No Yoto Cards at Nighttime: Why We Don't Use Yoto Cards at Bedtime

A cozy scene featuring a small bed with a doll under a blanket, a Yoto Player audio device, and several children's Yoto card audio books spread out around the bed.

No Yoto Cards at Bedtime

Have you fallen into the wonderful world of audio players yet? We love our Yoto Player Gen 3 and Yoto Mini Player. We originally started off with a Yoto Mini Player but last year purchased a Yoto Gen 3 Player that is now the primary bedtime player. However, maybe a little controversially, we don’t use Yoto Cards at bedtime currently. Read on to find out why and what we do instead.

New to Audio Players – These Posts Should Help!

If you’re wondering which audio player to go for (Yoto Players or Toniebox) then check out this post. If you’re not sure whether to go for Yoto Gen 3 Player or Yoto Mini this post will help.

Where to Buy Yoto Players and Yoto discount codes

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We Don’t Use Yoto Cards at Bedtime

We have a growing collection of Yoto cards including both original Yoto cards and Make Your Own (MYO). Shockingly, we don’t use the cards at bedtime and here’s why…

A variety of Yoto cards spread out on a surface, showcasing colorful covers from children's audiobooks and multimedia content.

Overwhelming Choice

…there’s just too much choice! And that is not a good combination for us at bedtime. We got to the stage where Yoto card choosing was becoming an incredibly tricky, lengthy process at nighttime. There would be cards strewn all over the floor and anxiety around what to pick. Therefore we had to change things up to help support a smoother bedtime routine. Can you relate?

Last Chance Yoto Card Deals

If you are looking for reduced price Yoto Card deals then check out the ‘last chance’ sections for the region you live in below.

Yoto Card Last Chance Deals

SPOTTED DEALS

If you’re in the UK/ US/ CA/ EU then check the LAST CHANCE sections on the website. You can find the sections for each area below (available card numbers checked on 13th May 2025):

Yoto UK ‘Last Chance’ section – 58 cards currently available
Yoto US ‘Last Chance’ section – 73 cards currently available
Yoto CA ‘Last Chance’ section – 81 cards currently available
Yoto EU ‘Last Chance’ section – 81 cards currently available

Last Chance prices are stackable with Yoto Club discounts for Collector Club so be sure to sign up to the club first before purchasing rather than the other way around. You can find out all about the different Yoto Club options and what’s the best option for your family here.

I update regularly this promotions page with details for each region here.

A collection of colorful Yoto audio cards scattered on a surface, featuring various titles and illustrations.

How Do We Play Yoto Content at Bedtime?

We use the Yoto Player Gen 3 every single night. It’s the way that our daughter likes to fall asleep; listening to an audiobook. So what do we do instead? We’ve tried a few different options over the years. Every child is different so it’s about finding what’s right for your family.

Some children may be very quick and fuss free at choosing cards and if that’s your family, great. However, if like our family the choice of cards is proving a troubling and tedious time then it may be worth exploring one of the options below.

A collection of colorful Yoto cards spread out, featuring various children's book titles and illustrations.

Ideas for Yoto Card Selection at Bedtime

I’m sharing a range of options, some include use of cards but in a more controlled way whilst others are cardless. You may find a combination of options works better for you.

A hand holding three Yoto cards, featuring 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them', 'Quidditch Through the Ages', and 'The Tales of Beedle the Bard', with a colorful array of other Yoto cards in the background.

Choose Cards in Advance of Bedtime

Don’t wait for bedtime to get cards chosen when everyone is tired and a little fractious. Make a time during the day where your child can choose at their leisure what card they would like to have on that evening. It could be something they do first thing in the morning when they wake up.

Two Yoto cards side by side, one titled 'Charlotte's Web' by E.B. White featuring artwork of a pig and a boy, and the other titled 'Dragon Masters: Saving the Sun Dragon' by Tracey West depicting children riding a dragon.

This or That Yoto Card

Help children narrow down the choice by restricting the number of options. This could be from half a dozen or just picking between two. This still allows children to feel in control of the decision being made but helps them to not feel the pressure of too vast an array of choices at bedtime.

Two Yoto cards displayed: 'Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History' featuring illustrated figures of diverse women, and 'Zoey and Sassafras: Unicorns and Germs' showing a girl with a unicorn in a forest setting.

Use the Yoto app to Select a Card – No Yoto Card Bedtime

Having the physical cards can be too much of a distraction at bedtime but utilising the app may help. All your Yoto cards are available in the app and you can play them from the app directly onto the player.

Grid of audiobook covers featuring popular children's titles like 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid' and 'How to Train Your Dragon', displayed with play buttons. — Selection of audiobooks available on the Yoto app, featuring popular titles like ‘Diary of a Wimpy Kid’ and ‘How to Train Your Dragon’.

This can be a much quicker way to select a card. We used this method quite successfully for a number of months until our daughter realised that infinite scrolling delayed bedtime! Like I say, it’s important to know what will suit your child best.

Library Groups on the Yoto app

The ‘Groups’ is a relatively new feature of the Yoto app Library. You’re able to make ‘Groups’ AKA lists of cards to be able to choose from. Therefore you can restrict the number of card options available and say they can choose from the ones in a set group.

Yoto app displaying three audio cards: 'Monsters and Mold,' 'Our Planet: Climate and Seasons,' and 'Biggest Ideas: Louis Braille.' — Selection of Yoto Cards featured in the Yoto app under the ‘Groups’ section, showcasing various audiobooks for children.

Be their Librarian

This idea is quite fun, but for some children may be a little too interactive for bedtime! Be their librarian and help them choose by asking questions about what they’d like to listen to. Would they like fiction or non-fiction? Something familiar or new? A funny story or more gentle? Once they’ve answered a couple of questions choose the card for them or give them a choice of two. You could play using the app or physical card.

A gray drawstring bag containing a 'Planet Omar' audio book peeking out, next to a purple audio player with dials and a digital clock display.

Mystery Box Yoto Card Pick

Not sure what to listen to then have the cards in a bag or box that you can’t see inside. Get your child to pop their hand in and pick out a random card for the night. They could always pick out two or three and then make a choice out of those.

Routine or Mash Up!

Some children (and adults) thrive on routine. We’re very much a house that has a gentle rhythm and things work best with a more predictable pattern. We have a bedtime ‘checklist’ and on it is choosing the Yoto content for the night. This is done near the start of the bedtime wind down and our daughter loves to get something ticked off her list! This is the Canva template we’ve been using that you can edit (see image below). You can write on and then laminate so it can be used over and over again.

A colorful daily planner template featuring sections for morning tasks, independent tasks, key times, and evening tasks, adorned with cute illustrations like a cup, a teddy bear, and clocks.

Although, some children may prefer to have more of a mix of options. Maybe Monday night the librarian is out, Tuesday is the choice of two cards, Wednesday the mystery box etc.

Whatever way you choose your cards don’t worry if you get to a point where things stop working and you need to change things up! I’d love to hear any ideas you use – please do drop them in the comments.