panda crate travel with me

KiwiCo Panda Crate Review from a Mom of 2 + How to Save

Playing with babies doesn’t come naturally. From the time your baby is a newborn to even a year old, his behavior, likes, dislikes, and play habits evolve dramatically. It’s hard to keep up, let alone figure out which toys and activities are the best for his development.

I have two kids and have been blogging about babies for 3 years and I’m still stumped as to how to play with my kiddos sometimes. Not to mention, wasted a ton of money on toys that my babies didn’t even like.

That’s why when I saw an ad on Facebook for the KiwiCo Panda Crate , I jumped on board with all hands and feet.

The Panda Crate is a subscription box that delivers developmentally-appropriate toys straight to your porch. These toys stimulate your baby’s rapidly developing skills and encourage quality bonding time. AND, it’s actually affordable.

Sound too good to be true? I’ll let you decide!

In this KiwiCo Panda Crate review , I’m going over my entire experience. What’s included, what I liked, what I didn’t, and (what everyone wants to know) how to SAVE on the Panda Crate. I hope you’re ready to have some fun!

RELATED POSTS TO THE PANDA CRATE REVIEW:

• Best Infant Toys to Stimulate Your Baby’s Brain
• How to Read to Your Baby (And Create a Bookworm)
• Best Books to Read to Your Baby

Pros and Cons: The Kiwico Panda Crate Review At-a-Glance

This post may contain affiliate links . If you make a purchase from one of the links I will make a small commission at no charge to you. Blunders in Babyland does not diagnose, treat, or give out any professional advice for any medical conditions. Fun fact: I actually was not gifted this box. I bought it on my own and joined the affiliate program afterwards so I could share it with all of you!

• Developmentally Appropriate: Boxes are curated for your baby’s specific age
• Hands-on: In addition to the toys, each crate comes with activity suggestion cards
• Boxes developed by child development experts
• Great value for toys
• Games are fun and easy for parents
• Bi-Monthly Shipment
• Budget-friendly
• Cancel or Pause at Any Time
• Unable to choose items in boxes (baby’s interest may vary)
• No refunds on delivered subscription boxes

What is KiwiCo?

Like all good start-ups, KiwiCo was created by a mom that wanted to solve a problem.

CEO and mom of 3, Sandra, founded KiwiCo with the goal of providing an easy way for parents to stimulate their children’s creativity and learn new things. KiwiCo’s subscription boxes are pulled together by experts in the field and then reviewed by parents and more-than-willing children testers. 

The items in these boxes are decided on based on your baby’s age, and as your baby grows into a child, his interests.

The coolest thing is, KiwiCo’s boxes are about half the price of other subscription boxes.

What’s the Panda Crate?

The Panda Crate is KiwiCo’s subscription box for babies ages 0-24 months. It’s a bi-monthly subscription, typically priced at $19.95 a month (but we’ll talk about ways to save below). 

Each Panda Crate box has a theme. For example, the box that I’m reviewing is the Travel With Me box, made specifically for 3-6 month old babies. 

In general, each crate includes about 5-6 skill-developing, brain-stimulating toys, coordinating activity cards, “beyond the box” cards (which offers more helpful developmental activities), plus a helpful pamphlet explaining how you can assist your baby’s current development. 

What’s Included in the Panda Crate Travel With Me Box:

• Interactive Floor Mat
• Crinkly Book
• Teething Star
• Cloud Rattle
• Coordinating Activity Cards 
• Beyond the Crate Cards

Remember, your box might be different depending on when you order and how old your baby is. But, I think this sample gives you a good idea of what to expect from KiwiCo. Let’s dig a little further into some features of the box that I think you’ll really like.

Highlights from the Panda Crate

To be honest, I always question what kind of toys I should buy for my kids. I have a very realistic fear that my children won’t like what I buy them or I’m buying the wrong type of toy. 

But guess what?

I (and my baby) genuinely loved all of the toys in the Panda Crate. They were multi-purpose, adorable, stimulating, and excellent quality. I was a little worried KiwiCo would send out cheap toys…that’s not the case. $15 a month for great toys is definitely worth it.

The Activities

So, you have all these new fancy toys, but you’re still stumped. How do you play with your baby?

That’s where the activity cards come in. 

Thanks to these flash cards, I knew how to get the most of the toys and play with my baby in an interactive way. For example, the Panda Crate Travel With Me Box includes a playmat and star teether. The cards suggested hiding the star in the moon pocket of the playmat for a little game of “where’d the star go.” This seems simple, but I wouldn’t have thought of it myself. And my baby was delighted by it.

