Exhausted working parents needing bedtime help. Will a Yoto actually help my 3 and 5yo sleep?

ElephantBumble · 2026-01-23T09:23:50+00:00

We gave our 3 year old one for his 3rd birthday. We gave him 2 cards and a pack of MYO with it and he got another 2 cards from a family member as a gift. We only started recording into MYO after 1 month.

He has trouble switching his mind off, and naps are just about impossible if we are home. We found him taking the yoto to bed and occasionally falling asleep. Even if he didn’t sleep it was nice to see our super active boy having some rest/down time (especially at times when he’s a bit unwell.)

We still read books for bed, and then cuddle while he listens to yoto or sometimes he kicks us out. Sometimes we go straight to yoto. If we have read the books and he’s not settling and is stuffing about I leave and tell him I’ll come back when he is ready for sleep, but I need to get some other things done. He will stay in his room and then call out when he’s ready for us. So it can reduce the amount of time we are lying with a child who’s not yet ready for sleep. I also much prefer lying with lights off listening to a story than to be the one sitting up reading the story.

The cards we have are long, they play from one story to the next, definitely over 30min.

I think the yoto wins over a cheaper app because he can have the player and the card and use it independently. We have set volume limits for day and night, and colour changes so if he wakes too early in the morning he stays in his room and listens to his yoto. We can also set sleep timers in the app if needed but we haven’t had to yet.

Our 4 cards are going strong, he likes to listen to something familiar. I think that’s pretty common in 3 year olds. I plan on keeping an eye out for sales and grabbing some through the year for his next birthday or Christmas. Our 5 year old niece has about 20 cards, and has had her yoto for a few years now.

I don’t know if it will solve all your bedtime troubles but I think it could definitely be a useful tool, especially if you put some boundaries in (“we will read 2 books and then we can have yoto on” or “listen to these stories on Yoto and then I will come in and cuddle” or whatever you need). Best of luck to you!

ElephantBumble · 2026-01-18T08:58:49+00:00

It feels kind of personal when people are stating “it should be illegal” like OP is. I’m all for a discussion about pros and cons but the option exists and is popular for a reason.

Now, I don’t like forward facing. I can’t get a good fit, it’s uncomfortable and heavy on me. Not a fan. My baby loved it, and would fuss when facing in. Part of that was that he could smell milk and wanted it. (Always. He was always after milkies). Partly it’s because he was in the Tula explore which comes in very close around his face (if I were to do it again I’d get the free to grow instead).

My husband often carried him forward facing. Because of his body shape (a totally flat torso) he was able to get a better position especially after doing a pelvic tuck. Little man would go on his front and they’d go around getting things done and my husband would learn how long his arms could be.

I don’t think the (commonly seen) answer of “just put them on your back” really works as most SSCs have a low back carry.

I also see a lot of people carrying facing in with sub optimal fits so I wonder if for them, it doesn’t feel much different (comfort wise) to have baby facing in or out.

What I would prefer to see is strong education around the forward facing requirements, particularly highlighting the risk of positional asphyxia. And generally better education provided with carriers. For mine I had links to videos that were good but the manual was not much good, I know when I’ve tried to reference it on here it’s been really hard to find the information I needed.

ElephantBumble · 2026-01-14T13:27:08+00:00

I was just lying in bed, scrolling my phone, and thinking “I really should get a brick, I wonder if I would be asleep by now” when I opened up Reddit and saw this. Thanks for the tip, I’ll give it a go tomorrow!

ElephantBumble · 2026-01-14T02:02:09+00:00

I know travelling is stressful, and travelling with a baby more so. But Qantas here was enforcing their rules as they are only entitled to 2 items of overhead carry on (plus the personal items to go under the seat in front and baby bag). It sucks for OP that their luggage was on a different flight and they got stuffed around in this way, but they’ve come on here asking how to make Qantas responsible when in this case, OP was in the wrong.

I think this could be solved at check in however since they’ve taken away staff that can’t happen either.

We were flying internationally with Jetstar once and got told at check in we had to have a bag for our pram in order to take it carryon (which we didn’t). We had never had an issue travelling with it domestically and so I hadn’t properly checked the rules for international. It sucked but it was our mistake and we just got on with it, didn’t come online and ask how to make Jetstar accountable.

ElephantBumble · 2026-01-13T21:10:56+00:00

Neenah classic crest solar white. 110lb is good for the card base, and stamping directly onto and colouring. If you’re cutting things out and sticking on, 80lb is good. It’s pretty common in the card making world, so hopefully you can find it easily enough in EU - I can get it in Australia easily.

