iPad for a baby?

[CrEsTo]

So my baby (3 months) absolutely loves watching videos on my Galaxy S.... she stares for a long time and seems to love the colours... specially the iTunes visualiser.

With the iPad 2 expected to come this year, I'd like to get one and use it with her to entertain her we need a break.

Are there apps designed for babies? I was thinking a white canvas she can touch and paint with maybe some sound?

I think I've seen some tough cases to protect the iPad from dribble and drops.... so thought maybe it would be a good idea... a good pressie for me and her.

 

[GoCubsGo]

There are painting games suitable for toddlers, not too many apps geared towards 0-9 months.

Here's a thought, when you feel like you need a break find another adult human to watch her instead of tossing her in front of a movie where her brain can turn to mush. Perhaps it is your choice of words, but I feel like buying an iPad to entertain your kid when you need a break is a poor method of parenting. It's just an opinion though. On the other hand, see if those baby genius DVDs made it to iTunes.

 

[GGJstudios]

Here's a thought, when you feel like you need a break find another adult human to watch her instead of tossing her in front of a tv where her brain can turn to mush. Perhaps it is your choice of words, but I feel like buying an iPad to entertain your kid when you need a break is a poor method of parenting.

I agree completely. Perhaps it is an unfortunate choice of words, because it would be even more unfortunate to think a baby is being passed off to an electronic babysitter, whether it be TV or computers or whatever. Babies need human touch, human voices, love and attention and warmth.... not just pretty colors or sounds from some gizmo.

 

[CrEsTo]

English is not my first language, so I didn't mean it that way.

Yes, I'm looking for something to HELP me entertain her from time to time and have fun together or by her own. The goal is not to have an iPad educate or parent my child.

Now, please let's not deviate the original question to a parenting debate...

 

[Tomorrow]

So my baby (3 months) absolutely loves watching videos on my Galaxy S.... she stares for a long time and seems to love the colours... specially the iTunes visualiser.

She's 3 months old. That's what 3-month-olds do.

Are there apps designed for babies? I was thinking a white canvas she can touch and paint with maybe some sound?

Wow. Your 3-month-old's fine motor skills must be WAY overdeveloped. Most kids can't even point at something effectively - let alone draw something - until they're at least a year old.

 

[CrEsTo]

Tomorrow:

Thanks for your sarcasm, but if you have nothing valuable to say don't post... at 3 months old she obviously can't DRAW... who said she was going to draw anyway?

 

[dcubed20]

Now, please let's not deviate the original question to a parenting debate...

No, let's. A parenting debate is way more interesting than the original question.

There are important issues surrounding technology in daily life that deserve discussion and debate. What does growing up with electronic devices from such an early age mean for a child's development? How will the cognitive, motor, and emotional development of a child be different in a world where iPads are being used in the crib?

I don't pretend to have the answers to these questions, and nobody's criticizing your parenting skills, but if the discussion here is just "16GB or 32GB iPad for my baby?!?", I think we're doing these boards and each other a huge disservice.

 

[Jay42]

Don't justify it on her behalf. If you need/want an iPad, get it. Then see if there are any suitable apps.

If it were my kid I would give them real paint.

 

[CrEsTo]

No, let's. A parenting debate is way more interesting than the original question.

There are important issues surrounding technology in daily life that deserve discussion and debate. What does growing up with electronic devices from such an early age mean for a child's development? How will the cognitive, motor, and emotional development of a child be different in a world where iPads are being used in the crib?

I don't pretend to have the answers to these questions, and nobody's criticizing your parenting skills, but if the discussion here is just "16GB or 32GB iPad for my baby?!?", I think we're doing these boards and each other a huge disservice.

Some people's first language is English and they can't comprehend... oh well...

Here I go again, specially translated for you dcubed20.

Are there iPad apps aimed for babies 3+ months?

Yes?
No?
Which ones?
Any personal experience?

I hope that's clear enough...

Don't justify it on her behalf. If you need/want an iPad, get it. Then see if there are any suitable apps.

If it were my kid I would give them real paint.

Thanks Jay... I agree, can't go wrong with the real deal

 

[ndstrenge]

Some people's first language is English and they can't understand.

Here I go again, specially translated for you dcubed20.

Are there iPad apps aimed for babies 3+ months?

Yes?
No?
Which ones?
Any personal experience?

I hope that's clear enough...

No.

Here's why:
1-those colors are euphoric to an infant's brain, making any screen fairly addictive. Taking that toy away will result in screaming/crying battles like taking a teen off drugs.

2- they won't stop at that app. They'll press the home key, forcing you to start over, negating your break. I've considered (briefly) creating a baby app that would lock the device but with so much research out there into how much harm screens do to the developing mind, I find a baby app to be fairly cruel.

