The Yoto Player review

Every parent knows that too much screen time before bed can be a recipe for disaster. When those tired eyes are fixated on their tablet, it can be very difficult to tear the prying hands away - making brushing teeth and winding down almost impossible. But what is a parent to do when the chores of caring for a child all day have taken their toll? The clock is ticking. It’s not quite bedtime, but you are tired. The days are long, but the years are short. Introducing the Yoto Player, or as my children call it, the bedtime robot. The audible storyteller takes the strain away from parents at bedtime and is the best baby sleep aid.

Awards

The Yoto Player won Bronze for Innovation of the Year at the Mother&Baby Awards 2024.

Testing the Yoto Player

I tried Yoto Player with my four-year-old. Yoto is aimed at children aged three and over. However, their story cards are suitable for children from birth to 12-years-old. Here is my Yoto Player review: the pros, cons and anything else you may want to know before purchasing or if comparing the Toniebox vs Yoto Player.

What is a Yoto Player?

The Yoto is a cube audio device. It looks very sweet, and when you turn it on using the button at the right corner and on pops a pixelated face - it's why my children think he is a robot. The purpose of the Yoto Player is to act as a storyteller for your child. The Yoto has a slot where your child can easily insert a story card to listen to.

You can buy the cards from Yoto directly and on Amazon. Unlike other smart devices, the Yoto does not use a camera, microphone or have any annoying adverts.

So, how does the Yoto Player work?

Once your child slots in the story they want to listen to, the Yoto Player brings it to life with a pixeled picture. Should you need to stop the device at any point - pull out the physical card, and the story will stop. To continue listening, reinsert the card, and it will continue where you left off. It's smart technology at its best.

Has your little one finished listening to the story? Remove the card, and the Yoto will display the time, or you can turn the device onto its front, where it will illuminate with a changeable colour to act as a nightlight. Plus, the light can be controlled by an adult from the comfort of your smartphone.

The Yoto app also stores all of your stories so that your child can listen to them on the go via your phone. You can also pause a story, turn it off or change parental controls on the device.

If that wasn’t enough, youngsters can tune in to free daily content, including a children’s radio and podcast, but you must be connected to the internet for this feature to work.

If you are unsure which cards to pick or want to save a little bit of money, you can sign up for the Yoto Club. It gives you 10 per cent off each future purchase and delivery.

For £9.99 each month, Yoto will send you two cards pre-picked. They will always be new to Yoto and exclusive to club members first. If you do not like the picks, you can change them for one of eight other choices before the deadline.
If your Yoto runs out of charge, put it on the Magnetic Yoto Charging Dock that it comes with.

How much does the Yoto Player cost?

I think that the price of the Yoto Player is very reasonable. Sitting at just under £90, it is a small price to pay for a slightly more peaceful night. However, some multipack cards are retailing at more than £20, and a single card will set you back on average £7. That said, you are paying for the luxury of someone else reading to your child rather than telling the story itself.

I have given this a lot of thought, and I really would recommend the Yoto Player. My reasons are very simple - anything that makes parenting easier gets a thumbs up from me. After a long hard day of parenting, sometimes it can be a real chore to have to then read endless stories to your child. This is when the Yoto steps in and makes life that little bit easier.

When I tested the device with my children, they lay in bed nicely and listened to the stories. The library is vast, and there will be something for everyone, which I love about the product.

In terms of making life easier, this for me, is Yoto’s biggest selling point. As previously mentioned, it is a huge help in the bedtime routine. I also really love the night light feature. My eldest son has a slight fear of the dark and was overjoyed when he learnt his robot would keep him safe.

There are a few changes I would make to the Yoto Player. Firstly, I love the card aspect, but there isn’t anywhere to store them without paying extra. This is a slight problem with the Yoto - everything comes at an extra cost. So, although the device is reasonable, all of the cards and accessories make this a luxurious purchase.

Secondly, I wish there it was slightly more interactive. Possibly because my children are younger, the Yoto is lost in the chaos of the day. It is solely used at night. If it did have a microphone or the ability to ask/answer questions, I think the children may engage with it more in the day.

Final thoughts

My overall thoughts are that I really do like the Yoto Player. I think the priced tablet can rest easy knowing that this device isn’t going to steal its place on the sofa anytime soon. However, it is a welcomed break and an established part of our bedtime routine now. Some nights Yoto is my hero, the little cube robot is the only thing that keeps me sane after a long day of parenting. But, on those nights when I am not exhausted, I would still personally opt for a cuddle and a traditional bedtime story.

Smart tablet, it is not – I say this very begrudgingly because this is both a pro and a con. It is one of the things I love about the Yoto and one of the things my children don’t. It is a story audio device, and if you are wanting something that your child can play with or spend time engaging with, it’s unlikely that this will fit that criteria.

Not engaging enough for the daytime. To be completely fair, this could just be my children. I am sure some little boys and girls would sit nicely and listen to a Yoto story in the middle of the day; however, they unfortunately do not in my household. For children under eight, I think it would be a hard task to get them to pick the Yoto in the daytime over other toys, games and devices.

Jessica: "Independent activity that engages them for a period of time. I’m not sure it ‘changes life with my children’ but definitely allows for a time where they are occupied; therefore enabling me as a parent some time to do other things around the house for instance, or have a bit of rest! Was ideal on holiday as both transportable and engaging!!"

FAQs

Does Yoto turn itself off?

Don’t worry, after one hour of inactivity your Yoto will turn itself off.

Does Yoto Player have a timer?

If you would like to set a timer as a parent, you can do via the app. It allows you to set a sleep timer so that the Yoto Player can stop reading to after your child after a selected amount of time - perfect for bedtimes.