
All About Lovevery’s Awesome New Play Kits For Baby’s First Year
Written by Katie Hintz-Zambrano
Photography by Photographed by Nicki Sebastian
Most new parents have these two things in common—sleep deprivation and a deep desire to provide the very best for their newest arrival. Thankfully, Lovevery gets us, and is helping to provide some solutions…at least for the latter concern. Makers of the already beloved Play Gym (a minimally designed, resource-packed activity mat), Lovevery has recently introduced a series of Play Kits that are as pretty as they are educational. Naturally, we’re pretty smitten.
Designed for babies aged 0-12 months, the Montessori-inspired Lovevery Play Kits are hinged on a fact modern parents (and Mother readers) know so well: play-based learning is where it’s at, especially for the 1-and-under set. “Babies learn through play, and all the scientific research shows that there are simple, beautiful ways we can reveal the world to our children through play,” Lovevery co-founder Jessica Rolph explains. “The Play Kits are all about connecting us to the essence of childhood, and setting everything else aside.”
Bonus points: They make tapping into the latest in developmental research of your youngster super simple, which is one of the reasons first-time mama Carissa Alvarado, mother to 5-month-old Xyla and one-half of the hypnotically harmonic group Us The Duo, is a fan. “These toys encourage her to learn, and I absolutely love watching the wheels turn in her brain as she figures out how to hold and play with each object,” she says. “I love that everything in the Play Kits serves a purpose and is intended to help my baby’s development.”
There are currently six Play Kits—The Looker (0-8 weeks), The Charmer (3-4 months), The Senser (5-6 months), The Inspector (7-8 months), The Explorer (9-10 months), and The Thinker (11-12 months)—all filled with a variety of spot-on toys for your tot. Plus, in addition to a surprise gift for parents in each box (the sweetest touch!), there’s also a detailed guide that explains why each toy, book, and object was selected, based on the latest in developmental research. The booklets also include handy advice for the best way to play and engage with your baby during his or her pivotable first year, which means less random Google searches along the lines of “…what to do with baby aged XYZ months old…”
“Xyla is nearly 5 months old, so we’ve tried out The Charmer and The Senser Play Kits,” says Carissa. “My favorite aspects about each of them are how they help her to develop her motor skills and give you a guide of activities that you can do with your baby. I never have to worry about running out of ideas for how to keep her entertained!”
To take a closer look at what’s inside these expertly edited, eco-friendly Play Kits (and to ogle the cuteness that is baby Xyla!), check out our slideshow below.
This post is brought to you by Mother x Lovevery.
- Before trying out the Lovevery Play Kits, Carissa and Xyla were already fans (and owners of) the Lovevery Play Gym. "It’s where we spend most of our play time," says Carissa. "Xyla especially loves to grab and make sounds with the wooden batting ring. In fact, it’s because of that ring that she’s gotten so good at grabbing and holding her toys!"
- In addition to the batting toy, which is made of sustainably harvested wood and ergonomically designed for the tiniest of hands, Carrisa says she also appreciates the sound of the Play Gym's bell. "It’s a pleasant tone that I don’t tire of hearing all day," says the musician mama.
- Taking a look inside The Charmer Play Kit, which is ideal for ages 3-4 months.
- Thankfully, all Lovevery products are made with non-toxic, premium materials—including sustainably harvested wood and organic cotton—which makes them safe for mouthing.
- Playing peekaboo in a baby-safe mirror, one of the items found in The Charmer Play Kit. Curious babies love this item so much, it's sure to become a mainstay during your child's first year.
- Carissa and Xyla with items from the The Charmer (3-4 months) and The Senser (5-6 months) Play Kits.
- The high contrast images included in many of Lovevery's Play Kits are key to helping develop and strengthen babies' brain-eye connection. The art cards are also printed on no-tear, baby-safe paper with soy ink.
- "When it comes to baby toys, it’s a huge plus when they are aesthetically pleasing," says Carissa. "I love the clean and minimal design of Lovevery’s pieces. It’s so nice that I can leave out Xyla's Play Gym and toys in the living room, as it matches the style of our house so well!"
- Xyla playing with the popular magic tissue box, which is made of sustainably harvested wood and organic cotton tissues. The tissue box promotes grabbing and motor skills, teaches object permanence and containment, and is cleverly reloadable. Babies love it through toddlerhood!
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For more on Carissa and Xyla, you can check out their Instagram feeds (yes, Xyla has her own, too!).
For more on Lovevery's new Play Kits and Play Gym, head over to Loveverybaby.com.
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