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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6 Things to Know Before Getting a KiwiCo Panda Crate Subscription

Video: we unbox months 0–11 of the kiwico panda crates to better understand stage-based play., by babylist team.

Baby brains work overtime in the first few years, making millions of connections every second as they learn new things about the world around them. A lot of that learning happens through play. Subscription-based play boxes like the KiwiCo Panda Crate can help bridge the gap between that rapidly developing brain and your lack of a PhD in brain science or early childhood development. In the video above, Julie (a parent of two) unboxes the Panda Crates for baby’s first year (and she takes a peek at a few of their boxes for older babies between 12 and 36 months). Here’s what you need to know before signing up for a subscription or adding one to your registry (skip ahead to the What’s Inside section if you want to see exactly what comes with each box).

In This Article:

• What Makes the KiwiCo Panda Crates Different

How Much Does a KiwiCo Panda Crate Cost?

The grownup guide explained.

• What’s Inside the Panda Crates from KiwiCo (Months 0–11)

Who Do We Recommend KiwiCo Panda Crates For?

What makes the kiwico panda crates different.

KiwiCo isn’t the only subscription-based toy delivery for babies, but there are a few things they do that stand out:

STEM-inspired learning : While other subscription play boxes may be more milestone-focused, KiwiCo’s is more about encouraging baby-led learning (aka the idea that play should not only nurture brain development but also your baby’s natural curiosity about the world around them). By introducing the basics of math and science through play, it helps build a foundation that can lead to a deeper interest in STEM as they grow.

• Affordable options: While most subscription play kits range from $80-$120 per box, KiwiCo has options from $50-$90 per box, offering one of the more accessible age-based play subscriptions out there.
• Extended learning: While some other toy subscriptions end at 24 months, KiwiCo Panda Crate has crates for the first 36 months, and then you can transition to their Koala Crate (for ages 3–4), Kiwi Crate (ages 5–8), all the way up to the Maker Crate and Eureka Crate, designed for teenagers and up. As your kid gets older, the crates transition from boxes of ready-to-play toys to more complex hands-on projects that introduce kids to bigger STEM concepts.

KiwiCo has three different program options for their Panda Crate line. Panda Crate Plus is their core subscription at $80 per crate, but they also offer a leveled-up option (Deluxe) and pared-down option (Essentials) for parents who are looking for a little more or less in each box. Here’s a closer look at what changes with each level:

The biggest difference you’ll find between the Plus and Essentials crates is that the toys in the Essentials crate are smaller scale playthings, designed for at home or out and about. They’re easy to throw in your diaper bag or car for on-the-go entertainment or a familiar toy to comfort baby in new environments. Here’s an example of the 0–1 month Essentials crate:

And with the Deluxe box, you get everything you get with the Plus, along with a book curated to your baby’s specific age, written by an award-winning author.

In our video review, all of the crates that Julie explores are from the Panda Crate Plus line. No matter which tier you choose, shipping is always free. You also can pause your subscription with no penalty or fees, and if you ever need to cancel, you can do it through your account settings; no need to call anybody or get in touch with support.

Every Panda Crate (at all subscription levels) comes with a grownup guide called The Wonder Play Guide, with over 30 pages of science-based tips, ideas on how to play with the Panda Crate toys and research-backed information on your baby’s brain development at the current stage. Each guide includes easy DIY ways to play, activities and Q&A with experts in pediatrics, science and child development.

The guides can be really helpful for figuring out how to play and engage with your baby. They can also be a confidence booster for parents who are in the, “what do I do with this tiny creature living my house” stage of new baby life. One reviewer on the KiwiCo website said the way they explain KiwiCo Panda Crate to their friends is that they’re like “a user manual for raising a child.”

What’s inside the Panda Crates from KiwiCo (Months 0–11)

No matter which subscription you choose, every Panda Crate comes with 3-6 products designed specifically for your baby’s developmental stage (that means they are going to want to play with the toys). But if you want to take a deep dive, here’s what comes in each box of a Panda Crate Plus subscription for the first year.

Months 0–1: Bonding

At this age, your baby’s vision and hearing are developing, along with gross and fine motor skills. One of our favorite things in this box is the tummy time pillow. It was designed by a KiwiCo product designer whose baby definitely did not love tummy time, so she created a super-cute rainbow pillow to help out parents who might be in the same boat. See everything included in the Plus crate at the 1:00 mark in Julie’s video.

