Anyone with a young family and an Echo in their home might want to check out the latest Alexa update. Amazon has just confirmed the release of a free new service that's been created to get children off to sleep. Although it clearly won't replace parents reading those important nightly books, this upgrade is aimed at keeping kids calm when they are left in their rooms each evening.

Research from Amazon reckons 25 percent of UK adults struggle to put their children to bed regularly, with 12 percent reporting consistent difficulties.

To try and solve the problem, Amazon says it has teamed up with TV presenter, author and parent Vogue Williams, and leading sleep expert Professor Helen Ball from The Durham Infancy & Sleep Centre (DISC at Durham University) to create a brand-new, science-backed bedtime story called Tumbles and Stripe.

To give it a try, Echo users simply need to say, “Alexa, help my child fall asleep”. This will then launch the sleep story mode automatically.

Along with reading the book, Amazon has also launched a supporting bedtime Alexa Routine. When activated and paired with a customers’ smart home, the routine can automatically play Vogue’s sleep story, turn on brown noise and dim the lights.

“I know first-hand that getting the little ones to sleep is no easy feat, and parents really do need all the help they can get when it comes to bedtime for their kids," explained Vogue Williams.

"Tumbles and Stripes on Alexa is a super accessible helping hand for parents experiencing these nighttime struggles and it’s been a gamechanger in our house... so give it a go!”

And Glenn Millard, Head of Amazon Kids, UK added: “We’re always looking for new ways to expand on our extensive Amazon Kids offering, and we recognise that good quality sleep is essential for children and their development.

"That’s why Tumbles and Stripes is a fantastic addition to our catalogue of services, and we’re confident that parents and children alike will reap the benefits of Vogue’s wonderful new story.”

The Tumbles and Stripes bedtime story and bedtime routine are available on Alexa-enabled devices from today.

News of this update comes ahead of a big reveal from Amazon. The company has confirmed that it is holding an event later this month where we expect some new Echo speakers to be unveiled along with an improved version of Alexa that will be smarter and able to answer more queries.

Some reports have suggested Amazon may charge for its more premium smart assistant, but we'll have to wait and see exactly what the online firm has in store when the showcase kicks off on February 26 in New York.