Can we just talk about how weird it is to suddenly be so addicted to YouTube? It’s not like it’s new to me or anything and yet, it’s become the first form of “social media” I check every day now. Weird. In the history of YouTube, I’d only ever tuned in to link to music videos or to view the occasional shared video via other social platforms. I had an account solely for the purpose of uploading an old home video to post elsewhere (and also because google basically makes you have an account to all their things once you sign up for one), but otherwise, I didn’t spend much time there.

I can’t say that anymore. I spend SO much time there now. Too much maybe.

I suppose the addiction was born when my friend Akoss started a BookTube Channel. It was just a baby addiction then, mostly toward unboxing videos of various nerd-themed monthly subscription services, but somewhere along the way, whenever I’d log in to check her latest video, I’d find myself watching several other “similar” videos and then somehow I was subscribed to a bunch of toy channels. Toy channels that feed my already existing toy collecting obsession in dangerous ways.

If you would like to fall down the toy channel rabbit hole with me, here are some of my favorites and why!

Toy Box Collectibles – I love this channel partly because I love Cupquake (and Red) on other channels (such beautiful, cool nerds), but also because they (along with Hannah sometimes) get so excited about the products it’s impossible to not get excited about them too, even if they’re new to me (they’re totally responsible for so many of my latest addictions). I also like that they really do review a great variety of collectibles, not just the standard ones everyone else is doing and they’re honest about them. While they do tend to like a lot of the “cute” things they find, they don’t pretend to love it all when there are obvious flaws in the toys.

Unboxing Rocks – This channel is especially awesome because of the Daddy/Daughter dynamic between Jay and Cyan. Sure, Mixx is great too, but there’s just something really special about dad’s getting excited over their daughters girly things. Also, Jay and Mixx are the kind of adult figures I imagine myself being if/when I have children – still into rock, tattoos, and toys (in other words: still being themselves and exposing their kid to a variety of awesomeness instead of solely kid-related coolness).

RadioJH – This channel frequently also has an awesome Daddy/Daughter dynamic, when Jason decides to do the videos with Audrey, but even when he’s not in front of the camera you know he’s behind it and I just love that he supports his 11 year old daughter’s desire to make a YouTube video every day (and I mean every day) and play with all her toys. Plus, Audrey is just too adorable for words with her funky colored hair and huge excitement over each new toy she reviews. She also sometimes does videos with her little brother, proving to be a fun, good big sister. This channel is another example of good parenting in my opinion.

Chad Alan – Boys who love dolls FTW. Chad and Audrey are “internet siblings” (that’s a joke, btw) and so it was through her that I discovered him. I’m quite smitten with his politeness, the perfect organization of his collection, and how completely unashamed he is to love dolls the way he does. I’ve read in the comments how much he’s made younger boys unafraid of also liking dolls and I am just happy they have someone like Chad to look up to. Toys are toys; they shouldn’t only cater to one sex over the other.

Beardy Nerd – This channel isn’t necessarily a toy channel, but does feature toys often in a different way than the other channels. The Beardy Nerd subscribes to a crazy amount of nerdy monthly subscription services and does individual unboxing reviews of each and then a combined review, rating them against each other. I find this to be super useful if you’ve been considering testing out other subscription services because he doesn’t just showcase what each box offers, he also breaks them down in value vs. the cost of the box too.

I follow a few other, non-toy related channels for music and laughs, but let’s be real, I spend the bulk of my time on YouTube getting addicted to new toys. And maybe you think addicted is a strong word, but just glance through all the toys I’ve acquired just this year so far in the slideshow below and see what I mean. I’m seriously out of control.