Months 2–3: Sensing

At this stage, your baby’s brain is working hard to develop synaptic connections (think: growing visual tracking skills, touch and tactile sensations, and hearing). So this crate is all about exposing your baby to different sounds and textures to help develop their senses. In the Plus crate, the grow-with-me toy is a cool ocean-themed activity wedge that unfolds from a block into a wedge with 10 panels filled with fun textures and creatures for your baby to explore during tummy time. (See them at 1:45 .)

Months 4–5: Discovering

At this stage, baby is discovering all kinds of things with their hands and mouth (be prepared for drool!), building fine and gross motor skills, and seeing more color. This is also when baby really starts to develop bilateral coordination aka using both sides of the body together. Toys like the double spinning drum that comes with the Plus crate are designed to engage baby’s sight, sound, and touch, whereas the knotted ball and wood transfer disks work on dexterity. (See them at 2:11 .)

Months 6–7: Listening

Your little one is making huge connections with auditory development right now, paving the way for budding language (they might even know and respond to their name!) You can use the toys in this crate together to help your baby connect sound with all of the other things they’ve been learning (like cause and effect and hand-eye coordination) along with new skills, like figuring out how rhythm looks and sounds (think: playing a tune on the xylophone and waving the play scarves to the rhythm of the beat). (See them at 2:45 .)

Months 8-9: Exploring

Learning cause and effect helps babies understand they have the power to make things happen. For example, in the puzzle that comes with the Plus crate for this month, a face pops up when you insert the right shape into the shape-sorter puzzle! This box also includes toys that introduce baby to spatial awareness and social-emotional concepts, like how we show emotions on our face. (See them at 3:15 .)

Months 10-11: Communicating

Your baby might be showing signs of learning to speak, making sounds like raspberries and babbling. The toys in this crate help you stoke that by chatting, laughing and singing to your baby. For example, you can do story time with the stacking wooden animals and little red barn. Or build spatial awareness by playing peek-a-boo with the barn doors. (See them at 3:37. )

After your baby turns one, they can continue the fun with crates designed for 12–36 months (you can see a handful of what’s included from 3:35-6:07 in Julie’s video). And unlike some other play subscriptions that space out the toys for toddlers from bi-monthly to every three months, KiwiCo Panda Crate keeps you in stock of new toys every other month.

Play subscriptions can be a great option for parents who are excited to bond with their baby, but might be a little overwhelmed at the how of it all. Parents we talked to said the value of the KiwiCo Panda Crate is really impressive, especially when you compare your subscription price to what the individual toys would cost if you were to buy them on their own. And with options ranging from $50-$90 per box, this subscription is one of the more affordable options (without compromising on the style and sturdiness you’d expect from a subscription play box). To see the crates up close and get more info, watch Julie’s complete video review or head over to KiwiCo to explore what’s inside.

This article is sponsored by KiwiCo. Babylist’s free site, apps and emails are made possible by our sponsors. We limit our sponsored content to relevant partners that offer products and services we believe in and use ourselves.

KiwiCo Panda Crate Review: The Perfect Subscription Box for Babies

Have you ever wished for a magical box that arrives at your doorstep, filled with goodies that keep your baby entertained and help them grow? Well, fret no more because KiwiCo’s Panda Crate is here to save the day (and your sanity)! Panda Crate is an exceptional subscription box specifically designed for babies and toddlers aged 0 to 36 months. 

P.S. We sometimes receive free products from manufacturers.We are, however,  not paid or compensated for our reviews . To remain impartial in our tests, we use objective ranking factors and put each product  in the hands of unbiased parents . We only recommend products that we use ourselves. To support our website, we may receive a small commission if you buy something through our links. These commissions come at no extra cost for you. Read our  earnings disclaimer  to learn more.

What is a Subscription Box?

A subscription box is a recurring delivery service that provides customers with a curated selection of products based on their interests or needs. Panda Crate takes this concept to a whole new level by tailoring its contents to meet the developmental milestones of babies .

Price and Frequency

Panda Crate offers flexible subscription plans, allowing you to choose the frequency that suits your needs. The crate comes every other month and you can opt for a one-time option or a longer-term plan. With prices starting at $16.95 per month, it offers great value for money considering the high-quality products and educational materials included.

