Lovevery Amazon Alternatives: The Babbler Play Kit for Months 13, 14 and 15

Post updated January 3, 2023. Originally published October 9, 2021.

Looking for Lovevery alternatives for your 1-year-old? I’m so excited to start the journey through the 1-year-old Lovevery play kits. The Babbler is definitely a stand-out play kit and has some of the most sought-after Lovevery toys, including the slide and seek ball run and carrot box.

So: could I recreate the Lovevery Babbler Play Kit for less?! Let’s find out!

Note: The Amazon prices listed in this article may fluctuate, so be sure to check the current price at the time of reading.

Interested in more Lovevery Amazon alternatives? Check out our full blog series: Lovevery Amazon Alternatives for Every Play Kit

Quick Note About Me

When I first published this article, I had two small children, ages 1.5 and 3. At that point, we had collected over a dozen play kits. Today, I have three kiddos, ages 4, nearly 3, and 9 months. We officially have ALL of the Lovevery play kits and hands-on experience with all of the toys.

I also purchased every play kit myself (none were sent to me by the brand). Because of that, I feel the pain of how dang expensive they are!!

While these toys are worth it for us, I know a lot of families love the concept but can’t afford $120 every 3 months. That’s why I started this Lovevery Amazon alternatives blog series in the first place. I’m on a quest to find Amazon alternatives to all of the Lovevery toys. 

Slide and Seek Ball Run

The slide and seek ball run is a crowd favorite, and it’s also one of the most popular Lovevery toys. And I can see why! Every time we have other kids over, this toy gets the attention.

Dropping the ball through the hole in the top and watching it spiral down is loads of fun for kids of all ages. My 3-year-old daughter even has a blast playing with this toy. The box at the bottom of the ball run is another dimension of play – and a big challenge – which allows the child to discover several openings so they can retrieve the balls.

The box part of this toy is reminiscent of the more difficult lockbox that comes in the play kit for months 19, 20, and 21. I appreciate that about Lovevery – they build on skills, and the play kits are somewhat of a progression.

I still think the best Amazon alternative for the slide and seek ball run is this one ($12.86), which is made of BPA-free material and has a basketball top.

Bunnies in a Felt Burrow

Bunnies in a felt burrow might be one of the most adorable toys in all of the Lovevery play kits. 

My son and daughter had fun playing peek-a-boo with the bunnies and then “hopping them” all over the place.

The best Amazon alternative for bunnies in a felt burrow is this bunny condo play set ($19.99). In the original version of this article, I actually found a dog toy that was a wonderful dupe, but it’s no longer available for purchase on Amazon. I’ll still link it just in case that changes.

But this bunny condo includes the same, cute bunny theme and options for hide-and-seek play. This would be really cute in a toddler Easter basket!

Flexible Wooden Stacker

The flexible wooden stacker is, to me, the pinnacle of Lovevery. It has all of the colors, the wooden material, and an element of uniqueness to it. 

The brand actually ran an ad based on this photo I took (with permission) – the color story is just so visually appealing!

Here’s my son playing with it when he was younger:

In my original article, I suggested this stacking toy as a good alternative, but Adena Montessori has come out with an even better option at a lower price!

The Adena Montessori Rings on Peg toy ($25.95) has the same rainbow color scheme as the Lovevery stacker, it’s also wooden, and it promotes hand-eye coordination and motor skills.

I also have to give a huge shout-out to Mariza, who DMed me on Instagram and shared this wonderful dupe!!

Circle of Friends Puzzle

The Circle of Friends puzzle is another fun way to integrate peek-a-boo into playtime. Around this age, peek-a-boo never gets old! Plus, the puzzle component of this game is the perfect challenge for 13-15 months old.

In my original article, I recommended this alternative from Thoth, which did include the circular puzzle, but it missed out on the peek-a-boo component (no cute pictures of babies underneath the puzzle piece). 

Thankfully, there’s an even better option available now from Familiar Faces Toys ($29). It’s almost a perfect dupe!

Wooden Coin Bank Set with Coin Lid, Coins, Posting Lid, and Carrot Lid with Carrots

The wooden coin bank trio is one of the funnest toys of all time!! This toy never gets old, because you can keep swapping out the top for a whole new play experience. I will say the carrot lid with carrots takes the cake for our favorite toy of the season.

When I first published this article in 2021, I hit the jackpot by finding a nearly identical alternative from nanayo. However, since then, the price has gone up and it now costs just under $45.

Thankfully, Adena Montessori has come out with their version, and it’s at the killer price of $22.95!! I feel like I hit the jackpot again! You get the coin bank, posting lid, and carrot lid in one fell swoop. I actually like this better than Lovevery’s version, because it comes with the posting sticks, whereas the Lovevery version does not.

‘Bedtime for Zoe’ Board Book

Lovevery board books always include photos of real kids doing real-life things. My understanding is this is very Montessori-aligned. 

I made sure to find a board book alternative that also included photos of real kids getting ready for bed, and I’m Not Tired! by Scholastic ($6.08) fit the bill.

Lovevery vs. Amazon Toy Price Comparison

It’s time to see if we can recreate the Babbler Lovevery play kit on Amazon for less. Drumroll, please… 

• Slide and Seek Ball Run Alternative: $12.86
• Bunnies in a Felt Burrow Alternative: $19.99
• Flexible Wooden Stacker Alternative: $25.95
• Circle of Friends Puzzle Alternative: $29
• Wooden Coin Bank Set with Coin Lid, Coins, Posting Lid, and Carrot Lid with Carrots Alternative: $22.95
• ‘Bedtime for Zoe’ Board Book Alternative: $6.08

The total cost to recreate the Lovevery “The Babbler” Play Kit for Months 13, 14, & 15 is $116.83, or $3.17 less than buying directly from Lovevery.

Please note that Amazon prices fluctuate, so the prices listed here may be different than the prices you see at the time of reading.

There are a few differences between the Lovevery kit and the Amazon alternatives, including the lack of a wooden box at the bottom of the ball run toy. Half the fun of that toy is figuring out how to get the ball out of the box, and exploring the different openings was a fun lesson for my son at this age.

And when you buy these items from Amazon, you lose that cohesion and aesthetically-pleasing quality of toys that all go together. You may not care about that, but I definitely get a lot of joy when these toys are all displayed on a toy shelf – it just looks so nice!

Oh, and I cannot forget to mention the Play Guide! 

The play guide tells you how to use these toys, and it also offers up a ton of other activities you can do using things around your house (very Pinterest-style!).

With all of that in mind, if you’re willing to give up a couple of things, you could recreate this play kit on Amazon for a tiny bit less.

Conclusion

I do love the Lovevery play kits, but it’s cool to know there are some pretty good alternatives available on Amazon. Yes, they aren’t quite as nice and they don’t coordinate aesthetically like the Lovevery kits, but you could save a little money by going that route.

Happy playing!!

Interested in more Lovevery Amazon alternatives? Check out our full blog series: Lovevery Amazon Alternatives for Every Play Kit