Lovevery Reviews: The Play Gym

Lovevery is an American company producing play-kit subscription boxes for babies and children. The award-winning, Montessori-inspired toys and subscription boxes have really exploded in popularity and you can now find them in Target stores as well. However the products themselves are certainly not cheap so are they worth it? We will be doing a series of Lovevery Reviews as we make our way through their kits.

Lets take a closer look at one of the first Lovevery products you might consider, The Play Gym, and give it an honest review. As a dad, I’ve been on the lookout for products that not only keep my little one engaged while I’m working from home but also promote their development in a fun and interactive way. While The Lovevery Play Gym did not make my top 5 Nursery Essentials list, it has turned out to be a fantastic addition to our baby’s daily routine.

Quality and Durability – 5/5

Right out of the box, I was impressed by the quality of the Play Gym. It’s sturdy, well-constructed, and built to withstand the rigors of baby play. As a dad I always welcome a product that is easy to assemble with clear instructions and this was no exception. I appreciate that it’s made from sustainable materials, and it feels like it’s going to last for years to come should our family end up growing!

Developmental Features – 5/5

The Lovevery Play Gym isn’t just a place for your baby to lay down; it’s an entire developmental playground. The various play mats, toys, and activities are designed to support different stages of baby’s growth. From the high-contrast visuals for newborns to the learning cards that help with cognitive development, it’s a full package. I especially appreciated the guide that came with the Play Gym on how and when to utilize certain features and how they will contribute to baby’s development.

Ability to Clean – 5/5

Let’s face it; babies can be gross. So on that note I’m very grateful that the Lovevery Play Gym has been easy to clean. There will be spit up, throw up, and probably the odd blow out or two. The materials are machine washable, and any spills or accidents can be quickly wiped away. I haven’t found myself worrying how I’m going to get the Play Gym clean after a mishap.

Portability – 4/5

This Play Gym has been relatively easy for me to set up and take down, making it convenient for travel or moving it around the house. While it’s not as portable as some other baby products, it strikes a good balance between stability and flexibility. I haven’t had trouble at all relocating this from the home office to the nursery to the living room and even over to Grandma’s house.

Customer Support – 5/5

It’s worth noting that Lovevery’s customer support has been outstanding. They provide detailed information on how to use the Play Gym and promptly respond to any questions or concerns, which is reassuring for first-time parents like us. Thankfully I haven’t had to use it much but as a long time customer support professional, I can recognize some game!

Affordability – 4/5

While the Lovevery Play Gym isn’t the cheapest option on the market, its quality, developmental value, and versatility make it a sound investment for baby’s growth and entertainment. As a dad, I’d rather spend a bit more on something that will genuinely benefit our child’s development and that will last for a growing family. If you don’t want to spring for the cost of a new one I would keep an eye out on resale stores and Facebook marketplace as you can always snag a used Play Gym.

Lovevery Play Gym In Review

In summary, the Lovevery Play Gym has been a game-changer for our family. It’s not just a piece of baby gear; it’s a tool for early learning, sensory development, and interactive play. If you’re looking for a thoughtful, well-designed product that both you and your baby will love, I wholeheartedly recommend the Lovevery Play Gym. While there are cheaper options out there you could always look for a used version but at the end of the day this is your child’s development we’re talking about and I think this is well worth the investment – no regrets on our purchase!

Do you have any Lovevery products? Do you think they are worth the price?

There are so many different products out there marketed as essentials for new parents and their newborns but what are the things you actually need beyond the obvious? Here are five things that we have found to be nursery essentials for when you are ready to set up your nursery:

Diaper Pail

There are many different diaper pail options out there but so many of them require their own proprietary bags which of course are not cheap and typically only found online for sale. Additionally, many of these diaper pails are made of plastic which will slowly absorb smells and will never smell the same! However there is an alternative and we cannot recommend enough the Ubbi diaper pail. There are two main factors here to consider and the first is that is primarily made with steel which will not absorb odors like plastic will. The second is that it can be used with any garbage bag – no need for expensive proprietary bag systems. We simply used the same 13 gallon garbage bags we use in the kitchen! This diaper pail isn’t going to eliminate smell entirely – nothing will manage that, trust me – but it will certainly be an advantage over plastic.

Hatch

For a quiet noise machine to help drown out noise from outside the house as well as my wife and I watching our shows we went with the Hatch Rest 2nd gen. With different white noise options and colors to pick from, it makes a nice addition to baby’s bedtime routine. The light and sound also help let baby know it is time for nap and is a key component of nap time routine as well. This has been a really nice addition that I wasn’t completely sold on at the start but has quickly become a nursery essential.

Humidifier

Winters in the midwest can be brutally dry and rough on your skin and so we knew we would want a humidifier for baby’s room. It has the added benefit of being at the ready for when baby inevitably contracts a cold or any sort of respiratory illness. And they certainly got their fair share of colds! I have discovered that a baby with a cold is just the worst as there is not a whole lot you can do for them aside from make them as comfortable as you can – and a humidifier running in their room at night is one easy way to do this. We went with the Pore MistAire for its looks and more compact size.

Label Maker

If your partner is anything like my wife then you know that organization isn’t something you do occasionally – it is a way of life. Additionally this baby already has more clothes than I do and between my wife and some over-the-moon grandmothers that is unlikely to change anytime soon. To that end, a label maker has come in surprisingly handy. Bins, totes, drawers, extra supplies, everything can have its own label so when you’re exhausted from total lack of sleep and baby needs a fresh outfit or you can’t find the spare wipes, labels will save the day! We have found the Brother P-Touch not only affordable but incredibly easy to use to the point where I’ve gone a bit label crazy.

Monitor

When it came time to select a baby monitor I was overwhelmed by the amount of choices – and the cost! There are so many baby monitors out there with cameras and touch screens and apps on your phone that in the end we just went with a very basic, and affordable, VTech audio-only monitor. This has turned out to be a great choice as they are so simple to set up and use and we have found we do not really need a video option. We will occasionally sneak into baby’s room to check on them but have not found ourselves wishing we had video. Once you’ve got your feet under you parenting-wise you’ll not even really need the audio monitor unless you’re outside or out of earshot. Baby will let you know if they actually need you that much I can confirm!

I hope you found our list of the top 5 nursery essentials helpful! There are so many products out there that you just do not need from wipe warmers (its a cold world kid, get used to it!) to specialized baby bottle sterilizers. If you find yourself wanting some of those ‘extras’ that might not be essential then I recommend hitting up a resale store and getting them second hand to save your wallet!

What are some nursery essentials that you have?