Can someone explain the Tonie box for me?

Following x

I’m sure you don’t really have the time or energy to tell stories all day? With that your LO can listen to as much as they want, whenever they want, there are stories, songs, on some figurines you can upload whatever soundtrack you want, even recording yourself or maybe recording of family members who lives far and can’t visit too often, it can just be on in the background while little one is playing and once he/she understands how to do it (and that happens faster than you think), they can just play around and change it themselves.
My friends girl has one and loves it and I’m thinking about getting one for my girl at some point

It’s so expensive that’s all I know! 😳 can we not just read stories to our babies?!

Oh I had no idea I could record things with it. I think it would be so sweet to record books from grannies, etc. to listen to it long term. Will definitely get the box after reading your comment.

that was my thought process which is why I thought there must be more to it

I think they are called “creative” tonies, I dont’ have a box myself yet, my girl is only 4 months old lol, so that’s just stuff I read.
There is a fb group “everything Tonies UK” where you can get plenty of infos, some people sometimes have discount codes too, worth having a look.
definitely expensive but they are kids proof and last for years, obviously you should still read stories to your baby, one doesn’t stop the other but the tonies box is more than that and honestly, which mum has the time to spend their day telling stories to their kids or singing song, I love doing but still can’t do it all day
I know I will have nursery rythmes, lullabies or stories in the background while playing, also being French, I will get some French ones so it’s an extra thing for my little one to get familiar with the language in addition to me talking to her and will get family members in France to do some recordings for her to know their voices

I've considered it before for my nearly 2 year old but my cousin has one for her son and she recommended waiting until he was a bit older like 3/4 and it can encourage some independent story time. Before then, it's more beneficial for that parent/child time to have a story read to them, see the words and look at the pictures. She's also a teacher so I absolutely valued her view on it x

My MIL is getting a Yoto for our LO for her 3rd birthday. I think they’re a lot cheaper and do the same thing but with cards instead of toys.

Personally, I like reading to my daughter, and letting her look at the pictures and the words so that she learns to read. I guess it could be useful for car rides or quiet time, but I could stick audible on for that.

I wouldn’t buy it myself, but as it’s a gift I’m happy to give it a go x

My 2.5 year old loves her toniebox! She got it last Christmas. She’s wasn’t old enough to listen to stories yet so she has all of the ones with songs on. She knows exactly which characters are for each song and now and has a few more which are stories and she chooses which she wants to listen to. It’s completely different to reading your child a story and we still read lots of books every day. I use it more to replace tv time and it keeps her attention and gives her independence while i’m trying to do a bit of housework or dinner. Would definitely recommend

I think they’re great for toddlers (somewhere between 2 and 3) but I’m not sure a younger baby would just listen. They like the interaction of a story book. My son has one and he is nearly 4, he has had it about a year. He likes being able to put a story on to listen to while he is playing or colouring. But my one year old pays zero attention at the moment.

Also, I agree with Holly, they don’t replace the need to read to our children.