The stuffed dino pal lets parents talk without having to purchase a phone for their littles ones. Works over Wi-Fi and can remember a maximum of 5 networks, so connecting is easy.

Cons

Setup is a little tedious.

Best Bang for the Buck

Toymail

Toymail Weensie: Silly Sound Maker Clips

Small and inexpensive Talkie keychains that make fun sounds.

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Bottom Line

Small and inexpensive Talkie keychains that make fun sounds.

Pros

Cute little keychains for little Talkie plushie fans. 3 weensies makes noises such as laughing and sneezing when squeezed. The soft toys look great attached to a backpack.

Cons

Some find the sounds too childish.

Toymail

Talkie by Toymail: Gory a Shark

Shark plushie that can be used over Wi-Fi for voice chat.

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Bottom Line

Shark plushie that can be used over Wi-Fi for voice chat.

Pros

With Toymail plushies, you can rest assured that your children aren't talking to strangers – each contact must be accepted by the parent first. Works via Wi-Fi.

Cons

The toy snores when not in use, which can be a bit annoying.

Toymail

Talkie by Toymail: Bitsy a Bat

Cuddly bat-shaped toy that allows parents to talk to kids via voice chat.

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Bottom Line

Cuddly bat-shaped toy that allows parents to talk to kids via voice chat.

Pros

Messages sent to the plushie are saved and can be replayed. Using the toy is easy even for young children and the accompanying app is intuitive.

Cons

Device sometimes has trouble reconnecting to Wi-Fi.

Toymail

Talkie by Toymail: Nunu a Unicorn

Dreamy looking unicorn plush doll for voice chat and cuddles.

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Bottom Line

Dreamy looking unicorn plush doll for voice chat and cuddles.

Pros

A wonderful way to connect with out-of-town relatives. 2-way chat with approved contacts makes it easy for kids to send and receive messages safely. Toy also makes giggling sounds.

Cons

Setup doesn't always go smoothly.

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First Reviewed

December 28, 2021

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While these cute stuffies look like your average kids’ toy, they are actually pretty amazing communication devices perfect for even very young users. Talkies allow your kids to stay connected with you all the time without handing them a phone or tablet — which is great for parents trying to limit screentime. These innovative toys work like a voice messaging app, not in real time, over your WiFi network. Kids simply press the smiley face button on the back to choose a contact. The Talkie will say the names of programmed contacts, and the child will press the record button to begin their message. The contact will get a notification on their app that they have a message waiting for them. Whether you have family members who are far away or just want to foster communication among your child’s friends, Talkies can be a safe, simple — and cute — way to stay in touch.

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