My Baby Loved It

When you purchase new toys for babies, there’s always a chance that your little one just won’t be interested. So, when my baby really seemed to get into the toys (and still plays with them) it was a relief. 

Now at 6 months, my baby still uses these toys. The crinkle book and star teether are her favorites. The playmat has held up extraordinarily well to spit ups, dirt, and crazy toddler shenanigans. 

The downside is, you don’t get to choose which toys your Panda Crate includes. This is the dual edged-sword of KiwiCo subscription boxes. In the next box, I didn’t like the toys as much. The quality was still definitely there, but my baby wasn’t interested in a couple of the items. Having said that, you can check out KiwiCo’s website and look forward to the next box. If you decide it’s not for you, you can pause or cancel your subscription.

Is KiwiCo or Lovevery Better?

Ah, the KiwiCo vs. Lovevery debate.

Like KiwiCo, Lovevery offers developmentally-appropriate toys for babies every 2 months. These toys are designed to help your baby test his motor skills and parents to teach their babies new things. Lovevery crates offer roughly 7-8 toys. Many of these toys are sturdy, wooden products. The catch is, these boxes are about $36 a month, or $80 per box. Double the price of the Panda Crate.

I think both boxes are great, but for me, it just came down to price. The items in the Panda Crate were half the price of Lovevery and my daughter really enjoys them, so it was the best choice for us.

How Much Does Panda Crate Cost?

What’s the price of the Panda Crate? The price varies, depending on your purchase choice:

• 1 Crate every 2 Months
• 3 Crates for 6 Months
• 6 Crates for 12 Months
• 12 Crates for 24 months (lowest price) 

KiwiCo is always having sales on their crates! Right now you can s ave 30% off on your first month when you sign up for their newsletter.

Shipping is free. Once you purchase your Panda Crate, it usually ships out in 3-5 business days. Mine shipped out in 2 days, making my total ship time 5 days.  

How to Purchase a Panda Crate Subscription or Buy It as a Gift

I loved the simplicity of KiwiCo’s website. You just go to KiwiCo.com, click “our lines,” then select the Panda Crate ( this link takes you straight to the Panda Crate ). 

Enter your baby’s name and age. From here you can choose which shipping options you’d like (1 crate every 2 months, etc.) and then enter your 30% discount code. 

Alternatively, if you’d like to gift the Panda Crate to someone, you can choose “termed subscriptions.” These boxes are more expensive than the subscription boxes, but they don’t renew. Perfect for baby shower gifts or birthdays!

KiwiCo Panda Crate Review: Would I Recommend It?

If you can’t tell, the Panda Crate worked out fabulously for us. I thought the items were high quality and I loved the bonding time the crate initiated between my daughter and I. I feel so much more confident in my ability to play with my daughter now. 

If you really want to engage with your baby but aren’t sure which toys to buy or how to play with them, check. this. out. The Panda Crate is fun, cheap (especially when you take into account the 30% off deal!), and well-worth it!

If you’d like to grab your Panda Crate, check it out here. (Don’t forget to save 30% off on your first box!)

Already purchased the Panda Crate? Let me know your experiences below!

I'm a mom of two, writer, and small business owner. I love giving new and expecting moms the tips they need to overcome the challenges of early motherhood. Check out the About page to learn more!

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Expert Review: KiwiCo’s Panda Crate Let’s Bond!

Newborns can start practicing tummy time and more with these helpful tools!

• twitter Link to Twitter
• linkedin Link to Linkedin
• instagram Link to Instagram
• facebook Link to Facebook

THIS NEWBORN KIT HELPS LITTLE ONES START BUILDING ESSENTIAL SKILLS

• Gives parents bonding time with their newborns
• Helps babies discover their senses
• Comes with five toys and a grownup guide

Designed for kids ages 0 and up, Let’s Bond! is the first box in KiwiCo’s Panda Crate subscription service that includes crates for infants ages 0-36 months. The kit includes a Tummy Time Pillow, a Tummy Time Mirror, a Star Lovey, Black and White Cards, a Grow-With-Me Sensory Play Mat, and a 20-page Grownup Guide that features advice from doctors and other experts for parents regarding the newborn stage. There are three versions available: Essentials, Plus, and Deluxe.

