My daughter has always been a terrible sleeper. Of course, we expected this when she was a newborn. However, as she got older, that time we were promised where she would sleep through the night never came. We waited…and waited. While she did begin sleeping longer stretches eventually, other issues began to surface. First it became a struggle to get her in bed, then to help her fall asleep. Even once she did finally go down, she would be up throughout the night, and then awake for the day before the crack of dawn. We tried everything from different parenting sleep training methods to security items, co-sleeping, you name it. Nothing worked. Finally, our savior arrived in the unlikeliest of forms: Edwin the Duck, a bright yellow smart toy who has saved the day (or night).
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Why He Rocks
Besides the obvious of getting my daughter to fall asleep and stay asleep, Edwin comes packed with some pretty cool features. When I first heard about Edwin the Duck, I was most excited about the features that are geared towards parents.
While he is a smart toy for kids, I’ve come to view him more as a parent’s helper. Edwin the Duck can float and connects to a Bluetooth speaker while in the water (or out), which makes bath time fun and entertaining. There is also a feature to gauge the water temperature, but we did not use this as we felt it was not needed.
My daughter loves the songs but as a preschooler, she flew through the games and learning apps pretty quickly. My one-year-old has been quite entertained by them and this content seems better suited for younger toddlers. Pi Labs, the company responsible for creating Edwin, has stated that there would be more content available through the free apps in the future.
Sleepy Time Superhero
While Edwin the Duck is awesome in these respects alone, he became worth his weight in gold when he helped my daughter start sleeping through the night. There are a few iOS apps available for free download with Edwin, including the Parents app.
Here you’ll find a Sleepy Time section. You can choose from a small variety of music or soft sounds to help your child relax and fall asleep. Parents are able to control the sound, volume, and length of time it plays. This includes an infinite option to play throughout the night, in case your child wakes up. Edwin also includes a night light feature with different levels of brightness to help kids feel safe and secure.
For my daughter, it was the combination of all of these things that helped her overcome her difficulty sleeping. The night light, soft lullaby music, and security from viewing Edwin as an interactive friend, rather than just a toy, worked in combination to allow her to relax and sleep peacefully throughout the night.
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How He’s Holding Up
We have now owned Edwin through one international move, two family vacations, one new baby, and a new pet. It is safe to say he has been put through the toddler-ringer and survived. He has been thrown, chewed, slobbered, and colored on, and banged repeatedly against the wall. Poor Edwin. However, throughout all of that, he remains intact and looks as new as the day he came into our home. Overall, Edwin would make a great addition to any family with littles or for those expecting. He has withstood the test of time and toddlers and may be used from one child to the next, as we have done. For the kids, he is not just a toy, but a friend who stays by their side throughout the night.
Where to Buy
Edwin the Duck is available to buy here. If you’re interested in adding him to a Target gift or baby shower registry, you can also find him by clicking here.
Do you have an Edwin the Duck or know someone who does? What was your experience? Leave a comment below!
Marcie says
I’ve never heard of Edwin the Duck! What a clever toy/tool! My kids love their sound machines.
Christina says
Yes, same idea! I love that this one has different sounds or lullabies to choose from as well.
Elizabeth Garner Masarik says
This looks like a great toy for a Christmas gift. 🙂
Christina says
Thank you, I totally agree!
certifiedpastryaficionado says
Ooo what a novel little toy! I’ll have to remember this for my friends’ kids bdays!!
Christina says
Isn’t it? I think this is one parents would love as well!
Leslie says
Edward the Duck would make a great baby shower gift. Any parent would appreciate a toy that helps lengthen the time the child sleeps.
Christina says
Yes, I completely agree! I have been so grateful for how it has helped my daughter.
sunshineandmunchkins says
I’ve never heard of this before, but I can see how it would be helpful! My kids are pretty good with sleeping through the night (now) but if we have problems in the future, I’ll give this a try!
Christina says
I wish I had found it sooner! If you end up trying it in the future, let me know how it works out for you! 🙂