Tonie / Yoto for 2 year old?

[roshi42]

Wondering about a Tonie / Yoto for a two year old… too young?

I’m wondering if it would be something to help cut down screen time. And perhaps for entertainment in the car.

DS had a Yoto last Christmas. He was 2 but not far off 3 and to be honest hes only started enjoying it in the last few months (he pretends it’s his tv as it shows an image when it plays a story, however, we used it a lot when he went through a stage of waking in the middle of the night and struggling to settle back down.

He doesn’t use it in the car but we’ve taken it on holiday and use it as a white noise machine, radio and his entertainment as he can choose what story to ‘watch’

Thank you! That sounds similar to how I was envisioning using it… I suspect I may be a Christmas too early though.

We bought Ds a Tonie at 3. He’s used it almost every day since.

i think the Tonie with figures is easier and more appealing to young children. They also now do full books and educational Tonies for older 5-10 year old range so it’s long lasting. The new one has games also I think ( we have older model)

We got a Yoto for DS just before he turned two and he loved it immediately. He needed help at first changing the cards and controlling the volume etc but he got the hang of it quickly. Still uses it nearly every day and he’s four now. He still watches TV and reads loads of actual books but it’s been a good addition.

My DD is 18 months and has a Tonie box - she can change the figures herself and definitely enjoys some of the "younger" stories like Hungry Caterpillar, Tiger who Came to Tea and Peppa Pig. We get about 20 mins a day of entertainment out of it. I can imagine once she is more like 2.5/3 it will really come into its own.

Tonie great for 2yo but bit babyish by about 4. Yoto I can see being used until 10 even 12. We've got both

Tonie great for 2yo but bit babyish by about 4. Yoto I can see being used until 10 even 12. We've got both. Yoto is much better and a lot more features and way better card options.

We had a toniebox from 1 which barely got any use and then bought a yoto at 3 which has been one of the best things we've ever bought.
Main issue with the toniebox was it's almost impossible for a small child to change the track (you have to hit the side really hard) and if you do finally get past track 1 and your kid puts a different tonie on it resets the other ones back to the start 🙄 so I spent 2 years listening to the first track on each of our tonies!
Yoto controls are much easier although a new 2 year old might struggle a tad with changing tracks for a few months (still easier than the toniebox though).
Yoto definitely has more longevity though. Our toniebox is getting some use from my second now (age 1) but she can also use the yoto so I wouldn't buy it again and we'll be selling it once she's 2 to replace with her own yoto.

Love our Yoto. Got my eldest one when they just turned 4, now we're getting our 2yo one as the 2yo already uses their sibling's one.

We went for Yoto over Tonie for longevity as the available content looks suited to a much wider age range, and also for the features- radio, podcasts, alarm, (e.g.) and the ability to make our own cards etc etc. Eldest read their own story onto a 'make your own card' and youngest sang a load of nursery rhymes, we've also had visiting family read their favourite stories and put them on the make your own cards too. It's great!

We bought a yoto (larger size) for last Christmas when my little one was 2½. I looked at tonies but didn't like that the disney songs weren't the official ones and I now see lots of parents switching now their toddler is growing up so definitely a longer lasting present even if they don't get the full benefit straight away.
She quickly worked out how to put cards in and change tracks (pictures made it easy for her to pick what she wanted to listen to)
We use it as a nightlight every night and it is able to change colour in the morning which we've trying to use to keep her in her bed until an acceptable time.
If you are willing to put effort in, you don't even need to buy the cards. Buy make your own cards and put your own audio on from cds/downloads and add your own pixel pictures (there are websites to download pre-made ones).
With yoto you can download the app and listen to samples of cards to see if you like them without having to buy one. There's loads of free content too, radios and podcasts.

We’ve had a Tonie since age 1 and she’s been able to use it independently since then, although more meaningfully and intentionally in recent years. She’s 4 now and definitely not growing out of it yet. You can get nice carry cases and it’s good in the car. It’s indestructible and holds charge really well. We’re really happy with it. You can get creative tonies to record content on to in the same way you can a Yoto. I’d say at 2 you’ll still get very good value for money out of one and they’ll probably get more from it right now than a yoto.

Tonie is great for that age. My DD is 6 and she got a Toniebox around age 3. We have just upgraded to a Yoto as they do have more cards aimed at older children and storage options are better in my opinion.

Got one for my DD at 18 months, she has been obsessed since day 1.

Mine had a tonie at 2 and then got yotos for their 5th birthdays. They just handed the tonie box down to the next kid.

DD (5) had a yoto mini from 2. She definitely needed help getting the cards in and out at first but could control volume and track easily. From about 3.5 she could manage the whole thing including turning on & off.

She loved the Lego Duplo card sets and nursery rhymes to start and then graduated to longer stories. She listens happily for hours some days - pottering around and playing with toys at the same time (Mini is good for this as very portable). It's a great alternative to screen time IMO.

Yoto over tonie box 100%. The cards are so easy for the kids to use, and do the Yoto mini. It's got everything you need and is small enough for them to handle and use

Oh wow - thank you so much everyone! I really appreciate all your advice. I think I might give the Yoto mini a go. Worst case I use it to play her things in the car when I don’t have phone signal. Best case she can use it herself. Thanks!!

We absolutely LOVE our Yoto! We got it around two I believe and he is 7 now and still obsessed with it. literally used every single day.

I’ve even starting taking it to listen to some Harry Potter cards 🤣

https://prz.io/BJ0krVbtl

I have popped a link to get you 10% off if you decide to get one. I would also get credit to use if it’s used which would be so helpful to keep up with my child’s obsession with audio books!!

We got a yoto mini for my daughter when she was 2.5 years old and she really liked it from the start. I would say at first she preferred card with music and only recently (she is 3.5 now) did she start enjoying audiobooks.

I think the variety of cards offered is really great and recordings are amazing (we love Julia Donaldson's collection and Elmer), and if you can't find something you can buy empty cards and load them with whatever you want (we do it for audiobooks in Polish).

I would advice buying the card case as well as case for yoto when you order yours, they are sturdy but have their limits ;)