Panda Crate

Panda Crate delivers age-appropriate toys, books, and activities designed by child development experts for babies and toddlers 0-36 months. Each bi-monthly crate targets specific developmental milestones with high-quality, safe materials. Includes a parent guide with play ideas and developmental insights.

Panda Crate is KiwiCo’s offering for the youngest learners. Unlike monthly subscriptions, Panda Crate ships every two months with age-targeted toys and activities that grow with your child from newborn through toddlerhood.

Pricing Plans

Plan	Price	Note
Monthly	$21.95/month	Crate ships every 2 months ($43.90/crate)
6-Month	$18.50/month	Actually lasts 12 months
12-Month	$16.95/month	Actually lasts 24 months

Note: Each Panda Crate includes 2 months of developmental content and ships every other month.

What’s Included

• 2-3 Developmental Toys: Safe, high-quality items targeting current milestones
• Board Books: Age-appropriate stories and concepts
• Activity Cards: Play ideas for parents and caregivers
• Panda Parent Guide: Expert insights on your child’s development

Panda Crate Levels

Crates are tailored to your baby’s age:

• 0-3 months: Sensory exploration, tummy time
• 4-6 months: Reaching, grasping, sitting support
• 7-12 months: Crawling, standing, early problem-solving
• 13-24 months: Walking, talking, independence
• 25-36 months: Imagination, social skills, pre-school readiness

How It Works

Panda Crate’s bi-monthly subscription cycle delivers developmental play kits expertly matched to your baby’s current age and milestones:

1. Subscribe and Enter Baby’s Birthdate: Visit KiwiCo’s website and select Panda Crate. Enter your baby’s birthdate (or expected due date if subscribing before birth) so KiwiCo can send age-appropriate crates matching your child’s current developmental stage. Choose your subscription plan (monthly billing, 6-month, or 12-month). Note that monthly pricing bills every month, but crates ship every OTHER month (bi-monthly delivery).

2. Bi-Monthly Crate Shipment: Every 2 months, your Panda Crate ships around your subscription date. Free shipping is included. Each crate is sized appropriately for baby/toddler items (approximately 12” x 10” x 4”) and arrives in KiwiCo’s colorful, recognizable packaging. The bi-monthly schedule prevents toy overload while providing regular developmental support.

3. Unbox Age-Targeted Contents: Open your crate to discover items specifically designed for your baby’s current age bracket:

• 2-3 developmental toys targeting current milestones
• 1 board book with age-appropriate stories or concepts
• Activity cards with play ideas for parents/caregivers
• Panda Parent Guide explaining this stage’s development
• All items safety-tested and appropriate for the target age

Everything is chosen by child development experts to support the specific skills your baby is working on right now - not generic toys that might fit any age.

4. Read the Panda Parent Guide: Before diving into play, read the included parent guide which explains:

• Key developmental milestones for your baby’s current age (motor skills, language, social-emotional, cognitive)
• How each toy/activity supports specific development areas
• Play suggestions maximizing learning from each item
• What to watch for as your baby grows
• When to expect the next developmental leap

This transforms random toy play into intentional developmental support, helping parents understand the “why” behind each activity.

5. Introduce Toys and Activities Gradually: Don’t overwhelm your baby with all items at once. Introduce toys over the 2-month period:

• Week 1-2: Introduce the first toy and book
• Week 3-4: Add the second toy or activity
• Week 5-6: Introduce remaining items
• Week 7-8: Rotate favorites while previewing what’s coming next

This gradual introduction keeps things fresh and prevents overstimulation, especially important for younger babies.

6. Engage in Guided Play: Use the activity cards and parent guide to play intentionally:

• Tummy Time Support (0-6 months): High-contrast toys encourage head lifting and reaching
• Grasping Practice (4-8 months): Textured toys develop fine motor control
• Cause-and-Effect (6-12 months): Toys that respond to baby’s actions teach action-result relationships
• Pretend Play (18-36 months): Props supporting imagination and language development

The guides explain not just WHAT to do, but WHY it supports development, empowering parents to extend learning beyond the specific toys.

7. Read the Board Book Together: Each Panda Crate includes an age-appropriate board book. Reading with babies and toddlers:

• 0-6 months: High-contrast images support visual development
• 6-12 months: Touch-and-feel books encourage sensory exploration
• 12-24 months: Simple stories build vocabulary
• 24-36 months: Concept books (colors, numbers, emotions) support pre-school readiness

Regular reading establishes routines and language foundations even before babies understand words.

