Travel Friendly, Kid-Proof iDevice Cases

With the travel season right around the corner, I bet you are wondering how to keep your kids entertained during those long car rides. If you are like me, you know that movies and games on your iPad or iPhone are great ways for kids to pass the time. I’ve fallen in love with two different cases for my two young boys.

I received a Griffin Woogie 2 to review for my youngest son. The Woogie 2 is 50% stuffed toy and 50% protective case for your iPhone or iPod Touch. Your iPhone slips into a plastic pouch that is velcroed closed. I have to say at first I was a little skeptical about its design. I’ve had my share of protective screens that barely registered finger movements. If you can imagine, this particularly thick cover seemed like it was going to be a huge bust. However, I was delightfully surprised to find that it was easily the most responsive protective screen I’ve ever used. My kids, my biggest critics, never even noticed that there was something between them and their beloved games. The body of the Woogie 2 is covered with a soft minky fabric and firmly filled so that it doesn’t roll around when placed somewhere. I found that its shape is particularly useful for placing on the floor with a movie running or in a child’s lap in the car.

The Woogie 2 is recommended for kids over the age of three, however, I could easily see using this with the smallest of babies. You could even use it as a travel white noise machine or music player in the car or next to a crib. Since the Woogie has 5 easy to hold legs, it is easy for even the smallest of hands to grab and hug. We haven’t been on a plane with the Woogie yet, however I’d imagine that it would be a perfect companion for keeping kids busy on a long flight. It can sit in their lap or on the table and it easy to retrieve if it falls on the floor. It would even make for a comfortable pillow for long flights or drives.

Another amazing cover that I found last fall is the Speck Products iGuy. I’m in love with this little case. It is the perfect case for my rough and tumble 3-year-old boy. It is made from a hard, pliable, yet light foam that is designed to be free standing. The bright colors are gender neutral, and make the iPad easy to find. Easy port access means you can charge your iPad without even removing it from the cover, and you have full access to all buttons and cameras for both the iPad and iPad2.

The large handles make the iGuy easy for little hands to tote around, and they are used as steering wheel grips in certain games. This case completely protects an iPad from being dropped, even onto a brick patio. I know from personal experience! I will say that without doubt the deciding factor for me about this case was its ability to be completely free standing, even with the iPad inside it. It makes for a great distraction at doctor’s appointments. I can turn on a movie, set it on the counter and I have an instant TV screen that both boys can see.