Also, KiwiCo offers several crate lines for a variety of ages, and you can change which line you receive any time , allowing you to progress to a new stage of learning when your little one is ready.

Overall Value

One of the standout features of Panda Crate is its focus on age-appropriate toys and activities that promote healthy development . Each crate includes research-backed products and resources that help stimulate cognitive, sensory, and motor skills. From engaging toys to interactive books and thoughtful parenting guides , Panda Crate ensures that every item contributes to a baby’s growth and well-being.

Initially, many parents felt the quality of the items were subpar and that some of the items weren’t age appropriate; however, Panda Crate has made some updates and significant improvements the past year to resolve these complaints.

Not only has the name changed from “_____ with me” to the updated “Let’s ____” (ie “Bond with me” versus “Let’s Bond”) other updates include an increase in overall product quality, new storage containers or bags, and an improved parent guide making it easier to reuse . However, the books are no longer part of the crate, but can be purchased for an additional $10.95 fee per crate.

Pro’s of Panda Crate

• Age-appropriate : Panda Crate delivers customized products for specific developmental stages, ensuring that your baby receives the right stimulation at the right time.
• Educational resources : The inclusion of parent guides and activity cards makes it easy for parents to engage with their little ones and foster early learning.
• High-quality items : Panda Crate sources products from trusted brands, ensuring that they are safe, durable, and designed to engage babies’ senses.

Con’s of Panda Crate

• Limited customization : While the crates are tailored to specific age ranges, there may be some individual preferences that aren’t addressed.
• No option to swap items : Unlike some other subscription boxes, Panda Crate does not offer the ability to exchange items if they are not suitable for your child’s current stage of development. However, you can pause at any time if you find the next crate isn’t what you are looking for.

Our Hand-on Review

We started out opening the Let’s Bond box crate with the sensory mat. I really liked that the sensory mat doubled as a cozy blanket and my little one especially loved all the different interactive flaps and textures. It seems to be really well made and it isn’t overly busy. It is a little bulky though, so I couldn’t easily throw it in my diaper bag if I wanted. My little one loved the mirror and all the bright colors. Even my older toddler thought it was fun to sit on and play with all the different pockets and flaps. You can make it more interactive by adding little toys in the pockets or hide things behind flaps. I really like that it is open ended and allows me to play with them in a variety of ways . My toddler played with it for about 15 minutes or so , and had a lot of fun playing with the flaps. My little one didn’t last as long, but he was really engaged while he was doing his tummy time.

The wood tree set was also a hit and is super cute! The quality is amazing and I love the wooden toys . The pull back and the drive part of the squirrel seemed a little fragile and might not last forever against the roughness of a toddler. The variety of shapes and colors allowed a variety of play options: stacking and balancing, matching and sorting, and of course knocking it over. My toddler loved the squirrel! He played with it for more than twenty minutes and was excited to play with it again the next day . Like other crate boxes, a storage bag was included as well as an instruction booklet , with a variety of ideas on how to play with it and possible learning experiences. Honestly, I can’t think of anything I didn’t like about it.

Panda Crate Plus: Is it Worth It?

Yes! The extra items you get in the Panda Crate Plus version are worth it! So although it looks to be about $35 more per crate, additional items like the Sensory Mat and the Lightbox are huge hits with kids. Not to mention if you were to purchase these items separately you are looking at a higher cost. For example, some items like the Grow-with-me Sensory Play Mat are valued at $69.95 in the Kiwi Store… that’s an additional $35 value !

Panda Crate by KiwiCo is a standout subscription box designed to nurture your baby’s growth and development . With its age-appropriate toys, engaging activities, and educational resources, it provides exceptional value for money. While it may lack some customization options, the thoughtfully curated contents make up for it. Give your little one the gift of exploration and learning with Panda Crate .

Megan is a wife and mother of three, as well as an experienced foster mother. She loves building and testing new products, and helping identify what works best for readers and clients. She has her degree in Computer Software Engineering and has been a Product Lead with over 8 years of experience designing, building, testing, and selling products to companies ranging from sole proprietors to the largest retailers in America!

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Panda Crate Review: A Parent’s Honest Thoughts

Find out what I think about KiwiCo’s Panda Crate—a toy subscription service—in this in-depth review. (Hint: I love it—and so does my baby!)

