best apps for babies / kids?

[dibdabdoo14]

Hi All

We recently bought an iPad and are trying to find some good apps to entertain our 9-month-old son. Admittedly, he's quite young, but we live abroad and have to do relatively long flights quite often, so are hoping it will be a godsend.

Does anyone have any recommendations for apps for the 0 - 2 bracket? And maybe up to 5 yrs?

Thanks

[mumeeee]

You don't need Apps on an Ipad to entertain a 9 month old, My niece took her 8 month old to the USA for her brothers wedding, They just took some baby toys and books with them. He slept some of the time. He was fine.

[dibdabdoo14]

we have been fine so far, but as he gets more mobile it is getting increasingly difficult to get him to stay in one place. My husband bought an iPad for himself so we just wanted to hear any recommendations for kids' / babies' apps as a matter of interest - sort of a bonus usage (when my husband can drag himself away from Monopoly!)

[KittyWalker]

My DD loves one called Nighty Night. You have to turn all the lights off and put the animals to bed.

[Flisspaps]

We have Phone 4 Kids on DH's iphone, not sure how it would work for the ipad but it keeps DD entertained for hours, she thinks she's really on the phone.

[ChunkyPickle]

Cosmic Top - kept our 5 month old amused for ages, and it's only now that he's discovered the button (at a year he can now pick it up and unlock it himself) that he doesn't play with it anymore.

Not really educational - just lots of spinning lights.

There were a couple of fireworks apps, and a soundboard (looks like a load of buttons, each makes a different noise when you press it.. possibly not good on a plane ;) )

[ChunkyPickle]

Oh, and a knackered old nintendo ds is also a favourite on flights - he can't actually play the games, but loves pressing the buttons (held it properly from the start... he's a natural)

[dibdabdoo14]

great, thanks all. Will get onto apps store asap.

[thesurgeonsmate]

There are two Sandra Boynton books which have been made into impressive apps - The Going to Bed Book and Blue Hat, Green Hat.

[beautifulgirls]

Happy Babies by Ladybird, worth the small fee.

[KateRipsley]

Hi all!

Just thought I'd make a list of apps my little one likes (Android)

Kids Shape Puzzle
Nursery Rhymes For Kids
Peekaboo Barn
Kids Piano
Kids Coloring Book Game
Kids Doodle
Toddler lock

Does anyone else have suggestions for other apps to check out? Thanks :)

[KateRipsley]

Hi joad - is Splingo's language universe on Android? I can't seem to find it.
Thanks :)

[KateRipsley]

Hubby got one of those new galaxy tabs today. Its very nice for the drawing and coloring in apps! only just got a chance to play with it lol

Just realized that all the apps we bought on phone have got downloaded to the samsung after signing in. Very cool! :D

[QuietNinjaZombie]

Babyfirst amuses my ds no end. Lots of videos and lots if characters, good fun.

[Dilan]

There are educational apps that are good to babies. It?s like a simple illustration bring magic to your kids, catch their attention in a fun, entertaining and educational way and help them.

[Auroborea]

Zoola is great as a first app. My dd (just turned 2) also loves Starfall ABCs, FirstWords Deluxe, 3 Little Pigs by Nosy Crow, Color & Draw for kids, Park Math HD, and interactive Thomas books (Misty Island and Hero Rails).

I know exactly what you mean about flights, we survived a return flight to Barbados this Summer largely thanks to an IPad and IPhone (as well as in-flight kiddy films) to keep dd and DS (3) in their seats. If you also have an IPhone, my dc love Toddler Teasers, SoundTouch (another great first app), 123Counting, Tozzle and LetterWriter.

[dj2five]

My son loved the app iCanCount. This app made eating our hassle free for us. it was free at the time and has much improved with additional languages.

It also helped him to learn numbers at a very early age. A link is available on its website iCanSwipe.com, here is the link anyway. itunes.apple.com/us/app/icancount!/id523502821?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4.

[noblegiraffe]

Don't forget you can buy TV series and films from iTunes too. Many a long journey has been saved by a few episodes of Timmy Time.

[JollyToddler]

We took a 13 month on a 4 hour plane journey and it was the worst experience of my life. You don't 'just need books and toys', you need something more, or a child who will sleep the whole way.

We don't have an iPad but if we did I'd definitely have taken it on that journey!

[BettyPJones]

My other half got a samsung galaxy S3 recently so some good android suggestions here, I recognise a few that the children like.

Some of the ones we have had success with:
Kids Piano
the iStoryBooks
Nursery Rhymes for Kids
Classic Simon

Their absolute favourite at the moment are, of course, Angry Birds Seasons (its not very educational but they love it):
play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rovio.angrybirdsseasons

And since the Christmas decorations went up they've been on Seen it! Christmas a lot:
play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.siliconsymphony.seenitchristmas.lite

[QTPie]

Monkey Preschool Lunchbox - although 9 months is probably a bit young for it...

[AnuC]

Haystacks is a iPhone travel app for families in London. You can search for things by age group eg 0-2 or also by area or type of things you're looking for. Lots of my friends who are parents have started to use it. Hope you find it useful !

itunes.apple.com/gb/app/haystacks-london-for-kids/id519655202?mt=8

[louise54]

My little boys favourites so far are anything from Ocean House Media and Pathway apps, these 2 are ones which ive enjoyed reading with him:

Niles Snappington free version:
play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=air.com.PathwayApps.NilesSnappingtonPreview&hl=en_GB

Dr Seuss £3:
play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.oceanhouse_media.bookcatinthehat_app&hl=en_GB

[Gamelover25]

We've just discovered this great new app for our kids who are 2 and 4 years old - Heidi Alpine Adventure. There's loads of different games and no in-app purchases. The app is very educational as it helps them to develop skills like counting and memory. We have a long flight ahead of us for our holiday and got this app to keep them occupied. Check it out at itunes.apple.com/app/heidi-abenteuer-in-den-bergen/id983967380?mt=8 and play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.studio100media.heidi.alpine