^ I have no idea about prices in US, but I agree with everyone saying you should get a big TV. I sit 8 feet away from mine, and I got a 46" LCD. I would have gotten a 52", but I don't have the room for it.
So yeah, I agree with Scout101 that you should look at DLPs. They're much more stable compared to LCDs and plasmas (so your child won't be able to knock it over) and they're also much cheaper. As for size... I'd suggest you got for a 60" if you can afford.