8. Observe and Document Development: As your baby plays with Panda Crate items, observe milestones:

• First time grasping and shaking a rattle
• First time turning pages in a board book
• First time stacking blocks
• First time engaging in pretend play

Many parents use Panda Crate arrivals as natural checkpoints for documenting growth through photos or baby books.

9. Adjust as Baby Grows: Because Panda Crate is based on your baby’s birthdate, the crates automatically age up as your child grows:

• Newborn crate focuses on sensory stimulation
• 6-month crate introduces grasping and sitting toys
• 12-month crate supports cruising and early walking
• 24-month crate encourages pretend play and language
• 36-month crate transitions toward preschool skills

No action required - KiwiCo automatically adjusts to your child’s age.

10. Decide When to Graduate: Panda Crate covers ages 0-36 months. As your child approaches 3 years old, consider transitioning to Koala Crate (ages 3-6) for preschool-appropriate activities. Many families subscribe to both during the transition period (18-36 months) if they have multiple children or want extra activities.

Frequency: Panda Crates ship every 2 months, not monthly. Billing is monthly at $21.95, but each delivery contains 2 months of content. A 12-month subscription results in 6 crates delivered over the year, effectively costing $43.90 per crate.

Who It’s For

Best For:

• First-Time Parents: Those uncertain which toys support specific developmental stages and wanting expert guidance
• Busy Parents: No time to research age-appropriate toys or create activities - everything arrives ready to use
• Developmentally-Focused Caregivers: Parents prioritizing intentional play that targets milestones rather than just entertainment
• Gift Givers: Grandparents, aunts/uncles purchasing baby subscriptions that grow with the child over months/years
• Minimalists: Bi-monthly delivery prevents toy overload; receiving 6 crates/year (12 items total) is manageable
• Parents Wanting Education: Those who value the parent guide teaching them about child development alongside the toys
• Multi-Child Families: Households where older siblings have outgrown baby toys and parents need fresh age-appropriate items for new babies
• Parents of Babies with Delays: Children working on specific developmental areas benefit from toys targeting those exact skills
• Quality-Conscious Buyers: Those preferring safe, well-designed toys over cheap, mass-market baby items
• Routine-Seekers: Families appreciating the predictable bi-monthly arrival as a milestone marker and photo opportunity

Not Ideal For:

• Budget-Restricted Families: At $21.95/month billing ($43.90/crate every 2 months), this is $263-394/year; Target and secondhand stores offer cheaper alternatives
• Those with Abundant Hand-Me-Downs: If you already have extensive baby toy collections from older children or generous friends, Panda duplicates what you own
• Control-Focused Selectors: You don’t choose which toys arrive; if you prefer curating every baby item yourself, direct purchasing offers more control
• Babies Who Prefer Simple Items: Some babies fixate on household objects (wooden spoons, plastic containers) rather than designed toys - expensive subscription wasted
• Families Short on Space: Monthly billing for bi-monthly delivery can confuse budgets; if you prefer paying only when items ship, this billing structure frustrates
• Parents Uncomfortable with Subscription Fatigue: Even bi-monthly delivery creates accumulation over 6-36 months; if you’re decluttering, subscriptions add inventory
• Fast-Growing Babies: Babies who hit milestones early may outgrow toys before using them fully; direct purchasing allows better timing
• Those Preferring Specific Brands: Panda includes KiwiCo’s curated selection; if you only want Montessori or Waldorf-specific toys, this doesn’t guarantee that approach
• Parents Who Don’t Read Guides: If you won’t read the developmental explanations and play suggestions, you’re paying for expertise you’re not using - cheaper toys suffice

Panda Crate works beautifully for engaged parents who value expert-designed developmental toys and appreciate the education that comes with each crate. The bi-monthly pace prevents overwhelm while still providing regular developmental support as babies grow rapidly through their first three years. However, the $43.90 effective cost per crate and limited customization mean this works best for families prioritizing convenience and expert guidance over maximum control or budget minimization. If you’re a first-time parent unsure which toys support 8-month development vs. 12-month development, Panda takes the guesswork out. If you enjoy researching and selecting baby items yourself, direct purchasing offers more agency.