Lovevery offers age-specific kits designed to support child development from infancy through early childhood.
We collected reddit discussions about Lovevery Playkits, providing insights into user experiences with this subscription-based developmental toy service. L
The Good
- Long-term engagement: “My oldest is almost 6 and he still uses a lot of the toys and games.” (8 upvotes)
- Developmental appropriateness: “The past 2-3 boxes have actually been the best we’ve received! Better and longer life than the 1 year old kits 🙂” (3 upvotes)
- Consistent favorites: “Months 13-24 are GOLD. I wouldn’t skip any of them.” (10 upvotes)
- Evolving play: “Items that I thought he had outgrown, he finds new ways to play with them as he gets older.” (4 upvotes)
- Book quality: “The books are all a hit. I’ve had to tape up the spines because they get so much use.” (18 upvotes)
- Mental load reduction: “It’s the removal of the mental load of finding age appropriate toys for a quickly growing child.” (68 upvotes)
The Not So Good
- Limited engagement: “My daughter would usually only take to one item in any given box and even then she would do whatever the task was and be done with it in 3 minutes.” (32 upvotes)
- Overpriced: “Totally not worth the outrageous price. You can find a zillion fabulous toys on Craigslist and local mom groups.” (9 upvotes)
- Short-lived interest: “The kids lose interest fast and they end up sitting in the corner.” (130 upvotes)
- Inconsistent hits:
- “There have been certain playthings that just didn’t work for us—lockbox, pegboard, button board, peg drop, chunky puzzle, counting box…” (4 upvotes)
- “I think the quality went down. They started using a lot more plastic pieces.” (3 upvotes)
- “I think they have terrible customer service… the face puzzle arrived broken. I contacted them and they send me a second one which also arrived broken.” (9 upvotes)
- Storage Challenges “Make sure you pack the current box up before opening another! We didn’t and now they are everywhere.” (25 upvotes)
Comparison to Alternatives
Dupes and Alternatives
- “Fauxtessori on Instagram gives dupes on how to buy similar items for a less expensive price!” (16 upvotes)
- “We do the Lovevery boxes and I like them. HOWEVER, there are way cheaper dupes. If you’re looking for certain things, Melissa & Doug often have good alternatives.” (337 upvotes)
- “I looked on the website at the toys in the subscription boxes that I wanted and then ordered them off Amazon. I have no complaints about the Amazon quality and they were cheap!” (5 upvotes)
- “The Fisher Price Kick’n’Play was WAY more his vibe, and at 14 months he still likes the keyboard.” (3 upvotes)
Secondhand Options
- “I got all my kits secondhand! They’ve all been great! Have you looked on OfferUp/marketplace/mercari? They’re made so well they hold up through kids really well!” (3 upvotes)
- “I was able to find pretty much everything secondhand and bought dupes for anything missing. Saved a ton of money. Fb marketplace is your best friend.” (7 upvotes)
- “Lovevery now has a ‘pre loved’ section on their website where you can buy them used directly from other families, and they’re eligible for replacement parts through Lovevery!” (3 upvotes)

Worth the Price
- “I think price wise it’s probably really similar to if I were to buy stuff from Amazon or Target or something. It’s just that now it’s more like a lump sum.” (8 upvotes)
- “With the discount code, it’s definitely worth it. It would be the same price if I bought separately from amazon (and better quality, better instruction, and better aesthetic from Lovevery!)” (3 upvotes)
- “Yep. Worth every penny. There are probably less expensive options, but I don’t mind the premium as it’s saving me hours of research and shopping!” (4 upvotes)
Not Worth the Price
- “I have mixed feelings. We’re 2.5 and I love the toddler kits, but I can’t say they are 100% worth the price.” (4 upvotes)
- “I realized one kit costs the same as our entire yearly membership to the zoo. Got me wondering how much it’s really worth the price.” (7 upvotes)
- “It’s honestly one of the biggest rip offs I’ve seen as a parent.” (32 upvotes)
- “In regards to cost, it is a lot up front. But when you break out the cost per toy, it’s frequently cheaper than anything comparable you’d buy new.” (3 upvotes)
Tips and Tricks
Maximizing Value
- “You could also get the kits+book bundle, resell the ‘new in box’ kits and keep the book bundle. I see people in my area doing that often, and the resale value is very high.” (3 upvotes)
- “Get the kits early. I check what is up next and set the date to be a month or so earlier sometimes.” (5 upvotes)
- “I have a 20 month old and rotate weekly. I put 8-10 toys out, with one new toy per week… she really does play with all of the toys now since the old ones only cycle through about every 4-6 weeks now.” (3 upvotes)
Age Recommendations
- “I think it’s important to have some patience. For example, the mobile from the newborn kit is still loved and played with by my son every time I change his diaper.” (5 upvotes)
- “The Babbler and the Adventurer are the must haves. I like all the one year old kits but those are the best of them.” (8 upvotes)
- “As a nanny I’ve worked with many families who subscribe to lovevery and what I’ve seen as consistent hits: the thinker, the babbler, the helper, the observer.” (5 upvotes)
- “I think the kits really shine after 1 year! Def worth it” (5 upvotes)
DIY Alternatives
- “A real tissue box stuffed with rags or napkins, or old Tupperware with a hole cut in the lid, or a taped up granola/protein bar box stuffed with like, socks, brings the same joy for basically 0 price and 0 added house mess.” (9 upvotes)
- “Everything else that keeps toddlers just as happy and imaginatively engaged as any store bought toy is household items they recognize but aren’t ‘allowed’ to use! Hand them wooden spoons, mixing bowls, empty ketchup bottles, dads old socks with holes in them, Amazon boxes, magazines to rip, etc.” (9 upvotes)
Conclusion
Reddit discussions reveal mixed opinions about Lovevery Playkits. While many users appreciate the high-quality, developmentally appropriate toys and the convenience of the subscription model, others question whether the premium price is justified when similar toys can be found elsewhere for less.
The consensus suggests that Lovevery Playkits are well-designed and thoughtfully curated, with the 13-24 month kits receiving particularly high praise.
However, as with any toy, individual children’s interests vary greatly, making it impossible to guarantee that every item will be a hit. Many users recommend purchasing kits secondhand to reduce costs while still enjoying the benefits of the Lovevery system.
The books included in the subscription are consistently highlighted as exceptional, with many parents considering them the standout feature of the kits.


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