Award-winning subscription for babies | The Little Sensory Box

Our sensory-play boxes are officially the ‘best subscription box’ for babies!

Much to my husband’s amusement, I’ve been walking around singing my own interpretation of Gold (that Spandau Ballet classic) for the past few days… but there’s a very good reason why:

Our Baby’s First Year sensory-play subscription series only went and won joint GOLD in the ‘Best Subscription Box’ category of the Junior Design Awards 2021!

To say I’m over the moon is an understatement!

The Junior Design Awards is an annual event, launched in 2011, with winners handpicked by the Junior Magazine editorial team and a host of highly respected judges. They’re considered one of the most esteemed accolades a children’s designer, brand or retailer can win, and when I entered back in April I never really allowed myself to believe a win was possible. ‘Best Subscription Box’ is always a really competitive category – and more so than ever post-lockdown, as there are so many more subscriptions on the market.

So, as you can imagine, it was a real pinch-me moment when I got that winning email!

It feels extra special that it’s my subscription series that has won the award, because this is the product I’ve really poured my heart and soul into over the past three years. I designed these sensory-play boxes based on my own personal experience of being a bewildered new mum, battling postnatal depression and feeling pressure that I ‘should’ be playing with my baby, but having absolutely no idea where to start. I’m beyond delighted that they’ve been recognised as something that can reduce the overwhelm for new parents while nurturing babies’ developing brains, and it was incredible to read the following feedback from the judges:

“Such a brilliant idea for anyone who wants to show that they’re thinking about a little one throughout their first year no matter how far apart they are.”

- Bonita Turner, Editor of Junior

“Such a cleverly curated gift selection that will delight and stimulate babies in this highly developmental stage.”

- Eleonore Crompton, Contributing Editor, Junior

“I think this one is great for some parents who have no idea where to start with baby toys as there is such an overwhelming amount out there. Would also make a lovely baby gift!”

- Chloe Thurston, Stylist and Influencer @chloeuberkids

It was also a real honour to share the gold with the incredible Kind Kids Book Club, and to be in the same category as the silver and bronze winners, Mud & Bloom and Not Just Nibbles.

I’d like to say a HUGE thank you to the judges, and of course to our wonderful customers and your brilliant babies. The Little Sensory Box has gone from strength to strength since we launched in 2019, and I’m truly grateful to you all for shopping with us, recommending us, sharing our content and reviewing our service.

YOU are gold!

What is the Baby’s First Year subscription?

If you’ve landed on this blog and are wondering what our award-winning baby subscription boxes are all about… read on!

Baby’s First Year is a quarterly subscription series of four sensory-play boxes, designed to give parents a curated, high-quality selection of toys and resources to support their baby’s development at every stage from birth to twelve months (and beyond!).

When you subscribe, you’ll receive a box every three months. The total number of boxes you’ll receive depends on the age of your baby when you start:

• Sign up for a baby 0-3 months: receive all four boxes.
• Sign up for a baby aged 3-6 months: receive three boxes in total.
• Sign up for a baby aged 6-9 months: receive two boxes in total.

Whenever you sign up, each box in your series will arrive exactly when you need it and will support your baby to work towards their next milestones by learning and practicing new skills. 

You’ll also have access to our downloadable ‘Ways to Play’ guide, which is bursting with information about which milestones your baby is likely to be working towards and how you can explore the items in your box to help them get there.

What’s in the boxes?

Every item in every box is carefully selected to be age appropriate, safe and provide open-ended play potential. We only choose high-quality toys and resources from renowned early-years brands. 

Below are some examples of the kinds of things you can expect to receive in each box – though the exact contents will vary as we’re always seeking out new and exciting products!

0-3 Months

This box is focused on introducing you and your baby to sensory play and supporting your baby's visual and cognitive development. It may include some of the following items:

• Printed muslin
• Board books
• Soft rattles
• Crinkle toys
• Reversible cards
• Sensory decals

3-6 Months

This box is all about helping your baby practice their fine and gross motor skills, and may feature some of these items:

• Maracas
• Hand bells
• Water mats
• Sensory bottles
• Rattle balls
• Textured teething blocks

6-9 Months

Babies at this age love exploring smaller items with their hands, so this box includes items to help them enhance their fine motor skills and learn new skills like stacking and making objects move:

• Reflective sensory balls
• Push-along animals
• Stacking cups
• Board books
• Hand puppets
• Wooden shakers

9-12 Months

In this box, we include items that support baby’s first attempts at language, along with pieces that help them develop their listening and fine motor skills.

• First word cards
• Wooden toys
• Board book
• Educational beads
• Rainsticks

How much does it cost?

Each box costs just £43.97 and is billed as it’s dispatched to you. So, if you subscribe to all four boxes, you’ll pay £43.97 per quarter, which is £175.88 in total.

This equates to just £14.65 a month for all the sensory toys and resources you need to support your baby’s development through their first year. And the reality is, you’ll be playing with these items well beyond your baby’s first birthday – and possibly for future siblings – so you’ll actually get way more value from them!

Interested in subscribing for your baby? Choose your baby’s age and sign up here.

Why not gift a subscription to someone who’s pregnant or just had a baby? There’s no better way to welcome a new baby into the world than with a gift that keeps on giving through their first year and beyond!