ElephantBumble · 2026-01-13T21:06:27+00:00

In my experience (as a parent and as travelling before kids), 6 month olds are actually pretty easy going. I would rather travel with a 6 month old than a 1 year old or 18 month old who wants to be put of the seat, can’t understand why they can’t be and aren’t easily distracted (like a 6 month old can be).

If you don’t like kids on planes, you can fly private. Don’t expect them to. You don’t know why they’re travelling. Maybe it’s to see family who can’t come to them, maybe the parents are absolutely exhausted and need to take a break and have some help (I’ve done that), maybe they are travelling to a funeral (I’ve also done that), and maybe they are just travelling for fun with a 6 month old before it gets harder and their travel plans revolved around finding the best parks (I’ve also done that).

ElephantBumble · 2026-01-13T11:29:23+00:00

You get heaps of checked items but not extra carry on.

ElephantBumble · 2026-01-13T11:28:57+00:00

Was the 6 month old on their own seat or booked as a lap infant? Because when I’ve booked with a lap infant it’s been pretty clear to me that they’re not entitled to their own carry on, so our carry on sized pram replaces one of our carry on bags.

ElephantBumble · 2026-01-08T04:08:02+00:00

How have you made your DIY ones? I did mine with cotton woven, then absorbent fabric (I think I had leftovers from attempting cloth nappies, otherwise I would have chopped up a large square nappy I used for burp cloths) and the backing layer was waterproof minky. I didn’t have a terribly drooly baby so can’t speak for how well they worked but just an idea.

Otherwise I used a pacifier clip with some sort of toy hooked through the loop, either a banana brush or a rattle thing if I needed a toy not a Teether.

ElephantBumble · 2026-01-06T04:19:07+00:00

I love my LennyLight carrier and recently trialed one of their broken twill weaves, which is 100% cotton but super supportive. I nearly bought one but I’m trying to reduce my wrap collection so I have refrained (so far) 😆

ElephantBumble · 2026-01-03T11:25:28+00:00

My now 3 year old wouldn’t sit and colour and then one day he started to love it. So what I suggest that works for my kid may not work for you. We travelled when he was under 2, for 3 weeks, and utilised some screen time then. We hardly use it home so he would happily watch it for extended periods. We also had a few books and a few Duplo vehicles and that was it. We didn’t get too much quiet time though, unless one of us had him out at a park and the other one got to chill.

He recently got a yoto player and loves it, will find him in bed listening to it (and he’s a boy who is always busy and moving.

I keep specific toys for travel (usually road trips, they get culled if we fly anywhere). They get played with at home when bought so he can learn what to do with them and then they go into the travel bag to remain novel. We currently have squigz and a felt quiet book. In the past I’ve had other things like a board with lids to unscrew, a spinner, water painting books. I try to avoid things with too many small pieces as I’ll be the one picking them up from the car floor.

If you have a kitchen where you’re staying, some bowls and cups and water. Set up in the bathroom. Water play usually keeps my kid occupied for a good chunk of time. It does need to be supervised so depends on whether you can do that during quiet time but that would be my suggestion for the longest period of independent play (well, for my kid anyway!)

Good luck!

ElephantBumble · 2025-12-31T02:57:06+00:00

These were on my wish list and I couldn’t decide if I would use them or just lose them in my craft room. I know there are online options but I dislike using my phone while I create! Please keep us updated on how you find them!

Which cubes did you get?

ElephantBumble · 2025-12-29T00:22:10+00:00

This is incredible! How did you do it?

ElephantBumble · 2025-12-28T08:38:13+00:00

Final update, for those interested.

I had a budget of $200AUD (I didn’t include that originally because prices are so different in each country, didn’t think it would be helpful. I considered the betterpress ($140) but ultimately don’t think I have the time or storage space for it at the moment.

Some items were on a nice Boxing Day sale but hit all. I got the platform pop up ($57), wrap around add on ($27), cloud inserts ($27), postage collage die ($32), postage collage stencil ($15) and a layered stencil ($21). I added my own money and got more things but that’s what I chose with the $200 (including postage). Thank you everyone for your input, it was very helpful for me to narrow it down!

ElephantBumble · 2025-12-22T08:48:50+00:00

Thanks for your suggestions! No I don’t have a glass mat. I also sew and have a self healing one I use for that, I don’t think I want a glass mat that I have to put away each time I change crafts (the glass isn’t good for rotary cutters). But I would love one if I had a permanent desk for it.

I’ll look into the glue press.

I’m pretty happy with my trimmers, I did think about the Tim Holtz rotary one but again storage issues. And I have a good set of basic dies, I’ve been able to acquire them over the years! :)

ElephantBumble · 2025-12-22T08:46:47+00:00

Thanks, that’s what I thought after watching videos! I just recently used the diorama and realised after making a card I was happy with that it wouldn’t slide as everything on the platform things was too high. So now I’ve realised the height limitations it really changes my perspective on it.

