Admittedly it has been many years since I've had to entertain a baby. However, the one thing that i remember was no matter how cool the toy was that you bought for them, they wanted to play with what you were holding instead. If you bought them a toy phone, that wasn't good enough. They wanted to play with your "real" phone. Fast forward to today when now you're holding an iPad. Chances are your baby is going to want some of that iPad action too. However, they're going to be less inclined to check their email or Facebook friend's status at such a young age.
Enter Baby Explorer
Baby Explorer lets you turn your iPad into a portable electronic entertainment center complete with activities for your child to play. Since the iPad has a touch screen, there are no moving parts to worry about and you get the ability to have multiple activities in one App/device. Baby Explorer is complete with sounds, things your child can push and move as well as different modes that they can interact with. While the App does all that it claims to, I was expecting a little more for $2.99. I guess I wanted a few more activities since it is in fact electronic. I can't remember how quickly babies can get bored, but I can see them not wanting to do this for hours on end and perhaps that's a good thing. After all, you're not going to want to surrender your iPad for an extended period of time anyway. So I guess the feature set is probably good enough for the intended use. It provides a quick distraction when you need one and of course there is some motor skill building opportunity too. I hope the developer continues to follow up with updates even if they're minor one to change things up a bit as time goes on. Lastly I could definitely see having this App on my iPad when traveling if you didn't have a lot of room to bring physical toys. Also who knows, on a long flight you may be the hero for quieting the screaming kid sitting next to you. 
You can get Baby Explorer here from the App Store 
Baby Explorer
Baby Explorer turns your iPad into baby toy center with sounds and animated objects.
- Emantras
- Get on App Store
- $2.99
All info was collected on 24th June, 2010 when the app was reviewed.
About Terry White
Terry is the co-author of The Best Selling "The iPhone Book" 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th editions. He has been active in the industry for over 25 years and is the founder and president of MacGroup-Detroit, Inc., Michigan's largest Macintosh Users Group, host of the Adobe Creative Suite Podcast and a technology writer - Terry White Tech Blog.
wow…I think I’ve seen it all now
Apps for babies. I guess its a good thing its not packed full of features since babies aren’t supposed to spend much time in front of electronic devices like television.
love the app site Terry!
Actually I anticipate the iPad being a HUGE children’s (and elderly) platform. Think of it…don’t need to really be able to read, write, or type to get into the app of your choice. My two year old son can pick itnup, turn it on and swipe to his page of games/toys on the iPad and entertain himself.
We even have kiddie music and eductational videos for him too…and yes, he knows how to find them as well. Imagine that…thank you Apple.
Babies throw things… ’nuff said.
Babies also puke, dribble and ooze.
Give the little beasts something real to play with. There’s plenty of time for them to learn to sit goggle-eyed in front of glowing boxes and slabs.
I can imagine this would be great for traveling with children…games, books and movies all in one, really thin and easy to travel with- I want one for our next flight with my son!!