Page 2 | Tonies or Yoto for a 2 year old?

Mufflette · 04/10/2025 21:01

We have a yoto mini and it's been great. DS is 3 and I think would love a Tonie for the figures at this age, but it feels like the Yoto will have longer use. He listens to it most nights as he goes to sleep after we've read bedtime stories. I've also found it useful that the stories are in the app too, so we listen to them in the car.

Mufflette · 04/10/2025 21:05

Oh we also use the clock to help him know when it's time to wake up or stay in bed, you can set the times it changes from sun to moon/vice versa.

CeeJay26 · 04/10/2025 21:13

tarheelbaby · 04/10/2025 20:16

Please don't buy any gadgets for your LO. Please spend time reading (boring to you) actual books. Take them to the local library and let them choose their own books (it's free!!) Read the books to them at home (again and again, so boring but so good for them). My DD1 always chose books about a baby sibling! Her favourite fairy story was Rumpelstiltzkin - read it to find out why.

Give your children 'dumb' toys without batteries so that they can stretch their imaginations. A pile of stuffed toys will become a family or a friendship group in your LO's clever hands. DD1 created all kinds of car crashes ... Show them how to twist a Rubik's cube. Even if no one solves it ..

Talk to your LO about your favourite topics - music, pop stars, films, clothing brands, food, sport, best picks for the afternoon races, vegetables you hate - anything; just please talk to them. Please don't abandon them to AI ...

I suppose there’s always one! Neither Tonie nor Yoto are AI 🙄

To answer your actual question, we only have a Tonie box but I’d assume the figures would be more fun for that age. Potentially shorter life span though.

ClassicBBQ · 04/10/2025 21:39

I have a 'young' 8 yo DD and she loves her Toniebox. I wish we'd got it sooner.

magmatiles · 05/10/2025 11:40

tarheelbaby · 04/10/2025 20:16

Please don't buy any gadgets for your LO. Please spend time reading (boring to you) actual books. Take them to the local library and let them choose their own books (it's free!!) Read the books to them at home (again and again, so boring but so good for them). My DD1 always chose books about a baby sibling! Her favourite fairy story was Rumpelstiltzkin - read it to find out why.

Give your children 'dumb' toys without batteries so that they can stretch their imaginations. A pile of stuffed toys will become a family or a friendship group in your LO's clever hands. DD1 created all kinds of car crashes ... Show them how to twist a Rubik's cube. Even if no one solves it ..

Talk to your LO about your favourite topics - music, pop stars, films, clothing brands, food, sport, best picks for the afternoon races, vegetables you hate - anything; just please talk to them. Please don't abandon them to AI ...

This is a fully insane take. Audiobooks have existed for decades. They’re read by real people: talented voice actors and experienced narrators, sometimes the author themselves. I grew up listening to audiobooks alongside reading and eventually went on to study English Literature at university.

Meanwhile you’re suggesting people talk to their kids about their “best picks for the afternoon races”? Sharing the joy of gambling instead of reading? Weird!

magmatiles · 05/10/2025 11:41

To answer the OP’s question, we have a Yoto player (not the mini) and we all love it.

Squiffy01 · 21/10/2025 09:49

I am team Yoto all the way! I have been a nanny for nearly 20 yrs and have my own 7 year old and it is the best child related purchase I have ever made!

I got the normal sized Yoto when my child was 2.5/3yrs (the mini didn’t exist yet) and we have quite literally listened to it every single day since purchase.

The stories are cheaper on Yoto than the figures on tonies and a lot easier to take out and about. There is a lot more selection of content going up through the ages although tonies does seem to be working on this over the last couple of years.

when the mini came out we purchased one of those as it is so so handy for travelling.
I have now also stolen my child mini a lot of the time and got myself the Harry Potter cards 🤣

I’ve popped a discount code below for 10% off first purchase I also get money off towards more cards if it is used.

https://prz.io/BJ0krVbtl

My Yoto Tokens

Yoto's reward programme.

https://uk.yotoplay.com/pages/tokens/?ll_ref_id=BJ0krVbtl

Latenightreader · 21/10/2025 09:56

tarheelbaby · 04/10/2025 20:37

Sorry, I thought you were debating the merits of the two devices before buying one. Perhaps the stories are not read by AI robots ...

Since you are considering an audiobook player, it gives the impression that you do not read (physical) books to your child. In your case, that is apparently not true.

I still think you shouldn't buy one.

What a strange assumption. I read a lot as a child both on my own and with my Mum, but I still loved my story cassettes. I still listen to a lot of audiobooks whilst driving, cooking etc. My daughter is 7 and has just discovered my Narnia tapes (we are reading the actual books at bedtime). Audiobooks are not lesser, they are a different way to access a story.

ioanacut · 06/12/2025 14:50

amberonyx · 04/10/2025 20:04

What's best both from a price perspective long term, and ease of use / enjoyment for a toddler?

I have heard that Yoto will last them longer in terms of age, but is Tonies more age appropriate for a 2 year old?

I would totally recommend Yoto, is definitely very versatile, has huge range of cards for all ages, also radio, podcasts etc. My daughter had one since she was 3, now she's 6 and still uses it every day, I would say she can't live without it lol. Absolutely loves it. I recommend the mini version which can be easily taken everywhere.
In case you decide to get one, here's my referral which gives you £5 off: https://refer.yotoplay.com/ioanacut

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BitterIwasntfurloughed · 14/12/2025 22:42

My daughter LOVES having books read to her Myself and wife must have put in hundred of hours which we have enjoyed however she got a Yoto for her birthday and she loves it.

It hasnt replaced us far from it but now she will sit quietly listening to a book or doing a quiz in the back of the car. We all listen to them regularly together as a family.

I know a few people with Tonies and they have all gone to Yotos Cards are easy to store and the self recording ones are incredible.

seasidemum83 · 14/12/2025 22:53

Our Yoto is no longer used everyday - but just to highlight we have really enjoyed the kids radio and the mini themed podcasts ( can’t remember details but think Fridays they may tell jokes, another day quiz/ news ).
We also got the silicon case with handle - which given its awkward size/ shape to carry for little hands - has stopped it being dropped and made us more confident bringing places.

Also quite like it for nightlight ans the volume control.
oh and some of the Julia Donaldson stories play lovely wee songs after them