TL;DR
I was looking for a solution to help my 4-year-old, Oliver, settle down into a better bedtime routine. He was spending a lot of time watching cartoons in the evenings which made him sleepless at night. I came across the new Toniebox 2, an upgraded version of the original musical story box for kids, and got him one as a birthday gift.
To our surprise, Oliver’s routine improved immediately. He started watching cartoons less and going to sleep earlier with his Toniebox 2. Read my full review below…
As a parent to a 4 year old, bedtime is the most challenging time. I’m ashamed to admit that we’ve gotten into the bad habit of sticking the telly on to keep Oliver busy in the evenings while we cook dinner and get chores done.
This works like a charm, until it’s time to go upstairs to bed. All the screen time keeps him hyper for hours — He’ll throw a tantrum most evenings which takes a toll on us as parents.
After I read that too much screentime can lead to emotional, social and attention problems, I wanted to find another way to keep him entertained. That’s when I came across the Toniebox 2, a beautifully reimagined, screen-free audio and play box for kids aged 3–8 years.
One of Oliver’s friends brought it over one day, along with his Paddington Bear “Tonie” — a figurine that sits on top of the box and plays a story or sings songs.
I was amazed at how both Oliver and his friend were mesmerised by this little box that had no screens. They sat happily and listened to Paddington Bear’s story together — no begging for cartoons, no overstimulation.
But the Toniebox 2 offers both listening and interactive play. With Tonieplay, kids get to choose. They use discs and a controller to navigate through story paths, play games and explore hands-on.
Research found that the Toniebox is played with 148 times more than any regular toy — and I believe it!
What really impressed me were the many thoughtful features: A night light, sleep timer and even a sunrise-style alarm. These have made a huge difference to our morning and evening routines. Bedtime is no longer a battle.
Then there’s USB-C charging, Bluetooth headphone compatibility and app controls. It’s also 1+ safety certified and totally kid-proof — soft and squishy, so no damage if it gets dropped or dragged around the house.
We got Oliver the new starter bundle for his birthday, and he was thrilled when it arrived.
He knows exactly how to use it: he pops the Tonie on, taps the box, uses the controller to navigate through games and watches as the colourful Light Ring syncs with the story or music.
One of the things I love most is how it makes learning fun. According to The National Literacy Trust, listening to audiobooks improves vocabulary and literacy skills. With the Toniebox 2, stories are more educational and engaging than ever — helping to build imagination, memory and independent thinking. Oliver loves to sing along to the Animal Songs Tonie.
Another huge perk? The Toniebox 2 is designed to grow with your child. The interactive discs and controller will keep Oliver engaged as he gets older. With evolving content and licensed Tonieplay experiences from Disney, Gabby’s Dollhouse and more, the Toniebox 2 takes storytelling to a whole new level. They have lots to offer; you can bundle up and save for one of their starter packs that already comes with Tonies — and later on you can simply keep adding more Tonies to your child’s collection from just £14.99 each. The options are endless!
Final Thoughts
The Toniebox 2 has been a complete game-changer for us. It reduced Oliver’s screen time, made bedtime easier and brought storytelling back into our daily rhythm. He genuinely looks forward to bedtime now, just to listen to his Tonie in bed.
If you’re a parent looking to cut screen time without cutting the fun, we highly recommend the Toniebox 2. It’s hands down one of the best investments you can make.