7 Toy Subscriptions We Recommend That Your Baby or Toddler Will Love

For Newborns: Lovevery Sensory Play Kit

Key Specs

• Price: $80 to $120 per box, free shipping
• Delivery Cadence: Every two to three months
• Plans Available: Plans available for 0-12 months and ages 1, 2, and 3
  

Pros & Cons

Why We Chose It 

Designed by childhood development experts, Lovevery Play Kits are carefully curated to help little ones reach their milestones and enrich their senses, all while being engaging and nice to look at. The high-quality toys are eye-catching and colorful and will capture a baby's interest right away. One of our parent testers especially loved The Senser Play Kit (designed for babies five to six months old) which is great for that stage when babies are into investigating everything with their hands, feet, mouth, etc. One box they received included a wobble toy that their child batted at during tummy time, a wooden “tissue box” filled with linked cloth squares that they had fun pulling out (which saved them from wasting a bunch of tissues—and having to pull them out of their child's mouth), and a spinning rainbow toy that makes a sound when spun and can encourage babies to sit and reach with both hands. 

Here’s how the subscription timeline breaks down for the first year: the first box is for babies from birth to 12 weeks old. Kits arrive every two months from there on (so months three and four are sent together in a box called The Charmer, then months five and six, and so on for the first year). The toys are made with sustainably harvested wood, organic cotton, nontoxic paint, and baby-safe plastics. They’re beautiful, so you may not mind so much when they’re strewn all over the floor. Plus, they help babies master new skills and concepts, whether that’s transferring objects from one hand to the other, sitting, speech development, object permanence, and so much more.

After the first year, the price per box jumps from $80 to $120, but the playthings get even more robust for toddlers; think a kid-sized sink, a mop that actually cleans (a win for parents everywhere), or a wooden truck ramp. You can skip or cancel your subscription at any time.

Most Eco-Friendly: Tiny Earth Toys

Key Specs

• Price: $35 for five toys a month, $48 for eight toys, $65 for 10 toys, free shipping both ways
• Delivery Cadence: Free exchanges every two months
• Plans Available: Monthly, biannual, and yearly pricing available

Pros & Cons

Why We Chose It

If you don’t have a ton of space or your kids (like most kids) get bored of new toys easily, then a rental toy subscription like Tiny Earth Toys makes a lot of sense. And since you’re renting rather than buying, you’re creating less waste and doing right by the environment.

Here’s how this toy rental subscription works: You pick how many toys you’d like to receive with each shipment (five, eight, or 10); toys are then suggested for you, but you can swap out from a list of options. The toys are high-quality, mostly Montessori-inspired and wooden (though there are some soft toys and books), and even include bigger items like a wooden play gym for babies. Every two months, you’ll swap out the toys for new ones and the excitement continues. This is especially great for babies because their abilities and interests change so much from month to month.

Shipping is always free whether the toys are heading to or from your house (or a loved one’s); you can arrange for FedEx home pickup or drop off the box. If your child falls in love with something and can’t bear to part with it, you have the option to buy the toy (meltdown averted). The shipping cadence is such that you’ll never be without toys. What’s more, you will not be charged extra for lost pieces or minor damage because the company knows this is inevitable. Toys are cleaned rigorously before heading your way.

For Toddlers: KiwiCo Koala Crate

Key Specs

• Price: Starting at $24 per month with free shipping
• Delivery Cadence: Monthly
• Plans Available: Subscription boxes for ages 0 to 10+ (Koala Crate is for ages 2 to 4)
  

Pros & Cons

Why We Chose It 

The Koala Crate from KiwiCo is a hands-on learning subscription box designed for kids ages 2 through 4. One of the best things about this box is that it doesn't just include a straightforward toy; instead, each monthly box contains a science or art project that your child can first build and then play with. 

One of our reviews appreciated the minimal but thoughtful package — aka separating smaller pieces into a plastic bag. "Unlike most similar subscriptions, KiwiCo includes examples of how to (and how not to) put the project together, making it easier for kids—and parents—to understand," she explained. "There was also a link to a video tutorial, which would have been the icing on the cake if it had worked (I tried at least 10 times)."

The building aspect encourages patience, problem-solving, and following instructions, and kids will feel a sense of pride at having made something. The crates are designed by in-house experts including former educators and child development professionals. Each crate “dives into enrichment topics that may span numbers and early math, sensory art, stacking, and building, pretend play, nature and animals, gross and fine motor skills, and more,” per the KiwiCo website.

The projects are really fun and are tested on real kids before going to market. In fact, they’re so engaging that adults will like them too (which is good because if your child is on the younger side they’ll likely need a little help putting the project together). One month your child may assemble a doctor’s kit and the next they could be creating a xylophone and a tambourine or learning about molecules while making animal-shaped bath bombs. Each box is also available for purchase individually and not as part of a subscription, and boxes ship free.

Most Budget-Friendly: KiwiCo Panda Crate

Key Specs

• Price: $44 per crate, free shipping
• Delivery Cadence: Every two months
• Plans Available: Subscription boxes for ages 0 to 10+ (Panda Crate is for ages 0 to 24 months)

Pros & Cons

Why We Chose It  

The Panda Crate from KiwiCo includes developmentally appropriate toys and games for babies ages 0 through 24 months old at $44 per crate (with free shipping), which is more affordable than comparable options.