• Written by Genevieve Howland
• Updated on June 09, 2024

Playing with a newborn is kinda hard, amiright?! Don’t get me wrong—there are go-tos, like pat-a-cake, peek-a-boo, and this little piggy. But so many parents—myself included—freeze a little beyond that.

We wonder: What’s the best way to connect?  Am I connecting enough?! 

That’s why I was so excited to discover a little thing to help with this dilemma. It’s called Panda Crate , from KiwiCo.

What Is KiwiCo?

KiwiCo is a subscription-based company formerly called Kiwi Crate. The monthly subscription service is made specifically for kids . Each month, subscribers get a crate (aka a box) that contains everything needed to complete a single STEM project related to a centralized there.

These boxes are specifically designed for different age groups, including:

• Panda Crate: Ages 0-2
• Koala Crate : Ages 2-4
• Kiwi Crate : Ages 5-8
• Atlas Crate : Ages 6-11
• Doodle Crate : Ages 14+
• Tinker Crate : Ages 9-16+
• Eureka Crate : Ages 14-104

What is a Panda Crate?

Panda Crates are the KiwiCo crates for children ages 0-24 months.

The Panda Crate is a bit different from the other KiwiCo crates, like the Kiwi Crate and the Tinker Crate . Here’s what you can expect:

• Multiple toys rather than one project: The Panda Crate includes a variety of age- and developmentally-appropriate products, as well as a magazine and activity cards to help parents learn about their child’s unique developmental stage and foster deeper learning.
• Less frequent deliveries: Instead of shipping monthly, the Panda Crate includes two months’ worth of products and ships every other month.

Buy the Panda Crate

You can subscribe to Panda Crate for as little as $15.50/month — and shipping is free.

Get Your Panda Crate!

Get free updates on baby’s first year! – Free Updates on First Year [In-article]

My Honest Panda Crate Review

Unboxing the panda crate.

My first Panda Crate came with six toys for baby : five different activities, plus a book.

We dumped the whole thing out to let our daughter, Faith, explore. It was a really fun and delightful sensory experience for her.

But, next time, I think I’d opt to unbox myself and take  one toy out at a time. This is actually something I recommend for all kids’ toys. It’s the paradox of choice—when kids have too many choices, none of them seem all that great. But if you grab one thing and cycle through it, kids have no choice but to explore. Generally, this is a very positive experience for them—and it’s a great way to capture their attention. 

And with six different activities in the Panda Crate, you essentially have one toy for each day of the week!

Playing with the Panda Crate

Faith had so much fun interacting with every item in the Panda Crate. It really hit the mark developmentally . And—bonus—Papa Natural and I were delighted to find a puzzle in the box. We had  just  been talking about getting Faith a nice wooden puzzle to play with.

The parental resources that comes in the crate are pretty fantastic, too. As I mentioned above, playing with a newborn has its own set of challenges.

The parental resources (essentially large-format flash cards) that come in each Panda Crate really guide you through each toy and provide recommendations for how to use the toy to interact with your child.

These cards also provide information about why each toy is so great for this specific stage of baby’s development—it’s truly fascinating stuff!

Beyond the crate

There’s also a really neat little “beyond the crate” section that helps extend the usable lifespan of each item in the crate by teaching you how to use it in other ways. For example, it shows you how you can use the stacking cups in fun, baby-appropriate sensory activities to learn about volume. It’s a great way to keep building on all the skills each toy helps teach baby. 

What I love About Panda Crate

Overall, the Panda Crate was probably my favorite of all the crates. It was so great for Faith, but it was also so great for Papa Natural and me—we had so much fun watching Faith explore and learn, but we also enjoyed playing with her on a deeper level.

Here’s what else I liked:

• It’s stimulating:  Faith was delighted to explore a variety of new toys. I really saw her light up!
• It teaches important skills:  There’s a sensory element to discovering new toys, but I love that all of the included toys are specifically chosen, because they teach valuable skills. Through the toys in the box, I witnessed Faith extending her motor skills, problem-solving skills, and critical thinking skills. She also got to explore the concept of cause and effect and build upon her (soon-to-be) exploding vocabulary.
• It’s expertly curated: These boxes are designed by former educators and child development professionals, then reviewed by an advisory board that includes educational, developmental psychology, art, and science professionals. This process ensures the crates and the items in them are developmentally appropriate for each age group.
• It’s tested by real parents and their babies: Every single Panda Crate is tested with babies and parents to ensure they’re age-appropriate and engaging.