3- research shows that for every (routine) daily hour an infant spends in front of a TV math scores decrease by roughly 10%. Babies shouldn't even see TVs until they're at least 2. This isn't opinion.

 

[alust2013]

I really agree with some of the others that screens are not ideal at all for the developing mind of a baby, in any capacity really. I know it would be great to have some help, but I don't feel like that would be healthy to have a baby play with an iPad.

 

[Alaerian]

An iPad will do little to help develop hand-eye coordination. Babies need physical things to touch and play with. Stuffed animals, Fisher Price, etc. Skip the iPad and get the child some age appropriate toys.

 

[TallManNY]

No.

Here's why:
1-those colors are euphoric to an infant's brain, making any screen fairly addictive. Taking that toy away will result in screaming/crying battles like taking a teen off drugs.

2- they won't stop at that app. They'll press the home key, forcing you to start over, negating your break. I've considered (briefly) creating a baby app that would lock the device but with so much research out there into how much harm screens do to the developing mind, I find a baby app to be fairly cruel.

3- research shows that for every (routine) daily hour an infant spends in front of a TV math scores decrease by roughly 10%. Babies shouldn't even see TVs until they're at least 2. This isn't opinion.

I'm sure clause 3 has some cause and effect issues unless the study that you are referencing had some serious controls for demographic factors (i.e., poor people watch lots of TV and they are bad at math, one doesn't necessarily cause the other).

But larger point is well made. There are lots of studies that at least suggest that infants should not be exposed to TV. Video on the iPad would presumably be just as bad. A creative and responsive App though, would have some motor skill development benefits I would think. Consider the paint App that the original poster suggested. Along those lines, the Smule Magic Piano App would probably be baby friendly (one or older though).

On an aside note, when my 92 year old grandmother was hospitalized late last year (which she would not recover from) when she was largely out of it, she got some enjoyment out of playing around with the Smule Magic Piano. While she was confined to her hospital bed and had limited ability to communicate and couldn't even focus on something as complicated as a TV program, she could use an iPad for some programs. She found it quite interesting. And during those final days, the iPad did seem kind of magical, without any irony. Anyway, it seems a good App for the original posters question.

 

[thunderboltspro]

I think its a poor decision, kids get angry, have tantrums throw things. Would you want a over 500 dollar "toy" thrown around?
Kids are stupid and dunk it in liquids.
Their are more suitable kid toys.

 

[Surely]

No.

Here's why:
1-those colors are euphoric to an infant's brain, making any screen fairly addictive. Taking that toy away will result in screaming/crying battles like taking a teen off drugs.

2- they won't stop at that app. They'll press the home key, forcing you to start over, negating your break. I've considered (briefly) creating a baby app that would lock the device but with so much research out there into how much harm screens do to the developing mind, I find a baby app to be fairly cruel.

3- research shows that for every (routine) daily hour an infant spends in front of a TV math scores decrease by roughly 10%. Babies shouldn't even see TVs until they're at least 2. This isn't opinion.

Source for that research? 10% for every hour, eh?

My research has shown that for every (routine) daily hour an infant spends in front of a TV, math scores increase by roughly 10%.


My now nine month old loves my iPad. He loves drawing on it....we use the Doodle Buddy app. Obviously he doesn't know what he's drawing, But he likes seeing the colors appear on the screen while he touches it.

He doesn't scream and cry when we're finished with it. He moves onto the next toy or activity with a smile on his face.

I block the home button with my thumb so that he can't press it and close the app.

We watch Sesame Street and Baby Einstein (Beethoven and Mozart) videos on it as well. I use YouTube to find Raffi videos as well.

I don't use it as a baby sitter, just as another toy that we play with during playtime.

 

[simsaladimbamba]

That reminds me of: Any tips on a laptop for a 3 year old?

I think an iPad as solo entertainment is a bad idea for a baby, it can still play with real objects and learn much more. And what if it accidentally discovers Facebook? Some of its members would be seriously envious of the baby's articulate communication skills and they would feel intimidated too. Think of the consequences for Facebook, PLEASE.

 

[Ifti]

An iPad will do little to help develop hand-eye coordination. Babies need physical things to touch and play with. Stuffed animals, Fisher Price, etc. Skip the iPad and get the child some age appropriate toys.

Spot on.
The iPad will do more harm then good at this stage. Wait until the baby has some hand-eye co-ordination, and can see and touch items a little more precisely.
I gave my younger daughter my iPad when she was 2, and IMO that was a good age to do so, since she could use the iPad straight off the bat, and learn from some of the apps.