Designed with the help of childhood development experts, each crate includes five to six products and toys that will help your little one reach their milestones, and most importantly, feel cozy, safe, and engaged. For younger babies (zero to six months), you’ll receive items such as a tummy time mirror, a swaddle blanket, or black and white contrast cards. Boxes for older babies (six to 24 months) might include stacking cups, blocks, wooden trucks, or teething rings.

The crates ship every other month and are filled along the following timeline: zero to two months, three to six months, seven to 12 months, 13 to 18 months, and 19 to 24 months. Each box also contains a magazine and an activity card for parents. If you’re expecting (or have a loved one who is), you can also order before the baby is born or add The Panda Crate to your registry; you’ll just be asked to input the due date. If your child is already born when you order, you’ll be asked to include their birthday at checkout. 

If you want more, you can also opt for the Panda Crate Plus, which starts at $88 per crate and includes everything in the Panda Crate plus one to two additional “grow-with-me” products. These are typically bigger ticket items like a pushcart. One of our parent testers said the piano xylophone from the Panda Crate Plus box she received was "an immediate hit with my kiddo, who found great joy in banging on the keys. While my baby did not use the egg shakers as intended, he did enjoy gumming them and chasing them around the floor when they rolled away from him."

Boxes in both tiers are tested with both babies and parents to ensure the crates are “age-appropriate, engaging, and universally appealing,” KiwiCo's website says. They also meet or exceed safety standards.

For Gifting: Didi’s Toy Box

Key Specs

• Price: $50 for one month, $135 for three months, Baby Shower Gift Box $65, Birthday Gift Box $65; shipping $5 to $8
• Delivery Cadence: Monthly, every three months, or every six months
• Plans Available: Monthly delivery (curated boxes for ages 0 to 12 months, 1 to 3 years, and 3 to 5 years) or specialized baby shower or birthday gift box
  

Pros & Cons

Why We Chose It

Didi’s Toy Box takes the guesswork out of gifting by curating a monthly box of three to four toys that ships directly to your loved ones. One of the things that makes this box so convenient for gifting is that you can choose how often the recipient receives their gift (even if that’s just once), or send a box for a special occasion like a birthday or a shower. The toys in Didi’s Toy Box are high quality and offer a nice mix of wooden toys, puzzles, books, or plush animals curated for ages 0 to 12 months, 1 to 3 years, and 3 to 5 years. Founder Diana (aka Didi) previously owned two toy stores in New York before pivoting to subscription boxes, so she has a keen insight into what toys resonate with babies and toddlers. 

Curated with quality in mind, each box includes heirloom items from brand partners Haba, Moulin Roty, Plan Toys, and more. You’ll get three to four toys, and you can pay for a single box (one month), three months of boxes, six months, or 12 months. You’ll save 10% with a three-month subscription and 15% off a six-month subscription. 

While the boxes are not inexpensive, they’re less costly than it would be to buy each item individually. But keep in mind when calculating the price that shipping is $5 to $8 per box, which may not sound like much, but adds up over, say, 12 months. So if you’re hoping to cut costs, this might not be the box for you.

For a Quarterly Box: Hoppi Box

Key Specs

• Price: $66 to $75 per box; free shipping
• Delivery Cadence: Every three months
• Plans Available: One plan

Pros & Cons

Why We Chose It

Hoppi Box is a quarterly subscription box (meaning you’ll receive it four times per year) for kids ages 0 to 4. A box that only arrives a few times a year can be a helpful way of keeping clutter at bay or making sure you’re not introducing too many new things at once, which may be overwhelming for some kids.

Each box contains four to five quality toys from brand partners including Haba, Hape, EverEarth, and more. All the toys are Montessori-inspired, chosen by a team of childhood development experts, and eco-friendly, sustainable, BPA-free, and safe; think colorful blocks, wooden toys, and books. Older kids may receive a fun game that encourages fine motor skills, such as a puzzle.

If you pay quarterly, the subscriptions cost $75 per box, but paying annually saves money at $66 per box. Keep in mind that subscriptions auto-renew, so if you don’t want to pay for the next year, be sure to cancel (gift subscriptions do not auto-renew). These ship free to any address in the U.S.

For Travel Enthusiasts: Little Passports

Key Specs

• Price: $25 to $30 billed per month; free shipping
• Delivery Cadence: Monthly 
• Plans Available: Two for older toddlers (3 to 5 years old); additional subscriptions available for kids ages 5 to 8+

Pros & Cons

Why We Chose It

Most parents want their children to gain an appreciation and understanding of the world, but it’s not always feasible to take a trip (let alone fly internationally with a young child). Little Passports brings the world to your child by teaching them about geography, culture, science, and art associated with a destination. There are two boxes to choose from for preschoolers (ages 3 to 5): Early Explorers and Animal Wild.

With both subscriptions, each month you can expect to find activity books, stickers, “interactive souvenirs” (per its FAQ section), DIY activities and projects, and more. If teaching your little one about culture is the goal, Early Explorers is the right box for you. The first shipment comes with a Little Passports suitcase and a wall-sized world map, which is a fun way to visualize the world and chart their (real and imagined) travels. Each month has a special theme, such as Natural Wonders, World Coins, and Toys & Games. One month your kid may put together a model of a London bus and the next they’ll be learning about different cuisines around the world.