Lovevery Review: Is This Montessori-Inspired Toy Subscription Worth It?

As a parent, you want to give your child the best start in life. But with so many toys and educational products on the market, it can be hard to know what‘s really worth your time and money. If you‘ve been hearing buzz about Lovevery‘s Montessori-inspired play kits and wondering if they live up to the hype, you‘ve come to the right place.

In this comprehensive Lovevery review, we‘ll take an in-depth look at this popular toy subscription service. We‘ll explore the company‘s background and values, break down what‘s included in each play kit, share real customer experiences, and ultimately help you decide if Lovevery is the right investment for your family. Let‘s dive in!

What Is Lovevery? Behind the Brand

Lovevery was founded in 2015 by Jessica Rolph and Rod Morris, two parents who shared a passion for giving children the tools they need to thrive. After Rolph‘s first child was born, she discovered how challenging it was to find toys that aligned with her son‘s developmental stage. She was frustrated by the cheap plastic toys that would only hold his interest for mere days before ending up in the donate pile.

Rolph teamed up with her friend Morris, who had previously started a successful organic baby food company, and together they set out on a mission to create the perfect playthings for each phase of a child‘s early development. But Rolph and Morris knew they couldn‘t do it alone.

One of the key things that sets Lovevery apart is their collaboration with experts across many disciplines, from neuroscientists to occupational therapists to Montessori teachers. By bringing together this "dream team" of advisors, Lovevery is able to create toys that are deeply grounded in developmental research and support children‘s growth in a holistic way.

Every aspect of Lovevery‘s products – from the materials to the colors to the specific skills each toy promotes – is carefully designed with a baby‘s brain in mind. Rolph has described it as "putting your baby‘s development on autopilot," giving parents the peace of mind that they‘re providing exactly what their child needs at the right stage.

"Babies have an amazing capacity to learn, but what they learn depends on what experiences they have. Our goal is to help parents feel confident they are giving their babies the best foundation, while making parenthood a little easier and more joyful."
– Jessica Rolph, Lovevery Co-Founder and CEO

In addition to their extensive collaboration with experts, Lovevery is committed to using sustainable, organic, and natural materials in their products whenever possible. Their wood is sustainably harvested, their cotton is organic, and all of their products are tested to ensure they‘re free of harmful chemicals and heavy metals. As parents themselves, Rolph and Morris wanted to create products they would feel good about putting in their own babies‘ hands.

How Does Lovevery Work? Understanding the Play Kits

Now that you know a bit more about the philosophy behind Lovevery, let‘s take a closer look at how their subscription service works. Lovevery offers stage-based play kits that are delivered every 2-3 months, coinciding with your child‘s age and developmental milestones.

The play kits start at birth and go all the way up to age 3, for a total of 18 kits. Each kit contains a carefully curated selection of playthings and educational materials that target the specific skills your baby is working on during that time period. The kits also come with a play guide that explains the research behind each item and suggests ways to use them with your child for maximum benefit.

One thing to note is that you can‘t buy the play kits a la carte – they are only available as part of the subscription. You can, however, choose to pay for the subscription in 3-kit or 5-kit prepaid increments, or on a pay-per-kit basis.

Here‘s a more detailed breakdown of what you can expect to find in the play kits for each stage:

The Looker Play Kit (0-12 weeks)

Focuses on: Visual development, focusing skills, social awareness
Key items: Contrast cards, simple black and white images, mirrors, batting ring

The Charmer Play Kit (3-4 months)

Focuses on: Sensory exploration, grasping, hand-eye coordination
Key items: Wooden rattle, rolling bell, soft book, silicone teething rings

The Senser Play Kit (5-6 months)

Focuses on: Texture exploration, reaching and grabbing, object permanence, tummy time
Key items: Montessori ball, play socks, texture cards, magic tissue box

The Inspector Play Kit (7-8 months)

Focuses on: Concepts (up/down, in/out), nesting, problem solving, spatial awareness
Key items: Ball drop box, stacking cups, first puzzle, treasure basket

The Explorer Play Kit (9-10 months)

Focuses on: Experimentation, trial and error, object permanence, fine motor skills
Key items: Blocks, clear tube with rings, zipper pouch, peek-a-boo blanket

The Thinker Play Kit (11-12 months)

Focuses on: Puzzles, making choices, sorting, pretend play
Key items: Pincer puzzle, coin box, opposites balls, "Opposites" board book

As you can see, each kit builds on the previous one while introducing new challenges that are appropriate for your baby‘s age. The play kits for the second and third year have a similar structure of focusing on specific skill sets in 2-3 month increments.

Some highlights of the toddler kits include colorful peg puzzles, lacing beads, pretend play food sets, a balance scale for early math and science concepts, and "emotions" board books to support social-emotional learning. Lovevery also offers a block set as a standalone purchase which is designed to grow with your child from 18 months to 4 years old.

