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Original poster

Tonie Box for second birthday?

26 replies

Spottypineapple · 30/05/2023 17:25

If you have one, what age were your DC and how did they get on with them?

DD is 22 months and absolutely obsessed with books. She loves us to read them to her, but she'll also happily sit on her own and flick through her books for 20-30 minutes (absolute game changer)

Recently at bed time she's preferred to listen to me tell her her story (in the dark just before putting her down) instead of singing a song. Which makes me think she'd love a Tonie box to hear the stories....but I also don't want to discourage her from flicking through the books on her own. Or do you think she'd listen and 'read' at the same time?!

I am probably massively overthinking this but they are not cheap so if we're going to spend that sum of money I want to make sure it's on the right thing!

Thank you :)

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EarthlyNightshade · 30/05/2023 17:27

I'd stick with books for as long as possible at that age, it's such a lovely thing to be interested in. You really can't beat flicking through a book.
Plenty of time to introduce audio stories when she is a bit older.

modgepodge · 30/05/2023 17:30

Id say go for it, but I’d also recommend a Yoto over a Tonie box 😉

I got my daughter a Yoto for Christmas when she was 2.5 and she worked out how to use it in minutes. She will sit and look at books by herself but will also listen by herself. Not a day has gone by in the last 18 months where she hasn’t used her Yoto, best present ever.

WhoHidTheCoffee · 30/05/2023 18:44

We got one for our then almost 3 year old at Christmas. He loves it and has used it most days. Still also loves a book! I’d say it’s a different experience - we use it for when he wants the songs or when we can’t physically read to him.

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Original poster
Spottypineapple · 30/05/2023 18:48

Hmm, mixed opinions then. I've also got DD2 due at the end of October so I suppose this could help to occupy her when I'm feeding baby. She has a tendency to chuck books at me and shout 'mummy read it' which will be dangerous with a baby in arms! 😂

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Hugasauras · 30/05/2023 18:52

I'd recommend the Yoto too. We got one for DD1 when she turned 2. Far more versatile than Toniebox, will last longer too. It definitely didn't replace books, but gave DD1 some autonomy if she wanted a story when I was doing something else or just to put her music on and have a dance, etc. There are cards not just for stories but for songs, animal noises, etc.

MuffinToSeeHere · 30/05/2023 18:52

DS got a yoto for his second Christmas and a year and a half later it's used daily and has done nothing to diminish his insatiable thirst for books. He sees it as something completely separate and loves that it also has a radio and podcasts I'd definitely recommend it over a Tonie box as it's so versatile in comparison.

Hugasauras · 30/05/2023 18:56

I should add that DD1 is 4 now and the Yoto is still used daily. You can make your own cards too, so she's got ones with her favourite songs on and one with my mum reading some stories 🥰

UndercoverCop · 30/05/2023 18:59

DS has a Yoto, still loves books. Lots of the yoto stories have a second version which is a read along version with a bong for each turn off the page, for when she's older and reading.
He has a story with us every night then the yoto with lights out, for 30 minutes, he's usually asleep before then. He also listens to stories in the bath.

I also like the app as you can play yoto stories through the car speakers, very useful on long journeys, we managed to drive to Holland with only one quick toilet stop, and a lot of the magic faraway tree. I think the yoto has more longevity than the Tony player. He's 4.5 now and I can't see him getting bored of it for years

Tryingtoconceivenumber2 · 30/05/2023 19:11

DD has had a Tonies box since she was just gone 2.5. She absolutely loves it. She still uses her books but I find the Tonies box preferable to TV if it's an either or situation. It's easy to travel with as well. I would thoroughly recommend xx

curlymam · 30/05/2023 19:37

My DS got a Tonie box at 2.5 and it's the best thing we've bought for him. I did consider a Yoto player but part of the appeal for my DS is playing with the little figures, which he'd miss with the cards. It absolutely hasn't replaced reading books, just some of the excessive screen time he was getting, and most nights he falls asleep to one of his stories.

