In this Build Your Own series, we will be building our own play kits with Lovevery alternatives for The Charmer play kit by understanding the function of each toy. This kit is designed for infants starting at 3-4 months and primarily features playthings for Baby starting to 1) grab things with their hands, and 2) engage their other senses including hearing noises and babbling, and especially by putting things in their mouth.
Best Lovevery Alternatives for The Charmer Box
For those who just like to cut to the chase, here are the Lovevery alternatives I recommend for The Charmer play kit. Details on each substitution below as well as more alternative products to consider.
Shaking to Make Sounds
Sound-making rattles are included in this kit for two primary purposes. First, you can help Baby track sound by shaking these toys yourself and having Baby follow along visually, side to side, up and down, and all around. Second, towards the end of this period, Baby will start to grasp items and make noise themselves.
What’s great about these two Lovevery toys are that they are small-sized, perfect for Baby hands. Made of wood for open-ended play, they are classic Montessori-type toys.
If you’re not hardcore Montessori though, I found this rattle that covers so many of Baby’s developing senses, from touch to sight to sound, and is a hit with the little ones!
So, in my opinion, these two Lovevery kit items from The Charmer box…
… can be replaced with this workhorse of a rattle, or a simple rattle alternative.
Crinkling to Make Sounds
The crinkling sound from plastics is irresistible to many babies! Cover the plastic with fabric and you’ve got a durable plaything that Baby will love!
In my opinion, this crinkle bag and soft book from The Charmer box…
… can be replaced with this soft book where the front and last pages are crinkly!
Alternatively, if you want something more portable for “on-the-go” entertainment as well, these baby papers are a favorite and are some compact they fit anywhere!
Teethers
Baby mouths things to explore the world. They’ll likely use whatever they can get their hands on as a “teether”, but if you want guaranteed safe materials, stick with rubber or silicone.
In my opinion, the two teethers (one rubber, one silicone) in Lovevery’s The Charmer kit…
… can be replaced with a number of options for all budgets. Here are just some cute ideas I’ve come across.
Baby’s Reflection
The Charmer comes with both a mirror card and a framed mirror. The framed mirror is so cute and high-quality – the perfect size for the little one.
If we are trying to replicate these, here are the best options:
Other Items in The Charmer Kit
There are three more items that come in the Charmer Kit:
If playing with the hand-to-hand discs is a must-do for your baby, I’d recommend finding a Lovevery version. The similar products I’ve found from other brands are low quality and I would not recommend any of them.
You should already have black and white cards from The Looker kit or my post on alternatives for the Looker kit, but in case you still need some, here are some nice options:
Lastly, the books really set Lovevery apart and make it unique. The use of real photos and the intention-driven topics make it a winner. There is no good alternative to the Lovevery book included in this Charmer kit. However, just for fun, here is a book recommendation (unrelated to Lovevery’s book) but is perfect for your 5-6 month old.
Is this DIY Cheaper Version of Lovevery Charmer Box Better?
Yes, I would personally skip the Lovevery Charmer box.
While there are some unique Lovevery products in this box that you can’t get of similar quality (mainly I’m looking at the hand-to-hand discs and the ‘Talking’ book with real human photos), all other items in this kit can be replicated with other toys in a cost-effective way.