Panda Crate is a bi-monthly subscription from KiwiCo for ages 0-36 months. You will receive one crate every 2 months which comes out to $20.95 per month or $41.90 per crate with free shipping. Boxes are curated based on the science of early development with materials that are practical, helpful, and convenient for parents. In fact, they actually consulted researchers at Seattle Children's hospital to make sure everything is well suited for each stage of your child's brain development.
This review is of KiwiCo's Panda Crate (for ages 0-36 months), which costs $41.90 per month.
This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out the editorial guidelines to learn more about how we review boxes.)
First Impressions
Upon opening the box, I could see that it was neatly organized and it felt more like a gift than an actual box. I was eager to see what items were in store for me and my baby boy who is due in February! This being my fourth child, I feel that I have a pretty good grasp of both infant development and what is helpful for parents at any stage so I was ready to explore what this box had to offer.
What's Inside This Box
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This Wonder magazine was divided into four categories; grow, learn, play, and connect. While this is my fourth child, there has been a pretty big gap between my last and this one, so I loved all of the helpful tidbits and reminders about what baby's cues could mean and how I could better bond with him.
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These four "Beyond the Crate" cards provided a few activities we could do and listed the ages that it would be appropriate to do them at.
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The next set of cards gave detailed information about each of the items we received in our box. Let's check them out!
Milestone Pillow and Cards
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How cute is this pillow featuring a little panda, who happens to be our box mascot, Poppy, just peeping over the top of a little clear slot where we can input our milestone cards? I love that there are two different sides and it is just the right size to accent a nursery chair without taking up too much space (which is limited for us). With my first, I kept track of everything and took pictures of her nearly every day, but by the time I got to my third, I just didn't have the same amount of time (nor space in my phone!) to do the same. I love that this little pillow will be an easy reminder to take photos and keep track of his development. This is a special little pillow to have whether you are a first, fourth, or sixth-time parent!
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They also included this little envelope to store our milestone cards in. There is one for each month and on the back, there is space to write some details about their size and what they are doing at this age.
Swaddle Blanket
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I don't think you can send a baby box these days without including a 100% cotton muslin swaddle. I really do love these blankets and after so many children I have accumulated quite a few, but they are so useful and this one is generously sized and has a cute gender-neutral pattern on it. I like to use mine for swaddling, a nursing cover-up, stroller blanket, car seat cover, or even a burp cloth in a pinch! They are versatile and a staple for every baby, in my opinion!
Tummy Time Mirror
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This mirror is so cool! You can lay it flat for baby to look down at and play with or it folds up so that baby can lift their head up to explore during tummy time. It has plenty of bright colors along with some contrasting ones, plus there are lots of textures with the soft cloud, the crinkle circle over the panda, and plenty of flaps and ribbons to lift up and touch, and probably put their mouth on. It also folds up nicely so you can slip it into your diaper bag to take for entertainment on the go.
Black and White Cards
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The last item in our box was this set of black and white cards for helping with visual development. There are fun shapes and contrasting colors to stimulate them. Plus they come on a ring so you don't lose them and they are easy to travel with.
Even cuter, they fit inside the clear pocket on the tummy time mirror so you can switch it out at any time.
Value - Was This Box Worth It?
The Cost: $41.90
This is certainly not an inexpensively priced box, but I was honestly wowed by all of the items inside due to both the quality and the thought that seemed to go into each and every piece. I love the idea of using the milestone pillow each month and having this collection of cards as a keepsake (and a reminder!) for each month of baby's first year. I also love how many fun little bits there were to the mirror and the fact that it comes with different cards to insert. As a fourth-time parent, I find value in these items, knowing how much use my baby and I will get out of them! So, is it pricey, yes, but every other month, it would make for such a nice developmentally-appropriate reminder of what skills you can be focusing on with your baby and it would definitely make a nice gift for a first-time parent!
Key Takeaways
These materials were high-quality and it is obvious that there is a lot of care and thought that went into each and every product that was included. I am looking forward to seeing what innovative, scientifically-backed items they come up with for baby to enjoy!
Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist!
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? Yes, this is one of the boxes they send during the 0-36 month age window. Panda Crate is more of a "line" of boxes from KiwiCo than a typical subscription model with different themes each month. 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 to arrive. By default, it will arrive the month of your due date.)
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