When kids want just one more story at bedtime, or to ease into sleep with a soothing song or meditation, the Yoto Mini, and its larger companion the Yoto, often come to the rescue. But, this bluetooth speaker was recalled April 11, with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission stating that the speaker’s lithium-ion battery can overheat and catch fire. (1)
The tiny speaker is like a modern cassette player, but without all the hassle, and uses small, physical cards inserted into the speaker to hear audiobooks, music, activities, and educational resources. But, these recalled items might be in or around kids’ beds and pose a burn risk after the new recall, because in addition to those functions, they have OK-to-wake alarm clock capabilities, white noise, and more, that make them helpful to kids at bedtime and throughout the night.
In a statement issued to Sleepopolis via email on April 11, Yoto shared:
“We have been working with a team of independent battery and product safety experts to address an issue which may affect the battery in Yoto Minis following seven reports globally – one in the UK and six in the US – of the Yoto Mini overheating when at a high state of charge. There have been no reported injuries because of this issue. We have been working closely with the relevant regulators and have announced a voluntary recall in conjunction with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Health Canada.
Anyone who has a Yoto Mini can now register to receive one Yoto Mini Smart Cable per device through our dedicated website. The Yoto Mini Smart Cable will keep the battery charge within safe limits and prevent it [from] potentially overheating by stopping charging when it reaches a certain point. The company has also issued an automatic software update to improve battery management and extend Yoto Mini use between charges.
We apologize for the inconvenience and concern this issue may cause our customers and would like to reassure them the safety of our products is our absolute priority. By using the new Yoto Mini Smart Cable, we hope Yoto families can have peace of mind when using their Yoto Mini.”
CPSC adds that the products were sold November 2021 through April 2024, for around $70, at us.yotoplay.com, Amazon, Target, and maisonette, and in various gift and toy stores across the country. The Yoto player (larger device) is unaffected by the recall, and still available for purchase for around $100. One of the key differences is the larger device has a much longer charge time.
Yoto is one of a few companies focused on screen-free devices that kids can bring into their bedrooms, without parents worrying about additional screen time. These types of devices are meant to help kids fall asleep, or enjoy audio-based enrichment throughout the day. If they do have a place in your child’s bedtime routine, keep an eye on recalls like these to prevent safety issues with devices kids take into their room, especially from a young age.
If you have a Yoto Mini, head to their recall page for more information on your next steps.
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Sources
1. “Yoto Recalls Yoto Mini Speakers for Children Due to Burn and Fire Hazards,” CPSC.gov; https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2024/Yoto-Recalls-Yoto-Mini-Speakers-for-Children-Due-to-Burn-and-Fire-Hazards; April 11, 2024.