How Much Do Panda Crates Cost?

Panda Crate Review: How Much Do Panda Crates Cost?

Like other subscription boxes, the price of Panda Crate varies slightly depending on how many months you sign up for. The longer you commit to receiving the subscription box, the less expensive it is each month.

• The most flexible option is to pay month-to-month — $39.90 every two months (or $19.95 per month). With this option you can cancel at any time.
• If you’re ready to commit, you bring that per-box price down to just $31, or $15.50 per month. But you you need to pay $372 upfront for 24-months of Panda Crate.

For some, the big commitment is worth the savings of $262.80 over the course of the year. But for others, they prefer to pay more and break up the payments. The bi-monthly option also provides the flexibility to cancel whenever you’d like.

Either way, the value is good and it’s much easier than shopping blindly in the store.

And how much $ would you normally spend on baby toys over two years?

Panda Crate Review Video

Check out this video to get a sense of what comes in each box.

How Long Does Panda Crate Shipping Take?

When you order your first box, KiwiCo typically sends your box within 2 to 3 business days of purchase. Once it ships, your Panda Crate will typically arrive within 5-7 days. 

Going forward, you’ll get a new Panda Crate every other month for the duration of your subscription. If you’re unsure when your next shipment will arrive, you can check the status of your order on the “My Account” page of KiwiCo’s website.

Want to give Panda Crate as a baby gift ?

You can opt to send the Panda Crate right away—or you can set it up, so that the first crate ships the month of the baby’s due date (or the month of your choosing). You can even choose to send the first Panda Crate to your own address, so you can gift it at a baby shower . Any remaining crates in the subscription you chose (3 months, 6 months, or 12 months) will ship according to the baby’s age.

How About You?

Have you tried Panda Crate? Let us know in the comments below!

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About the author.

Genevieve Howland is a doula and childbirth educator. She is the bestselling author of The Mama Natural Week-by-Week Guide to Pregnancy and Childbirth and creator of the Mama Natural Birth Course . A mother of three, graduate of the University of Colorado, and YouTuber with over 135,000,000 views, she helps mothers and moms-to-be lead healthier and more natural lives.

Thierry Oct 20 at 9:45 pm

I bought a year subscription right after my son was born. He is now 8 months and has so far played with the toys at different stages. One of the first items, the foldable board, was the first toy he ever interacted with. Yesterday he found it and it was fun to see him playing with it in different ways. This is part of KiwiCo’s toy crates idea, multi uses at different stages of development. I also really like the Beyond the Crate learn and play idea for parents. Sometimes he doesn’t care right away about a toy, maybe I overestimate him, but he eventually gets to liking them and watching me play with them.

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KiwiCo Panda Crate – Chat With Me Review

If you have a baby under 12 months of age, you’ve probably heard of the Panda Crate. Today we are going to take a look at another Kiwico crate. This is our review of the Kiwico Panda Crate “Chat With Me”. KiwiCo was kind enough to let us have a review copy to take through the paces.

Since I don’t personally have any infants to use as a “reviewer”, I relied on one of our Friends of Fractus with a ten-month old girl to relay their thoughts and give me their honest review. I first took quite a few pictures of what’s in the box, then repacked the toys and dropped off the crate for the review.

What was the verdict? Stay tuned!

Stacking Wooden Animals

Pull-along truck wagon, peek-a-boo barn, poppy says hello board book, wonder magazine, did this infant activities box help foster language development, is there a discount code to use for the “chat with me” panda crate, sweet animal sounds & wooden animals – what do you get with the “chat with me” panda crate.

Over the years we’ve had many opportunities to review the KiwiCo subscription crates , so it’s interesting to see how KiwiCo has grown and shifted focus. The willingness to grow and evolve is what makes Kiwi Co one of the best subscriptions you can get for a child. The Kiwico Panda Crate is one product line that has evolved. This activity box is geared to toddlers whose age ranges from 1 to 24 months old. It’s gone from an activity-based lineup to one more focused on developing a different skill each month.

As the name implies, “Chat With Me” is about helping to nurture and develop language development. As you probably know, a baby is always listening to what you say. By this age, they understand much more than they are able to speak.