There are some of the apps she uses.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pt739HRz1l8

 

[Surely]

Oh god people. I don't think the OP is looking to give the iPad to her baby to use for hours on end. I'm sure that he/she will still have playtime with regular toys.

Using it for a few minutes here, a few minutes there, will not cause any harm.

My son is already on the 7 times tables.

 

[chrono1081]

Wow some people on this thread are unbelievable. Babies become entertained by lots of different things especially if they get a response from it. My friends baby son was touching my iPad when I went to visit and giggled even though he wasn't doing much (Brushes was open). That doesn't make anyone a bad parent because the baby touched an iPad.

The OP is simply looking for some type of entertainment for their child and everyone here is acting like the OP is a terrible parent. I think an iPad is much better than sitting the child in a bouncy seat in front of the TV. At least on an iPad they can interact with things.

ANYWAY back on topic, to the OP I'm not sure if there are any baby specific apps, I've never looked for them but my friends son was amused with brushes. I have no clue if he was even aware of what he was doing but he was happy doing it.

 

[CrEsTo]

Thanks Surely. For being the only person not to take my simple question out of context. I never said it would be the solo means of entertainment and we have numerous toys and love for her - all day! And she will paint with real paint too!! Who said the iPad would be INSTEAD of other toys and attention! I'm not here to have my parenting skills questioned. We are very devoted to every second with our beautiful girl and are only looking to enrich her life as much as possible. Her mum is a math teacher, so our concerns re her math skills and other teaching is not of concern. But thanks anyway for your concerns.
However, if anyone has anything helpful to add, please do. Otherwise please stop with the time wasting and let me spend my precious time entertaining my baby girl

 

[Erasmus]

Based on my limited experience with baby toys (as I'm not a 23 year old dad), in the real world;

- Ponies are not purple. Puppies are not green.
- Making as much noise as possible will generally result in you losing friends.
- People in cars don't sing happy songs and start driving when you push their heads into their neck.
- If something makes a rattling noise when you shake it vigorously, you probably just broke it.
- Most animals don't have large comical smiles, and certainly shouldn't be played with.
- Chewing on an animal, such as a giraffe, pony, dog or cat, will generally make it cross.

Considering the alternatives, teaching a baby to interact with a touch screen computer seems very sensible and practical to me.

EDIT: My dad has a little app on his iPod that has about a 16 by 16 grid of squares, and by filling them in (by touching or drawing) it plays music.
It's called TonePad, and it's free.

 

[jeremy h]

I'm not sure encouraging her to play with your gadgets is such a good long term plan - I seem to spend my life 'explaining loudly' why my kids (7 + 8) should stay away from my stuff. The last Mac I 'retired' for them and my partner to use got dropped down the stairs...

Do what we all do - buy her a load of brightly coloured - AAA battery powered plastic and stick her in front of the TV so you can play with your lovely iPad in peace...

 

[Tomorrow]

Tomorrow:

Thanks for your sarcasm, but if you have nothing valuable to say don't post... at 3 months old she obviously can't DRAW... who said she was going to draw anyway?

I wasn't being sarcastic. If you lurk more, you'll see that I've been quite supportive of children using technology both for learning and for entertainment.

No, if you'll re-read my comment, I specifically addressed the idea of a child that age having the fine motor skills required to use an iPad in the way you described.

Yes - YOU were the one who mentioned drawing:

I was thinking a white canvas she can touch and paint with maybe some sound?

I'll ask you not to come to a forum seeking advice, then slamming those who offer it to you because you don't like it. Hang around here long enough, you'll know when I'm being sarcastic.

 

[rdowns]

From the American Academy of Pediatrics:

"Children of all ages are constantly learning new things. The first 2 years of life are especially important in the growth and development of your child's brain. During this time, children need good, positive interaction with other children and adults. Too much television can negatively affect early brain development. This is especially true at younger ages, when learning to talk and play with others is so important. Until more research is done about the effects of TV on very young children, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) does not recommend television for children age 2 or younger. For older children, the Academy recommends no more than 1 to 2 hours per day of educational, nonviolent programs."

 

[Tilpots]

I have an iPhone and my just turned 2 yr old daughter likes Doodle Buddy and occasionally myFish3D Lite, its a virtual aquarium. We also load up Curious George and Sesame Street videos for long car trips. She loves that monkey, but Elmo and Abby are her faves.

I've been looking at the Android tablets for a cheap (~$100) device for her. Though a couple are available at that price range, most aren't upgradeable or don't connect to the Android Market. I think once she turns three and Android releases Honeycomb, we'll probably get her one. It's way more useful than a portable DVD player for the car and not near as expensive as an iPad. We'll get some sort of protection for it sure, but I'll feel a lot better giving her $100 breakable toy than a $500 one.