Using the Yoto Player, we were able to help soothe him and stimulate parts of his brain while he lay in the NICU. The music therapist set up a recording session so my husband and I could read poems, and stories and sing to our child. Setting this up really gave us peace of mind because we knew when we left, he would still hear our voice and encouraging words, and songs and poems from us as if we were still there. Our son’s vitals would always improve and he would smile during therapy.

Our son Raphael has absolutely loved his Yoto Mini. He has had long Covid for 18 months now and suffers from fatigue, meaning he can't be as active as he would like. He also finds reading tiring now and attends school part time. Having the Yoto Mini means he can still enjoy books like before, as it gives him a screen free activity to do when he is not feeling well. He is 9 and loves the science podcasts, music cards and the wide variety of Yoto Cards that are available for him to choose from.

The Yoto is also a great distraction at bed time when he is often in pain from stomach aches and headaches. It means he is relaxing and happier and can fall asleep easier. Getting a good night sleep is crucial for him so this is a huge win! The Yoto Mini is also great for all the hospital trips and "boring" medical appointments we have to go to as well. The Yoto Mini distracted him from his symptoms, kept him calm and occupied him in the waiting room. The whole family has fallen in love with the Yoto Mini, so much so that we may have to buy a second one for his little sister!

He has gained lots of knowledge from the science podcasts and will often share some new facts he has learnt with the rest of the family. I am half French and I love that we can get French speaking cards for him to keep up with his French. It is especially useful that we can slow down the speed to make it easier for him to understand.

Yoto Players are a highly valuable tool for NICU patients and are utilized for a variety of developmental and sibling supports. As they have the capacity for white noise, they potentially eliminate separate white noise devices currently used on the unit. More significantly, the options to utilize the recordable playing cards to facilitate connection between family members are numerable - parents or siblings record themselves singing or telling or reading stories for patients to listen to, family members can create a playlist with favorite songs to be played, and more. These opportunities for siblings and parents to be involved in and integrated into daily care and routine of the patient even while away from the bedside and separated by distance are incredibly meaningful.

Thank you so much for our Yoto Player, it’s been so wonderful to have on the Children’s Intensive Care Unit. We’ve found it’s brought a sense of normality for the children as lots have them at home already. Also on our unit it can be quite loud, so for both parents and children having a calming story to listen to helps to block background noise out and keep the environment relaxing. Thank you again so much!