Inside the Panda Crate “Chat With Me” Box

While this is not the first box I have opened from KiwiCo, I’m always amazed at the time and effort they put into the product presentation. Here’s my quick Kiwico Panda Crate Review- at least of what’s inside the box!

There are four solid beechwood barnyard animals that your child can play with and stack. It’s not a layup to stack these wood toys – but over time your son or daughter should be able to master it. A little adversity builds character, remember.

This fun wood pull-along truck is perfect for hauling the stacking animals around the house. It’s great for developing both gross motor skills and fine motor skills.

This wood barn is perfect for kids to play with during tummy time. Little hands will enjoy opening and closing the barn doors. Talking about these motions develops “directional vocabulary”. The Peek A Boo barn would be great to give to our child while in a car seat or other travel situation.

I currently live in Wisconsin. (No I don’t have any cows within a drone flight of my house – but the long dairy tradition of the state is drilled into you as a kid).

So maybe it’s just the cow-connection, but I really thought the cotton canvas cow was cute. It has rope arms and cloth feet. The arm loops are wide enough for a young child to easily grab onto it.

But the best was yet to come.

It moos when you move it! It reminded me of the sound of a farmhouse toy I had when I was young.

Poppy is back in this entertaining farm-themed read-along book with nice, thick pages. Poppy is out to say hello to all her animal friends. It’s a great chance to explore numbers and sounds with your baby.

This magazine is designed for parents. Wonder Magazine will give you information about this month’s crate – why it is designed as it is, some ideas for additional play opportunities along with links to more information and resources if you want additional information.

You also get the From The Crate cards and Beyond The Crate cards. These activity cards provide some ideas for parents to explore and take the concepts presented in their subscription boxes a step further. You also get a rundown of the items in the box – but I just gave you that, didn’t I?

What Did Our Volunteer Review Family Think Of The Chat With Me Panda Crate?

Once again, I’d think to thank our Friend of Fractus for their help on this Kiwico Panda Crate Review. While it’s “fun” work, it still involves some work. So thank you for your time Shelia! The opinions expressed below are hers – I lightly edited them for brevity.

Her 10 month old also really liked the cow . At first, Shelia was concerned that the voice box inside the toy might not be padded enough if her daughter whacked herself in the head with it, but that never was an issue.

Her daughter is a month older now and still enjoys playing with and mimicking the “Moo” sound. In the end, she felt it was designed with her child’s age in mind.

Mom enjoyed being able to spend time with her daughter – both reading Poppy Says Hello and playing with the stacking animals. Her daughter loves animals, so they were able to play and make pig, cow and other noises while having fun. She also liked the cart and using the pull-along cord – which really help develop those motor skills.

She admits that they didn’t do any of the baby sign language activities discussed in Wonder Magazine. She didn’t feel it was a good use of their play time.

Our reviewer thought it was a bit of a stretch to say this subscription box actively worked to foster language development.

Mind you, there were opportunities to engage verbally with her child while using the box. The Beyond the Crate activity cards have a wealth of information on ways to use sounds and have a baby babble conversation with your infant.

But honestly, Shelia already talks to her child during play and during reading. She thought maybe this might be helpful for a first time mom – and it’s certainly nice to have the wooden animal toys and mooing cow to play with.

Is The KiwiCo Panda Crate “Chat With Me” Worth Buying?

Value is always in the eye of the beholder…so your mileage may vary.

Both our reviewer and myself agree – you could probably replicate the experience of a Panda crate on your own, but it would cost you more in money – and ESPECIALLY TIME – to do it. I am just doing a back-of-the-envelope calculation here, but I’d guess it would cost at least double to purchase similar stem infant toys from retailers. Add in the additional cost from using your valuable time, and the total cost is even higher.

Your child will mostly outgrow these toys by the time they are 18 months old. However, they’ll never outgrow the mooing cow!

Coupons and discounts are limited time only, so they change all the time.

Kiwico runs discounts and promotions at various times throughout the year. There will be a pop-up that will appear when you leave this page that will give you the information on the discount we have for our parents and readers. We’ll include the necessary coupon code as well.

Bryan Bigari is the current editor of Fractus Learning. As a father of three, Bryan has a passion for helping kids to both excel in school and have fun with friends and parents. He has worked on education issues at the state and federal level, and is looking forward to sharing his first hand education and toy knowledge with you.

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