I read so many positive reviews of lovevery but so many of them had affiliate and referral links so here is I used my own $170 to buy this review. I am editing this review now that I have had the mat for a longer period of time.
I will be comparing this to a small Walker type gym like the IKEA leka gym which is $35. I paired my IKEA gym with a large foam black and white playmat which was $160 so overall more，but you can substitute whatever you want for the surface underneath.
1. Tummy time.
IKEA gym and mat combo is far superior for tummy time in the early months. The IKEA gym is easy to move aside but undoing the velcro on the somewhat unstable lovevery structure is a pain in the ass so I can't get down with the baby to encourage her to do tummy time or side lying. The crinkles entertain her somewhat but the learn to focus zone has its ribbons too far apart for her to take them all in. A bunch of ribbons underneath a boppy is more accessible for her. Same goes with the color zone. She also prefers colorful moving targets. She never had any interest in the black and white Montessori ball rolling. In terms of the learn to focus zone, the body part cards were good but she lasted much longer with an honest to goodness real mirror by the large mat. It also felt safer because on a plain mat, she was at low risk of rolling into the semi stable legs of the gym. Boppy is impossible to use with the lovevery gym.
All of the above is true for under 6 months. When she got bigger, she could more easily access and play with the ribbons. She loved the nubby one. Similarly, she developed some interest in balls. When she started rolling, I just took off the top part entirely and moved it aside for her.
2. Side lying and midline play. The IKEA gym was easier to adapt to sideline and midline playing as you could always tape pictures to the side. The lovevery gym just has one card clip to promote midline play.
Midline clip is still not a strong suit for the Lovevery but they now have an attachment that's supposed to address that somewhat.
3. Grabbing. Somewhat successful but the IKEA gym toys are a bit easier to reach and to substitute for other things that are lower down so it can be used at a younger age. Also, the side spinners were easy for her to reach when she was very small unlike even the lowest rung on the lovevery gym m She had very limited interest in the crinkle teether, which was the most successful of the three toys.
As she got older, the mirror card was fantastic for practicing an inferior pincer grasp. The IKEA gym was a bit too small for her to lie under at this point.
4. Batting. She loved the batting ring once she figured it out. More than the IKEA toys. Bells are her favorite.
5. Kicking. She loved the crinkle zone. Just as much as the 2 cent wrapping paper I taped to the wall by the large mat.
6. Peekaboo. Not as fun as playing with the full length mirror and daddy. Couldn't get her interested in the teether.
The peekaboo zone never did much for us but when we started using the tent, that was pretty fun for peekaboo. The tent was also great for just taking out into the yard for a bit of shade in the heat.
7. Bonding. Because it was easier to get on her level on the large foam mat, we could play together and workout with dumbbells, body and baby weight exercises, and do yoga together. I could do more rough house and tumble play with her. I could also more easily do mirror games since the mirror was more accessible to the two of us than the little mirror cards that you clip onto the lovevery gym.
It's difficult to find a product that does all things well. I think while the Lovevery gym is great for more extended use than the other gyms, that other gyms may actually be superior in those early days when they are super tiny. If money is no object, I would recommend this gym and another cheap gym like the IKEA one. If budget is a concern, I would recommend prioritizing a toddler mat which you will likely use for many years rather than many months. I also lent this gym to a friend with a toddler who loved the larger size because her toddler could play with baby. If you expect that multiple children may use it, or if you have an easy resell market in your area, this is definitely durable enough to last multiple infants - it's made out of the same bent plywood as the IKEA gym.
| Dimensions du produit | 111.76 x 96.52 x 60.96 cm; 3.27 kilogrammes |
|---|---|
| Numéro de modèle de l'article | 9000001 |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | Non |
| Poids maximum recommandé par le fabricant | 25 Livres |
| Piles requises | Non |
| Portatif | Yes |
| Poids de l'article | 3.27 kg |
