the simplicity may add to their durability. Wooden toys are not only easy to clean and maintain but are difficult to damage, even for teething babies. “The toys were well built to stand toddlers throwing and even chewing," says Olivia. "There were no small loose parts, and I felt comfortable letting my child play with these alone."

But be mindful of when your little one is chewing on painted toys since that can chip off. You don’t have to worry too much if it does though. The wood toys are made of chemical-free rubberwood, formaldehyde-free glue and organic pigments and water-based dyes. The cotton pieces are 100% cotton, and the silicone toys are made of FDA grade BPA free silicone.

Value

Lalo play boxes are on the higher end of the price range for this type of product, and because there's no subscription option, there's also no bulk discount. And on average, you receive fewer toys in each box than you do in some of the other options on the market. The sturdy products are built to last though, so you’ll likely be able to get multiple uses out of them—potentially passing them down to future children. These are thoughtfully made products, safe for your kiddos and are designed to help them reach important developmental milestones.

Every child plays differently though. Some of our product testers noted that not all the toys they received in their boxes were winners. Their little ones either weren’t ready yet or lost interest quickly. Olivia says, “I felt it was overpriced and not stimulating or entertaining enough for my toddler.” But with so many stages to choose from, if one box isn’t a hit, another one may be. Since Lalo doesn’t lock you into a subscription service, there’s also less risk in trying one for yourself.

Subscription options: None | Average toys per box: 4 to 6 | Shipping fee: No additional charge