Fisher Price Laugh & Learn Apptivity Case for iPhone

I have a confession to make: My daughter got an iPod Touch for Christmas when she was just 6 months old. You may think I’m nuts and that’s quite alright. It’s one of the best decisions I have ever made and here’s why: It means she keeps her grubby paws off my iPhone. No fingerprints, no smashed screens, no drool. She has her own device for that and that particular device is secured in a heavy-duty Fisher-Price case. If you think an iPod is a ridiculous device for a toddler then this review may not be of much use to you. If you have you own iPod touch 2G/3G/4G or iPhone 4 or lower then you may benefit greatly from this review (as will your expensive piece of technology).

Product Information

Official Product Name: Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Apptivity Case for iPhone Price: $19.99 at Toys R Us Canada; $16.99 at Toys R Us USA Intended Use Per Manufacturer: Let baby develop and learn all while keeping adults electronics protected with this durable case for the iPhone® or iPod touch®! The clear film protects device screen from dribbles and drool. Enable or disable the home button on the device to keep baby within the apps – no unwanted outgoing calls! Added features like textured handles, rattle beads, high-quality mirror, and activities to explore help to stimulate baby’s developing senses. Recommended Age: 6-36 months

Pros

• It protects the iPod very well – she has both dropped and thrown the case with no visible damage to the iPod Touch.
• She likes the case itself – the beads on the sides are fun to play with and she loves to check herself out in the mirror on the back.
• It’s a bulky case but this is what you want from a protective device. It’s bulk does not hinder little hands from holding onto it.
• There is a protective strip at one end to cover the home button on the device – you can choose to rotate the device one way or the other either covering the home button or leaving it accessible.
• It has handles which are good for them to hold onto but also allows you to attach a toy strap to secure it to their stroller/car seat/shopping cart, etc.

Cons

• It’s difficult to open the case. You need a coin to turn the slot in the back that opens and closes it. This isn’t really handy if you have to turn the device quickly to access the home button.
• The power button is not accessible on the device which is helpful in that your child can’t easily turn it off; however, with how hard it is to open the case, we often just leave the iPod to turn itself off.
• The plastic screen that covers the screen of the device is flimsy and gets warped easily. It also hinders the ability for even a parent to push in the home button when oriented to allow for that.
• The handles on the case only allow the child to hold it in portrait mode. As many of the Fisher-Price apps work in landscape, it makes it harder for the child to hold the case.

Summary

Overall I’m satisfied with the case. It has its downfalls but the fact that my kid likes the case and it protects her iPod means I have learned to deal with the cons. Technically it does what it’s supposed to do even though it has its pitfalls. Is it worth $20? I guess so. It’s a price you come to expect from Fisher-Price. If you can pick it up on sale, even better. If you have an iPhone 4 or an iPod Touch of your own that your child likes to play with but it makes you nervous then I definitely suggest you buy a case of some kind for your device – they are a heck of a lot cheaper than buying a new phone! If you have a larger diaper bag then this will fit quite well…just make sure you have a coin handy to open the case. *Please note this review is unsponsored and all opinions are those of the author.