Best tablet for toddler

[jalu47]

Sorry if this in on the wrong thread.

Any thoughts on the best tablet for a toddler - 20 months? He's a bit young and isn't actually interesting in watching stuff yet but have a long flight in a October so thought we may as well get one now. Looking for something sturdy and easy to use, that will last - he's not the most gentle!

Do you really need a tablet if he’s not interested and won’t be gentle? You will need headphones too if you are on a flight.

Toddlers don't need tablets. Get him audio books and headphones and lots of little toys to play with.

We have had the Amazon tablets for years and they’re fine but need charging daily by this point it seems. But for a 20 month old I’d try and avoid. I’m not sure how much they’d actually be able to do on the tablet. They can veg out in front of the tv shows (guarantee most of the adults on board will be doing the same!) but the tablets also hold books etc so that would save on hand luggage.
When we flew to the Caribbean with a 18 month old I did a lot of little toys to rotate - I bought some fabric pouch things to make into busy bags basically. We used the tablet too I’m sure (it was 6 years ago so can’t remember). Good to have as a last resort!

It doesn't sound as if DS is ready to use/appreciate a tablet. I think my daughter was about 3 or 4 before we used one on a flight

Amazon do a Kids Fire with a guarantee and sub to their Kids programs/apps (£139). but it might be better to just buy a cheaper model (a 7 is currently £59.99) and buy a robust case (about £15). Save the subscription until he is a bit older. If you download the BBC iplayer, you ought to be able to download some CBeebies.

I recommend that you take SOFTer toys and books for the flight.

We have already decided we will get one eventually so we want to get it now as an option, I don't see what is wrong with that.

Thanks @MassiveSalad22 - kind of my thinking too that it's a last resort! He's such an active one and never sits still, am dreading the 9 hr flight and want to have all the possibilities! Obviously going to take a wide range of toys and books too.

We tried to book him a separate seat even though we don't need to but seems impossible to do these days as no airlines have functioning sales phone lines 🙄

For a 8 hour flight I would definitely get a tablet!! Toys aren't going to cut it!

We had an Amazon fire thing but to be honest it was rubbish and a waste of money, we got an iPad. One of the cheapest models I think it was like £230?

DS has a reconditioned iPad that DH bought for him. Absolutely nothing wrong with buying one if you want to.

For that age I would suggest a cheap Amazon tablet. They are not great, but will suit your needs. Get a really good childrens case !

kids fire tablet comes with a case and a guarantee of if it breaks the replace it. Also comes with a year of amazon kids.
we had a long coach journey so I put books, cbeebies and some videos on. The last hour of the trip it was a godsend

We were on 12hr flight with no tablet, the in flight entertainment was enough

When our daughter was 2 we got a Kindle Fire for this very reason. We got a chunky case/ protector and comfy headphones too. It was perfect for the flight and we downloaded CBeebies programmes/ stories for her.

Flew from Auckland to Dublin with an 18 month old (and a 10 week old) and gave him an iPad for the first time ever. There are some very very simple games and you can download Netflix stuff too. The inflight entertainment is not the same as it's too small and very stop/start. Kids are older now and we got an Amazon fire thing and it's rubbish, not a bit user friendly. iPad gets my vote.

In-flight entertainment might have improved, but my lasting memory is that at least one of our seats gets a buggy/broken one.

One thing that is quite fun/unmessy for a daytime flight is a "magic paint"/water pen book/pictures. You have a marker pen sized "brush" filled with water and can then scribble away.

There used to be (DD is a teen now) some really lovely interactive books for iPads (not sure about Kindles) for pre-schoolers. At 2 you would probably have to help out A LOT.

I agree that iPads are more intuitive (but a lot more expensive)

My daughter, whose nearly 3, has my old work iPad with a Shockproof Surom Case, which works well. The iPad has no damage even though she’s been using it for almost a year but if I was buying new I’d get her an Amazon tablet.

She started off with a game that enabled her to change the design/sounds of a rattle. She’s an absolute whiz on it now and is able to teach us shortcuts/features we knew nothing about.

Im really glad I started her young and she’ll happily sit playing educational games whilst I cook/clean.

Actually, im exhausted today so hasn’t fully read the responses. It looks like a reconditioned iPad might be the most sensible option.

Thanks all - I've got a really old iPad (prob 10 years!) which is like a brick. Maybe I'll reinstall that and use for now - had assumed getting a more purpose built for kids one would be better but think I'll try this first!