The best music players for kids for singing, dancing and bedtime stories

The Toniebox audio player is great for bedtime stories or as a kids' music box. One mum reviewer says her little girl loves this, commenting, "we use it as a music box more than for the story aspect." It's screen-free and so easy to use that even 3-year-olds can use it. It operates through the use of Tonies, which are physical, painted figurines that represent various characters from popular children's stories or contain specific audio content. "Love that each character comes with content but has room to add your own using the app" says one mum. "We add on all her favourite songs, so she can swap to the characters she wants.

Similar to the Yoto Player, the Toniebox aims to encourage storytelling, creativity, and engagement with audio content in a safe and user-friendly way. "If you get a new character simply put it on the box wait for it to sync and it pulls the character through to the app. So easy to set up and use," said one mum.

Read the full Toniebox review.

The Yoto Player (3rd Generation) was awarded Bronze for Innovation of the Year at the Mother&Baby Awards 2024.

No more handing over your smartphone or worrying about intrusive ads - Yoto Player puts kids safely in control of their listening, learning and play. It's not just a music player for kids, they can listen to audio stories, podcasts and radio. So they can explore what inspires them, and you can watch their confidence grow. Mums loved this, with our mum tester Nicola saying, "I really like this product, it has provided my daughter with time to listen and learn without the need for a screen which I feel is very few and far between these days" she began. "Don’t get me wrong, I am all for screen time for learning/ a distraction whilst I cook the dinner but this product has arrived and it’s nice to have a change" she continued. Yoto Player (3rd Generation) opens up kids’ creative play to a whole new world of potential. Build independence, inspire imagination and let kids from 3-12 + lead the way through family life.

Read our full Yoto player review.

If you are familiar with Amazon Alexa, you will know that Echo Dot Kids (5th gen) is more than a music player for children. One parent reviewer said, "I bought this for my daughters birthday so she could listen to music in her bedroom, has worked perfectly for that and she loves it."

It is not a toy so it more appropriate for the older kids in the family but it is suitable for 3-12yrs. Not only can your kids ask Alexa a dozen questions as they become more curious and independent, you can also use the Echo Dot to communicate throughout the house by announcing something like “dinner is ready”. Currently available on Amazon for £64.99, including 1 year of Amazon Kids+ and a 2 year guarantee giving you peace of mind that your children has access to a variety of age appropriate content. It is also a greener choice when it comes to children’s audio players because it is made using 55% recycled plastics and the packaging is nearly entirely made from wood-fibre based materials.

The little brother of the Yoto Player, the Yoto Mini is ideal for adventures such as road-trips, flights, play dates or family outings. One parent tester found this great for travel commenting, "amazing travel sized gadget for independent story time." With an all day battery life of up to 20 hours of screen-free entertainment per charge, all content is safe and has been specially chosen and created with children in mind. Parents also loved how it can also work as an alarm clock, daily Yoto radio and speaker. No cameras. No mics. No ads. Testers also found it easy to set up, with one tester saying, "the introductory clip on how to make the best use of the player and app is invaluable to get the maximum use."

Read our full review of the Yoto Mini.

The CloudBox is an audio player and light projector in one and is perfect for smaller tots. There are four different projection options in four different colours and 36 original stories and themes to choose from, so your little one won’t get bored of this in a hurry. Our products editor Lorna White was very impressed with the CloudBox. "I love how parents also get the option to record their very own story personalised to their little one," our tester commented. The design is also adorable, and we think it would look lovely in any nursery. It's also easy to set up and use despite all the different options.

Ideal for adventures, the Voxblock Screen Free Audio Player is a portable audio device that's easy to use, doesn't require any Wi-Fi connection to work and has a long battery life. "My kids (3 and 4) call this their "storyteller"," said one parent. "It's easy for them to work themselves and I like that the story goes back to the same place when you replace the story block" they continued. Using physical blocks that are easy to hold, there are over 120 stories to choose from.

The KidiZoom Snap Touch is the ultimate pocket-sized touchscreen device for kids, offering endless fun and creativity in a vibrant pink design. It's an MP3 player but is also packed with countless games and apps, a voice recorder, and an alarm clock, keeping kids entertained wherever they go. With dual 5MP cameras, children can capture amazing photos, videos, and selfies, adding a creative twist with exciting photo and video filters.The built-in Bluetooth lets children connect with friends who have a KidiZoom Snap Touch, enabling them to share photos, exchange messages, and play fun multiplayer games. It includes a USB port for easy charging and a memory card slot for expanded storage, ensuring there’s always room for more memories and activities.