Leapster vs Tablet or Ipad?

I tell you what NOT to get, and that is the leapster tablet - horrible horrible item. You can't charge it and it eats batteries every other day, the screen is laggy and temperamental. My daughter has been playing my ipod touch for years, you need no data plan, you have access to the apple store and millions of free and cheap apps, and its the perfect size for little hands - ipad is a bit big for a little kid IMHO!

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I tell you what NOT to get, and that is the leapster tablet - horrible horrible item. You can't charge it and it eats batteries every other day, the screen is laggy and temperamental. My daughter has been playing my ipod touch for years, you need no data plan, you have access to the apple store and millions of free and cheap apps, and its the perfect size for little hands - ipad is a bit big for a little kid IMHO!

My kids have iPod touches that my husband's uncle bought them. (He spoils them outrageously.) At first I was skeptical about it - I mean, who gives a little kid something expensive when they will just wreck it, right? But those iPods are sturdier than they look. We bought covers for them, and screen protectors of course, but it's been 2 years and both iPods are still going strong! We have kids' movies, music, and many, many apps loaded on there, and if I didn't limit their screen time, they'd be on those things constantly. I suggest the iPod rather than an iPad because the size is easier for small hands. At our ballet studio, where little siblings often have to sit and wait for hours while their big sisters take ballet, iPods are wildly popular, and seem to be easy to manage even for very young children. Just my two cents! :)

Since she's two, I would skip the leapster. Fisher price has covers for iPods and iPads:

http://m.fisher-price.com/fp.aspx?st=7594&e=product&a...

My two year old loves my iPad.

ETA: you can get an iPad without a data plan but you'll have to either have a wifi connection or sync it with your computer to put apps on it.

I have pretty much hated every useless Leapster and VTech toy we have ever bought. My kids really love their ipods and using my ipad. The ipad is very expensive to me but it is awesome. Don't know much about tablet! I gave them ipods with the "indestructible" otter boxes when they were two. So MANY awesome games and books available. They still have them and I just add games as we go. They also love to get online and play the games at Starfall.com for free! They started that at about three though. There is a color Kindle for kids as well. I don't know what price range you are looking for but there are lots of options. If you are wanting to go cheaper in case of possible destruction I would get a used iphone or ipod and get the Otterbox for it. If price is not holding you back I'm sure she would love her own Kindle or ipad/tablet! Maybe there is a case for those too??

I-pad. It's super durable (ask my 1, 3 and 6 year old!) So easy to get games/apps without going to the store and lots of free/cheap educational apps available.

-we did get a rubber jacket for it to soften the falls. We got the iPad when it first came out and it's still going strong. I like to play with it too and my hubby uses it for tons of stuff including pics, kindle etc.

My oldest had a Leap pad and hardly ever used it it was a waist of money. I would say a tablet or I pad would be the best choice. I think you may be able to find tablets cheaper than the I pad. We got an I pad about a month ago and my family loves it.

If you get an ipad for this purpose and she is 2 years old, then Nana... would have to watch her AND the iPad, too.
It is an expensive gadget for a 2 year old.

But if you and Hubby want to get a device anyway, I would get an iPad.
It is very useful for an adult. And for a child but you have to teach her about using it.
But with a 2 year old, you need to supervise.
A 2 year old, likes to throw things.

We have an iPad. Our kids are 5 and 9.
And they know the rules for it. ie: don't ever, drink or eat while using it. Don't want liquids spilling on it or food smudges on it, etc.

Ipad by far is the greatest, we just got the Ipad2 really cheap now bc of the Ipad3 we already downloaded some movies to it they have a TON of free aps and if you buy the aps they are pretty cheap $1-$3. and once you have it loaded onto the icloud it there forever and you can transfer it to you Iphone or other apple products its a neat system just get a good shell for it and the clear cover cling to protect the screen. you will not be diappointed with it. We were able to get the 32g for $425 and that is alot of storage, also you can download music to it. oh yeah my dd is 2.5 and understands that she has to be gentle with it, My plan is for me to get the Ipad3 for christmas and she will have the 2 for herself.

my 5 year old has the leapster explorer and the Leap Pad. She loves both of them, especially since she can play the same games on both. She's had her leapster for a couple of years and got the Leap Pad for Christmas. She calls it her ipad and has just as much fun on it as my nephew does on his actual ipad. I don't think kids need to be able to take a tv around with them everywhere, which seems to be the only advantage to the ipad that I could see.

My 4 year old got the leaps tear tablet at Christmas and has played it maybe 10 times! She LOVES using mine or her dads iPad! I think that is definitely the way to go!