RubaiyatOfAnyone · 30/05/2023 19:45

Dd (age 3.5) has a Tonie box and loves it, but in retrospect i’d have gone for a Yoto.

because the Tonie has an irritating aspect - you can’t fastforward /rewind, and if you swap to another figure and then back, you start again on the first one. So if a child listens to half a story, gets distracted and swaps tonies, then tries to go back, they have to start their story again at the beginning which is really frustrating.

tenbob · 30/05/2023 19:47

RubaiyatOfAnyone · 30/05/2023 19:45

Dd (age 3.5) has a Tonie box and loves it, but in retrospect i’d have gone for a Yoto.

because the Tonie has an irritating aspect - you can’t fastforward /rewind, and if you swap to another figure and then back, you start again on the first one. So if a child listens to half a story, gets distracted and swaps tonies, then tries to go back, they have to start their story again at the beginning which is really frustrating.

You can fast forward and rewind..!

you whack the side of it and it skips forward, whack the other side and it rewinds a chapter

there is also a way to make it go forward or back a minute or two, my DCs do it all the time to skip the opening theme tunes

tenbob · 30/05/2023 19:50

And definitely get the Tonie over Yoto for that age, because the Tonie characters are so visual and easy for younger ones to pick

Mine have had them since 2nd birthdays and could pick out a character at that age to play, particularly in the morning when they woke up. It kept them in bed for an extra 30 mins before they wanted to come into us

A yoto wouldn’t be as ‘self service’ for that age

YungDumbThrills · 30/05/2023 19:53

DS had his for 2nd birthday, he's now just turned 6 and uses it the same amount as he did back then. In fact, I've just bought the Nat Geo tonies for him and he's really enjoying them! I recommend them to everyone, money well spent!

jenn88 · 30/05/2023 20:02

DD 3.5 loves hers! Definitely an addition to reading rather than replacing!
We listen in the bath or she will fall asleep listening to it after we have read a book!

overitunderit · 30/05/2023 20:04

My two year old adored hers. She used to listen to it every night to go to sleep. She's now 3 and has lost interest (I hope temporarily). I think they are great.

ChocHotolate · 30/05/2023 20:07

I've been surprised how many of the Tonies are actually mostly singing (Disney ones) with a short story at the end.

Tinkeytonkoldfruit · 30/05/2023 20:08

My DD7 has a yoto had it since 3. She still loves it (it in no way has stopped her reading actual books, she's a little bookwork). I would go Yoto though - it will grow with your child, I think DD will still be able to use hers for at least another 3/4 years whereas I get the sense the Tonie will be outgrown.

thewonderfulthingabouttigger · 30/05/2023 20:11

I got DD a yoto for her second birthday. She enjoyed putting the cards in and out but enjoys it more now she is closer to three. It hasn't affected her love of books at all, I'd say she loves the songs best.

peachgreen · 30/05/2023 20:15

DD operated her Yoto fine at 2, it’s pretty straightforward. She loves it and uses it every night. Mostly she puts music on and reads at the same time.

RubaiyatOfAnyone · 30/05/2023 20:16

tenbob · 30/05/2023 19:47

You can fast forward and rewind..!

you whack the side of it and it skips forward, whack the other side and it rewinds a chapter

there is also a way to make it go forward or back a minute or two, my DCs do it all the time to skip the opening theme tunes

Show quote history

Oh my god, you’re right!
i had no idea! I’m so excited to show dd when she comes back from her gp’s.

in that case, ignore my earlier comment - get the Tonie, the figurines are really satisfying at that age (and it’s nice to know nothing could destroy them).

plus, if you want one, you’ll have a solid-gold Christmas/birthday present when they are 6 ish of a yoto to move onto older stories

greenjojocat · 30/05/2023 21:11

Our Yoto has been used every day for over 3 years now, it's an alarm clock as well as night time stories and radio in the day. There is a huge choice of cards and you can make your own. Well worth the investment! You can get discount codes for first purchase too.

MuffinToSeeHere · 30/05/2023 21:14

in that case, ignore my earlier comment - get the Tonie, the figurines are really satisfying at that age (and it’s nice to know nothing could destroy them).

See this is one of the main reasons we discounted the Tonie. Apart from the fact the Yoto would have a wider array of features and therefore last him longer I figured the cards (which are as durable as a credit card) would be better than the figures which DS would have just used as toys.

The benefit of the cards in my opinion being less exciting visually is that I knew he'd use them for the Yoto instead of as just as a small world play figure.

Original poster
Spottypineapple · 30/05/2023 21:26

Oh wow, thank you everyone! How great is mumsnet.

I think I'll go for a yoto in that case, I've no doubt that she'll be able to use it, and having seen her cousin carry around the Tonie figures like toys I'm thinking that's an expensive thing to get lost if she gets attached to them!

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