Our Favorite Nontoxic Toys: Perfect for Birthday and Christmas
This post is in partner with Lovevery! All thoughts and opinions are my own. Please read my disclaimer page for more information.
With five kids, I’ve seen my fair share of kid’s toys. They seem to just over populate the house overnight and end up in piles all around and never played with. I end up throwing away or giving away most toys that are from big chain toy stores because they are just junk. When my children play with toys, I want the intention behind them to help develop their sensory, motor and cognitive skills. I’ve honestly, stopped buying a lot of “mainstream” toys because they are NOT helping develop any of those things and are just marketed to us as parents to meet their needs. Is it possible to find a toy company that helps meet kids where they are? Can their toys specifically help them learn and develop their brain with play? Does the toy situation have to be extremely overwhelming for parents and consume the house?
I stumbled upon a toy brand called Lovevery on Instagram last year that does a wonderful job at combining all the wants I have as a parent for my children and their toys. They create curated toy kits for ages 0-3 years old! These toy sets are brain boosting Montessori and Waldorf -founded and have become an instant favorite in our house. I will never buy another brand of children’s toys for these ages because Lovevery meets all of the needs we have without the clutter!
In our living room, we have built in book shelves with cabinets on the bottoms. This is where Mercy and Vivi’s toys are stored and easily accessible for them. We loosely follow Montessori guidelines in our home when it comes to helping our children more independent. When toys, plates, cups, shoes and their items are easily accessible, you will notice that your children are immediately gravitating towards getting things for themselves and giving them more control. They will go over to their cabinet and begin to play without an adult having to prompt them or help.
I love a subscription service that delivers directly to your home and since I signed up to do this with Lovevery, they send new play kits every 3 months for the kids. They are filled with a wide range toys that engage your curious and ever-changing babies and toddlers, from pretty puzzles boards and stacking boulders for honing fine-motor skills, to cheerful felt flowers and a tea set for imaginative play, to a working sink, spray bottle, and squeegee for hours of squeaky-clean fun, and play mats for your littlest! These are filled with toys that inspire play but also with instructions on how to maximize your play time with your child and the items in the box.
During the first three years in a child’s life, play is critical for their mental development. Lovevery worked with researchers and specialists to design their Play Kits subscription, offering stage-appropriate play products delivered on a schedule that aligns with the baby’s development. Subscriptions start at $36 a month. How does it work? Enter your Childs age on their website, subscribe to a play kit dedicated for their specific developmental needs at that age, and receive a kit on your doorstep every 3 months. Easy peasy and you’re not buying random junk toys and wasting money!
One of my other favorite products is Organic Nap Mat. You’ll see Mercy laying down in it above. When she is tired, she goes and grabs her Nap Mat and goes and finds a quiet place to set it up. It unfolds like a rest mat and then you can nap in it just like a sleeping bag! It is so easy to roll up that she can do it herself and I just love that it’s made with organic ingredients so that she’s not inhaling harsh chemicals when she sleeps.
We actually save money on kids toys now that we use Lovevery because our children are actually playing with them and the quality is so high that they don’t break like cheaply made toys. These are what I gift at birthdays and make really great Christmas gifts. We are going to get the girls Buddy strollers for their dolls as Christmas gifts this year, along with a few other items from the Lovevery website. Check out this brand and see if it’s something your little ones might enjoy! I know that our fam loves all of the toys we have from Lovevery.
