Secondly, this article isn’t sponsored, meaning Lovevery isn’t paying me to write anything. However, I am set up as an affiliate, if you buy a Lovevery subscription, I get a small commission. This blog is reader-supported, so I appreciate you using my affiliate link if you decide the play kits are for you.

Lovevery has a team of 14 advisors, including professors, psychologists, and authors, all offering a wide range of skills and backgrounds to ensure the toys and play kits are developmentally appropriate.

The Lovevery play kits are based on the Montessori method, meaning that many of the toys in the kits follow some key Montessori guidelines:

• Emphasis on less clutter
• Commitment to letting kids face challenges and struggling to develop independence and concentration
• Open-ended toys that help children enjoy the real world
• Belief in freedom of movement
• Sensory-rich experiences

You can read more about that in Lovevery’s article: What’s the real deal with the Montessori approach?

How much do the Lovevery Play Kits cost?

The play kits are a subscription, but you don’t pay monthly – you pay each time a new play kit is shipped, which is every 2-3 months.

In the first year, or from newborn to 12 months old, you get a new play kit every other month. Each kit is $80. This made a lot of sense to me, especially when you think about how fast kids develop in that first year.

In years 2-3 (13-36 months), you get a new play kit every third month. Each kit is $120.

If you pay for a program upfront, you can save between 5-10%.

For example, if you prepaid for the first year of play kits, you’d pay $432, a $48 savings. (This example is for the 6 play kits designed for ages 0-12 months.)

Can you buy individual Lovevery play kits?

While you can save by “subscribing” to several play kits, you can still buy an individual Lovevery play kit with no contracts.

The play kits that ship every other month (months 0-12) are $80 per kit, and yes – you can purchase just one and cancel the recurring shipments at any time. And if you are located in the US, you can buy some individual toys from the play kits at your local Target!

The play guide is worth calling out, as well.

It comes with lots of info about the stage your child is currently in, as well as suggestions for how and when to play with each toy — and research-based information on why it helps your baby’s development. As a new mom who felt totally clueless about what to do with my first child, I loved devouring this information about what was going on with her vision or her motor skills. It was also helpful because it gave great suggestions on playing with her at that development stage.

Can you buy individual toys from Lovevery?

Lovevery sells individual toys, but not the ones you’ll find in their famous play kits.

You can buy the following individual toys from Lovevery:

• • The Play Gym ($140): an activity gym and play mat designed for the first year of life
  • The Block Set ($90): wooden blocks designed to build spatial, language, and problem-solving skills
  • The Organic Cotton Play Tunnel ($50): a tunnel perfect for playing hide and seek and encouraging crawling
  • The Pull Pup ($22): a pup your toddler can pull on a string, designed to develop coordination, grip, and gross motor skills
  • Organic Nap Mat ($80): a nap set to encourage independence and keep your child cozy on the go
  • You can also buy the new Lovevery Montessori Play Shelf ($400), a 2-in-1 shelf that makes toy rotation and storage simple.
• Last but not least, I have to give a shout-out to the Montessori Placemat & Utensils. We love these!! My daughter really enjoys putting her silverware in the designated spots, and it’s teaching her manners.
  

  

  

Lovevery Play Kit Quality

I remember when we got our first kit, I was honestly in awe of how high-quality the toys were. The wood was sturdy, solid, and smooth. The fabrics used were organic and soft.

When I bought the first kit, I was a little skeptical, just because the prices seemed so high. But once I got my hands on the toys, I thought it was worth every dollar.

Pros

In my experience, here are the pros of the Lovevery play kits:

• I have peace of mind that our kid is playing with toys that are fostering their development.
• I have assurance these play kits are developed by professionals who study child development and learning day in and day out.
• Rowan loves the excitement of the new toys and is intrigued by them. She literally tears open the box now when it arrives, excited to see what’s inside.
• I know our caregivers have educational toys to use with Rowan.
• The toys encourage family time – it gives us activities to do with our child.
• Great customer service – if a toy breaks, Lovevery replaces it immediately.
• The play kits retain their value, so you can resell them as used when your kids outgrow them.
• The books and other visual toys featured diverse babies, which can be hard to find.

Cons

And here are my own personal cons of the Lovevery play kits:

• They’re expensive – I don’t necessarily think they’re expensive for what you get, but would you spend this much on toys otherwise?
• Some toys have several pieces, making it difficult to keep everything together and use them like you want to.
• Not all toys are hits – you pay for the entire play kit and can’t pick and choose what toys you want. You also can’t order a single toy if one catches your eye – you must purchase the entire kit.
• The experience of getting the Lovevery kits won’t be the same if you have multiple children (some toys are used up, like the tempera paint sticks or stickers, and your subsequent children will miss out on them)

For us, the pros outweigh the cons, but that’s certainly not the case for everyone. If you don’t have room in your budget for the play kits, then you don’t have room – no matter how helpful they may seem.

Conclusion

Ultimately, I want what’s best for Rowan, and especially as a working mom, I felt like I could offer more learning activities for them with the Lovevery play kits.

We’ve had so much fun with them, and I’m so glad we invested the money. I’d do it again. If you wanted any parenting book recommendations, check out my must-have books here.

Let us know in the comments: have you (or would you) purchase the Lovevery play kits? Why or why not?