Panda Crate is a new, bi-monthly subscription from KiwiCo for ages 0-36 months. They are curated based on the science of early development and are made practical, helpful, and convenient for parents. In fact, they actually consulted researches at Seattle Children's hospital to make sure everything is suited well for each stage of your child's brain development.
In addition to this newborn subscription, KiwiCo offers other boxes for different age groups:
- Panda Crate for 0-36-month-olds,
- Koala Crate for 3-4-year-olds,
- Kiwi Crate for 5-8-year-olds,
- Atlas Crate for 6-11-year-olds,
- Doodle Crate and Tinker Crate for 9-16+-year-olds, and
- Eureka Crate for ages 14 and up.
This is a review of Panda Crate's first box ("Bond With Me" for ages newborn - two months) which costs $19.95 every month + free shipping.
About Panda Crate
The Subscription: Panda Crate by KiwiCo
The Cost: 1 crate every 2 months costs $19.95/month (with free shipping) which adds up to $39.90/crate. Save with longer subscriptions.
The Products: Up to six learning toys and books, specifically designed for your child’s age and stage. The line is split into five separate age bands: Birth-2 months, 3-6 months, 7-12 months, 13-18 months, 19-24 months, 25-30 months, and 31-36 months.
Ships to: The U.S. for free, Canada for $3.95 per month, worldwide from $4.95-$6.95.
Good to Know: You can switch to any of KiwiCo's other subscriptions at any time to suit your child's age and developmental interests.
Panda Crate "Bond With Me" September 2019 Review
Each box comes with a Wonder by Panda Crate magazine, with information about the stage of development your baby is in and lots of tips and FAQ's for parents. This first Panda Crate, for ages birth-2 months, is titled "Bond With Me."
The magazine includes lots of information. I really like how they included a simplistic table for baby cues and an FAQ with a doctor about colic/when babies just won't stop crying, and that it emphasizes the importance of just taking the time to connect and bond with your new baby! Essentially, babies are wired to learn, but first they need to feel safe and connected.
Also in each crate is an info sheet showing every item in the box with a brief description on the right.
Every crate will also include activity cards with details of your baby's brain development, activities you can do with them to promote development, and the science behind them.
Similar to the activity cards, there's also informative cards with details about each product and how to use them most effectively!
This first box included a (really cute) pouch for you to keep all your activity cards together and easily accessible! I love the design. It'd be great for so many other uses even outside of holding the Panda Crate cards, as well.
Black and White Cards
High-contrast/bold black-and-white pictures are very easily seen by newborns even while their eyesight develops and sharpens. These cards have both simple and complex designs on them. They'll be interesting to look at and there are suggestions for ways to hold them up and move them around and such to help encourage development for your baby. They also fit inside a pocket of a tummy time product you'll see further down in this review.
Milestone Pillow and Cards
Even though this baby (due in October) will be my third baby, I've never really done the monthly milestone photos before with my first two. Especially not with a consistent prop. This pillow is something I can see being super easy to remember to use and keep easily on hand. It features a clear window for the milestone cards to slip into and you can keep them all in there and just put the right one in front so you never lose any!
I definitely have to point out that my favorite part of the way they designed these cards is that the backs of them have spaces for you to write out stats and favorites of your baby! I really love this because it's simple and uncomplicated and I'll already have them in hand when snapping the picture really quick. I have a really nice baby book for my first, and I don't think I really even used it at all. I can keep up with these cards, though!
Swaddle Blanket
This swaddle blanket is 100% cotton, breathable, and quite soft. The print they chose for it is really cute and gender-neutral. There's no stretch to it so it'll keep your baby nice and snug. The card that goes with the blanket has a nice diagram of how to swaddle, which is helpful.
Tummy Time Mirror
The last item in the "Bond With Me" Panda Crate is this Tummy Time Mirror Mat. There's a lot to this item! First and foremost, it's cute and colorful with lots of flaps, crinkly pieces, and ribbons and things for your baby to feel and play with. It also features a clear pocket that you can slide the black and white cards into. And, of course, a mirror and you can fold this mat up in a way to stand the mirror up to face the baby during tummy time to encourage them to hold their heads up.
Verdict: My first impression of Panda Crate is very positive! I love the whole goal of the box: to deliver scientifically-backed products to help promote my baby's development. Even though my baby isn't here yet (soon!), I know these are all things we'll get good use from. Aside from the practicality of all these items, my favorite thing is the designing! The branding is so cute with the little panda on everything, and the colors are modern and stylish. It makes me really excited to see more. I also really appreciate all of the information on the activity cards, item cards, and Wonder by KiwiCo magazine. I enjoyed reading it all, and I know I personally would have also really loved all of it when I was a first-time parent. Overall, considering the practicality, the information cards and magazine, the science-backed curation, the quality and great design of the items, I'm happy with everything we get for the $39.90 per crate cost.
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? Yes, this is the box that they will send for newborns to 2-month-olds. Panda Crate is more of a "line" of boxes from KiwiCo than a typical subscription model with different monthly themes. When you sign up, you input your baby's age or your due date and they'll send you the appropriate box for your child's age and development at the right time. (Good to know: you can pick what month you want your first box. By default, it will arrive the month of your due date.)
Check out all of our KiwiCo reviews and the best baby subscription boxes of 2019!
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