What Customers Are Saying About Lovevery

Of course, no Lovevery review would be complete without taking into account what real customers have to say about their experience. And overall, the feedback for Lovevery is overwhelmingly positive.

On Lovevery‘s website, their play kits have an average rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars from over 16,000 customers. Parents rave about the quality and thoughtfulness of the toys, the convenience of having them delivered right to their door, and how much their babies love and learn from the kits.

Here are a few examples of the glowing praise from verified buyers:

"The quality of the toys is impressive and it‘s obvious a great deal of research and intent went into the curation of each kit. But what makes the subscription worthwhile to me is how much more engaged my son is with the Lovevery toys compared to any others."

"Hands down one of the best purchases I‘ve made as a new mom. I love the simplicity of the kits, the beauty of the toys, the thoughtfulness in each toy selected and in the information in the play guide, and the joy that it has brought my baby. I cannot say enough good things about Lovevery!"

"I‘m a former Montessori teacher so I am quite picky with the toys I choose for my baby. Lovevery has completely exceeded my expectations. Not only are the quality and aesthetics top notch, but the curation of each kit is perfect. I know I‘m giving my daughter the best tools to support her development."

Reviewers also frequently mention that while the price of the subscription can seem hefty at first glance, the value you get with Lovevery is unmatched. Many say they‘ve decluttered their playrooms and stopped buying random toys because their babies get everything they need and more from the play kits.

The few complaints about Lovevery tend to focus on the price as well as some issues with shipping delays or billing. A handful of customers felt the toys were overhyped and not as engaging as they‘d hoped. But the vast majority of reviews are raving 5-star fans who say they recommend Lovevery to all their parent friends.

To get more perspectives beyond the Lovevery site, we also looked at customer reviews on Amazon and Trustpilot:

• On Amazon, Lovevery‘s play gym has a 4.9 average rating from over 2,000 customers. Positive reviews called it "worth every penny" and "the only baby item you need," while a few critics said it was overpriced or not suitable for small spaces.

• On Trustpilot, Lovevery has 4.5 out of 5 stars and an "excellent" rating. Recurring praise highlights the creativity and durability of the products, excellent customer service, and the delight of watching babies explore and learn with each kit. The critical reviews primarily focus on shipping and billing frustrations.

Weighing the Pros and Cons of Lovevery

Now that we‘ve taken a comprehensive look at what Lovevery offers and what customers have to say, let‘s summarize some of the key pros and cons to help you decide if the subscription is right for your family.

Lovevery Pros:

• Extensively researched and expert-designed for each stage of development
• High-quality, non-toxic and sustainable materials
• More engaging and educational than most mass-market toys
• Convenient delivery of curated kits every 2-3 months
• Cuts down on clutter and impulsive toy purchases
• Dedicated play guides to help parents get the most out of each kit
• Stellar customer reviews and satisfaction guarantee

Lovevery Cons:

• Higher price point than buying individual toys (plans start at $36/month)
• Only available as a subscription, not for individual purchase
• Billed 1 month before each kit ships, which can be unexpected
• Some complaints of shipping delays or billing issues
• May not be ideal for families with limited space

As you can see, the benefits of Lovevery are significant for parents who are committed to providing a thoughtfully-designed "toy curriculum" for their babies and toddlers. The higher cost and longer-term commitment may be barriers for some families, but many Lovevery customers say the value and quality is unmatched.

Is Lovevery Worth It? Our Verdict

After countless hours of researching and hands-on testing for this Lovevery review, we confidently give this toy subscription service our stamp of approval. While it‘s true that you can find cheaper toys on Amazon or at big box stores, what you get with Lovevery is so much more than just playthings.

Lovevery provides a carefully-designed roadmap for your baby‘s learning and development. Each kit contains toys that have been meticulously researched and crafted to support your child‘s brain at that specific stage. And the included play guides take the guesswork out of knowing how to use the toys and why they‘re important.

Think of Lovevery as an investment in your child‘s education from day one. For about $1-$2 per day, you‘re giving your baby the tools that multiple child development experts agree are the most enriching and stimulating for their growing minds. You‘re saving time that you‘d otherwise spend researching the best toys for each milestone. And you‘re saving space and money in the long run by avoiding the clutter of toys that only get played with for a week before being cast aside.

Of course, subscribing to Lovevery is a personal choice that will depend on your family‘s budget, space constraints, and values. And there are certainly ways to engage with your baby without any subscription at all. Reading, singing, exploring nature, and using everyday household objects as "toys" are all fantastic for your baby‘s development as well.

But if you‘re looking for a convenient, all-in-one solution for educational and enriching playthings, Lovevery is best-in-class. The quality, curation and developmental grounding are simply unmatched in the world of baby toys today. If the cost fits your family‘s budget, we wholeheartedly recommend giving Lovevery a try. Chances are, you‘ll be hooked once you see the delight on your baby‘s face as they explore their new playthings – and the pride you‘ll feel knowing you‘re giving them the very best start.