Star Lovey is soothing for babies. | Source: KiwiCo

Black and White Cards engage the sense of vision. | Source: KiwiCo

The Tummy Time Pillow's three sections create a gentle slope for comfortable tummy time. | Source: KiwiCo

Infants and parents can explore new textures, sounds, and reflections together. | Source: KiwiCo

WHY WE LOVE IT

These toys are focused on specific skills for newborns and allow parents to bond with their babies while they are developing essential skills. Babies will explore vision, hearing, gross motor and fine motor skills, language and communication, touch, and more. Parents can get involved by playing with the toys as well and doing activities included in the Grownup Guide. For example, parents can make silly faces in the mirror for little ones to practice imitation or hold up the Star Lovey so they can practice reaching and grabbing. The Grownup Guide also features information on brain development at this age and encourages new parents to play with their babies in ways that will help them grow!

IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW

The toys come ready to be played with! Items from the Essentials version will fit back in the box for storage, but parents will have to store additional items from the Plus or Deluxe versions elsewhere.

PERFECT FOR

New parents or grandparents; parents- or grandparents-to-be; baby shower gifts; gifts for new parents; newborns and infants

PANDA CRATE LET’S BOND!

Each toy helps little ones explore their senses of vision and hearing, gross and fine motor skills, language and communication, and more. Parents can build bonds with their newborns with the included grownup guide and five developmental toys, including a tummy time pillow and mirror, black and white cards, a grow-with-me sensory play mat, and…

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Nadia Velit

Nadia Velit is the Senior Editor at Adventure Media & Events where she writes for The Toy Book, The Toy Insider, and The Pop Insider. As a trusted source for parents and gift-givers and a toy industry expert, Nadia focuses on all things toys and stays on top of all of the hottest trends. She loves to be outside with her chickens and is always ready for a game of giant Jenga or old-fashioned Twister. When she’s not playing with friends and family, you can find her curled up with a Sandra Brown mystery novel or obsessing over The New York Times Spelling Bee although truthfully she would rather be at Hogwarts. Nadia has been featured on CBS, NBC, FOX, and more.

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Travelers Plans How to Travelers Plans in The World

Panda crate travel with me.

Traveling with a baby or a toddler can be a daunting task for any parent. From packing all the essentials to keeping your little one entertained during the trip, the challenges are endless. But with the help of Panda Crate Travel With Me, a curated subscription box for traveling families, your next adventure can be stress-free and enjoyable for everyone involved.

What is Panda Crate Travel With Me?

Panda Crate Travel With Me is a subscription box designed to make traveling with young children easier and more enjoyable. Each box comes with age-appropriate toys, books, and activities that are specially curated to keep your little one entertained and engaged during long car rides, plane trips, or hotel stays. The boxes are tailored to your child’s age and developmental stage, and they are delivered right to your doorstep before your trip.

What’s Inside a Panda Crate Travel With Me Box?

The contents of each Panda Crate Travel With Me box vary depending on your child’s age and developmental stage. However, each box typically contains a mix of toys, books, and activities that are designed to keep your little one entertained and engaged during your travels. Some examples of the types of items you might find in a box include:

• Soft books and crinkle toys for infants
• Coloring books, stickers, and activity sheets for toddlers
• Puzzles, games, and travel-sized toys for preschoolers

How Does Panda Crate Travel With Me Work?

To get started with Panda Crate Travel With Me, simply sign up for a subscription on their website. You can choose the frequency of your deliveries (monthly or every other month), and you can cancel or pause your subscription at any time. Before your trip, your box will be delivered right to your doorstep, and you can pack the contents in your carry-on or checked luggage.

Each box comes with a booklet that provides tips and tricks for traveling with young children, as well as ideas for how to use the items in the box during your trip. The items in the box are also designed to be lightweight, portable, and easy to clean, making them perfect for travel.

What Are the Benefits of Using Panda Crate Travel With Me?

Using Panda Crate Travel With Me comes with a variety of benefits for both parents and children. Some of the key benefits include:

• Less stress and more enjoyment during travel
• Age-appropriate toys and activities that keep children engaged and entertained
• A convenient and hassle-free way to pack for travel
• A chance to discover new toys and books that your child may love
• A great value for the price of the subscription

How Much Does Panda Crate Travel With Me Cost?

The cost of a Panda Crate Travel With Me subscription varies depending on the frequency of your deliveries and the length of your subscription. Prices start at $39.95 for a single box, with discounts available for longer subscriptions. Shipping is free within the United States, and international shipping is available for an additional fee.

Is Panda Crate Travel With Me Right for Your Family?

If you’re a family who loves to travel, or if you’re planning a trip with your little one soon, Panda Crate Travel With Me might be the perfect solution for you. With age-appropriate toys, books, and activities that are designed to keep your child engaged and entertained during travel, you can enjoy a stress-free and enjoyable trip with your family. And with the convenience of home delivery and a hassle-free subscription model, Panda Crate Travel With Me is a great value for parents who want to make travel with kids easier and more enjoyable.