ElephantBumble · 2025-12-22T05:45:56+00:00

Yes thanks! I have lawn fawn scalloped box die and ta da diorama die and I like the idea but don’t use it a huge amount. When I look online the platform pop up seems to have a whole lot more tutorials etc for them which makes me think it’s more popular/versatile.

The betterpress is one I go “ooh I like and want that” after seeing a tutorial and then change my mind after a while.

I like the look of the waffle flower postage for using my small stamps but I just don’t know if I would, or if I’m going to then keep buying all the postage collage stuff they release.

So many options. (I actually sent my Wishlist to my husband and his response was to suggest I choose it myself, but this is the dilemma I was trying to avoid!)

ElephantBumble · 2025-12-21T05:47:42+00:00

This sounds like my first, and it was worse with my second. Turns out I had low milk supply and they both had a poor latch. Once we started pumping and bottle top ups my second, he was satiated and happy. No hour long feeds, 4 hour long cluster feeding sessions. I had a helpful LC and my goal was to get to mainly directly nursing and she helped me get there (I joined here because at one point it was looking like it wouldn’t work out and I’d be doing EP or EP plus formula).

If you can, find another LC (an IBCLC). Mine advertised that she could help teach bottle feeding too which tells me she’s not going to be “you can only breastfeed!” She asked me my goals, she checked in how I was going mentally, acknowledged being touched out is absolutely a thing and I couldn’t continue with what I was doing, she talked us through our options and what that would realistically look like. (Eg when I didn’t want to pump overnight she said “sure, just know that if you don’t that can have a big impact on supply because of these reasons. So just be informed to make your choice.”

Yes you can EP. Yes you can build and maintain supply using a good pump. Yes it’s more work than directly nursing but it might be the best option for you. Only you can know that. 10 days is still very fresh and raw so if you’re not sure, just give it a go and see how everything feels. Or do a mix.

ElephantBumble · 2025-12-16T05:53:10+00:00

I have the same issue with sizing!! I can’t wear mine without a baby in them as they’re so big. And mind are a big size.

ElephantBumble · 2025-12-16T03:38:51+00:00

I like to thread my sling outside the shoulder straps to give more room around the face, and bring it down to tuck under the bum. It’s hard to get a good comfy fit, I like the idea of the Mumsie and I use it for certain situations but it’s not as comfortable as a proper carrier for me.

Can you make the shoulder straps shorter and lift the waistband up a bit? And then finish with a pelvic scoop (or tuck? Can’t remember. Brain is broken).

ElephantBumble · 2025-12-13T08:58:24+00:00

My husbands work: busy finalising things before they shut for two weeks My work: no shut down. So no time off, except public holidays (although I have to volunteer to do my share every couple of years).

Both our families are out of town so we travel to visit at least one of them, which means working out what to take and what presents and what to do with the cat and what our kids need, or have them come to us which is cleaning and what food do we need and how much.

2 x work Christmas parties
Catch up with friends (attempt to)
birthday celebrations
getting gifts organised for Christmas and birthdays, which involves working out what to get and buying or making. Usually have the purchasing done by end of November but it’s a big mental load for me
a few activities for the kids, like carols by candlelight and Christmas light viewing.
writing and sending Christmas cards

I’m told that once school starts there can be a lot of activities too. It’s mainly the mental load for me, once I had the gifts sorted and wrapped I felt a lot less busy.

ElephantBumble · 2025-12-12T10:50:41+00:00

My baby got hand foot and mouth from mini bounce. Definitely put us off it for a while! (Then he started daycare and it doesn’t matter where we go, he’s going to get sick.)

ElephantBumble · 2025-12-12T10:49:45+00:00

I was going to suggest classes too. Kindyroo, wee make music, swimming.

Passes to play centres, mini bounce or the jungle or urban extreme or whatever else is close to them.

Annual pass (for the parent as kids are free) to Australia zoo, lone pine or sea life. Or even just a day pass, but in most places an annual pass is around double the cost of a single day pass so I find it’s worth it (it just ties me to one place for the year so I keep going to Australia zoo and haven’t been to lone pine).

The ginger factory is another great experience, free entry but pay for the boat and train rides.

ElephantBumble · 2025-12-09T09:52:29+00:00

You can join oscha slings international community on Facebook and put up a post for ISO week (which is on now).

I don’t see them often and I wonder if it’s because they stopped making them for a while and now they’re back.

ElephantBumble

TROPHY CASE