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"She went quiet, then asked to go to bed": the little projector that turned our bedtime battles into a bedtime ritual

Every night it was the same: one more book, one more glass of water, and "Mama, it's too dark". This is the story of the night that didn't go that way.

I have two kids, a four-year-old and her little brother. I love bedtime cuddles. But I'll be honest: for months, bedtime was the part of the day I dreaded.

Bath, pyjamas, three books — and then the stalling started. Too dark. Too hot. One more song. The night light was never bright enough, and the tablet only bought me ten quiet minutes. And with two of them, there's always the other problem: whatever one gets, the other wants too.

1. A small projector, and a box of picture discs

I came across STARLY more or less by accident. It's a little projector on a bendable neck. You slide a picture disc into it, plug it into a USB charger, press the button — and whatever is on the disc covers the ceiling. A galaxy. The northern lights. The ocean, with a turtle swimming across it.

No app. No Wi-Fi. No remote. I didn't want another screen in her room, and that's exactly why I trusted it. One button, that's it.

2. I bought two, on purpose

Here's what I've learned: one new thing for two kids is one argument waiting to happen.

It arrived at our door a few days later, and I set both up while the kids were out. It took about two minutes.

See the STARLY sets ›

3. The night I switched it on

Pyjamas on, teeth brushed, the usual negotiation about "five more minutes". I told her I had something to show her, turned off the big light, and pressed the button.

The ceiling filled with stars.

I've tried a lot of bedtime tricks. I don't think I've ever actually watched one work like that. Her face, lit up blue from the stars on the ceiling — that's the picture I keep.

4. Now they ask to go to bed

Bedtime used to be the bit of the day nobody looked forward to. Now it's the bit they ask about after dinner. Which disc tonight? Can we do the northern lights again?

It's the one thing in her room she asks for every night — because it isn't something you play with once. They pick one sky, the lights go off, and every new disc is a new world.

5. Why it works at bedtime

• One for each child, identical — nobody gets "the better one"
• Six picture discs with every projector: galaxies, northern lights, the moon, the ocean
• One button, USB-powered: no app, no Wi-Fi, no batteries to hunt for
• Flexible neck — points straight at the ceiling above the bed
• Ships free and tracked to your door

6. Christmas sorted in two minutes

This year I didn't stand in a single shop. I ordered a set with one for each of them, and that was Christmas sorted for both kids in two minutes.

If you've got two kids, the "One For Each" set is the obvious one. There are sets of three and four as well, for bigger families — or for the cousins who'll see it and want one too.

1. 1Pick your setOne projector for each child — every projector comes with its own six discs.
2. 2It comes to youFree, tracked shipping. Orders ship within 5–7 working days.
3. 3Lights off, press onceAnd watch their faces.

This story is written by the Starly Journal team to show how families use STARLY at bedtime.