Completely Christi

November 30, 2020 ·

KiwiCo Panda Crate: Feel With Me Review + Discount Code

Baby · Kids · KiwiCo · Toddler

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means I will make a commission at no extra cost to you should you click through and make a purchase.

After patiently waiting for a couple weeks, Charlotte opened her newest Kiwi Co Panda Crate and I’m excited to share it with you. If you’re looking for Christmas gift ideas for kids of all ages, Kiwi Co is a great option!

As a quick recap, KiwiCo crates are age-appropriate boxes of activities curated to help parents and kids have fun learning at home. KiwiCo crates come in eight age ranges, from 0 all the way up to 104. Depending on the age, crates ship every month or every other month.

KiwiCo Panda Crate: Feel With Me

Charlotte gets the KiwiCo Panda crate every other month for educational and fun early learning at home. This month’s theme worked on:

• social-emotional development
• communication
• feelings and emotions
• fine motor skills

I love watching Charlotte open her box each month. She makes the best surprised faces!

The Feel With Me crate comes with everything you see here. The parent resources on the right alway include ideas to extend play for additional learning. I appreciate that you’re getting more than “just” toys with KiwiCo.

Mood Puzzle

This one was such a hit right out of the gate! Charlotte really had to work her fingers with her brain to figure out how the circles drop down into the board. As she gets older, there are lots of ways to extend play by matching the emotions to the words, having her act out the emotions, etc.

Huggable Poppy

Poppy is the mascot of the Panda Crates and she’s so cute! Her little arms are open, so the blanket can be tucked into her arms. Charlotte also pretended to use it as a diaper. Giving toddlers “babies” to take care of is great for social development!

Emotion Stacker

This one is so fun! Charlotte was carefully studying all the different eyes, noses, and mouths. She would turn the pieces over and around in different configurations to try to build a face in the correct order. She isn’t matching the specific tops and bottoms yet, but knows the goal is to build a face.

Notice she’s also still hanging on to the round mood puzzle pieces here too. She loves those! They’re the perfect size for her little hands.

Emotions Placemat

This is a silicone placemat for eating. One of the suggestions is to use different foods to help complete the face. For example, could charlotte add a mouth? Can she put a cheerio on the nose?

KiwiCo Discount Code– time sensitive for Cyber Monday!

Ready to try KiwiCo for your littles? They have a generous rewards program where you can earn points toward free products. I earned points by adding my children’s birthdays, following KiwiCo on social media, and sharing my referral link with friends on Facebook.

***  Want to save on your first box, for any age? Simply click here to use my referral link and use code MERRY. Please be sure to click directly through to purchase for correct credit. Win-win!  ***

* $10 off when you order a 1 month sub * 1 month free with 3 month subs * 2 months free with 6 month subs * 4 months free with 12 month subs

Want to see some of our other recent crates?

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Care and Feeding

Do we need a stroller for international travel.

Slate’s parenting podcast on “damned if you do, damned if you don’t.”

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Episode Notes

On this episode: Zak, Jamilah, and Elizabeth answer a listener question about whether it’s really necessary to lug around strollers and car seats during an international trip. The answer is complicated, but among other tips, we do recommend the following: The City Mini stroller The gb Pockit+ stroller line The Doona car seat/stroller system The Mifold compact booster seat The CARES harness for plane seats We also dole out a round of regular recommendations and share some stuff that listeners have been loving – and for our Slate Plus listeners, we’ll imagine our own personal parenting training montages (shoutout to listener Aili and her son Silas).

Jamilah recommends: A hotel staycation (but voluntary) Elizabeth recommends: Magic Puzzle Company Puzzles  Zak recommends: Taki

Join us on Facebook and email us at [email protected] to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today’s show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. You can also call our phone line: (646) 357-9318.

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Podcast produced by Maura Currie.

About the Show

Jamilah Lemieux, Lucy Lopez, Elizabeth Newcamp, and Zak Rosen share triumphs and fails and offer advice on parenting kids from toddler to teens.

Zak Rosen is the host of  The Best Advice Show . He also produces and edits  How to Survive the End of the World  and  Freedom Dreams . He lives in Detroit with his wife and two young kids (and very large dog, Rumi).

Jamilah Lemieux is a writer, cultural critic, and communications strategist based in L.A.

Elizabeth Newcamp  is a co-host of Care and Feeding. She's a traveling mother of three boys who chronicles her misadventures at  Dutch, Dutch, Goose .