There is an influx of electronic toys for preschoolers this year but none of them are really appropriate for toddlers.  My almost 4 year old loves her tablet but it is not something my 2 year old gets at all.  There are lots of free apps for my iPhone but the big problem I have is that my 2 year old playing with my phone is that he would always hit the home button and exit the app he was on.  This was frustrating for him and me.  I was also fearful of him dropping my phone and breaking it.

Infantino has just released HappiTaps which is a cute bear cover that safely houses your iPhone or iPad so a toddler can safely play without touching buttons they shouldn’t.

It is like turning your iPhone into a cuddly bear.  The downfall?  My 2 year old doesn’t want to give my phone back!

We have tested this great cover and the free Beary Happi app for several weeks now and both Gabriel and I love it.  He will giggle and laugh at Beary Happi.  I carry the cover in my purse at all times so that if we are on a long trip – I can pull it out, slip in my iPod touch or iPhone to keep him a busy for a bit longer.

I thought when I first got this that the app would only keep him occupied for a little bit and I would be putting on other apps but that hasn’t been the case at all.  In fact, I have not played another app for him since we received the HappiTaps cover.

There are so many fun things that a toddler can play with Beary Happi.

You can have him sing or read a story.  The one thing I did notice is that Beary Happi only has one free song and one free story but you can purchase two additional stories or songs for just $.99.  Considering this app is completely free, I thought this was an excellent deal for add-ons.

You can also shake and rattle Beary Happi but Gabriel’s favorite thing is to feed him.  He will giggle every time Beary Happi eats something.  You have to drag the food to Beary Happi’s mouth which helps little ones learn how to use the touch screen.  Gabriel has also learned to recognize some of the fruits and veggies so he will yell from his car seat that he just fed Beary Happi a banana, a carrot, or an apple.

Another huge hit is Peek-a-Boo!  Gabriel will laugh when he hides and yell “Where he go?”  and then giggle when he finds him.

Below is a video clip of Gabriel playing with the HappiTaps cover and Beary Happi the App:

From the hours of fun that Gabriel has had with HappiTaps and Beary Happi, I can not recommend this toy enough for Christmas.  This would make a great stocking stuffer for a toddler or a gift for a frustrated parent who would like to let their child play with their iPhone on occasion.

The HappiTaps cover is $19.99 and can be purchased on Infantino’s website. The Beary Happi iTunes app is absolutely free and definitely one of the best apps out there for toddlers.

Disclosure: I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Infantino HappiTaps and received a product sample to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate