It may surprise parents who are new to the game, but pint-size humans headed to preschool or daycare need a surprising amount of stuff. The best toddler backpacks aren’t just useful for storing food and snacks—whether that’s a milk bottle or lunch—but also for transporting a spare set of clothes (just in case) and a folder packed with artwork. These are just a few things your little one may need to get through the day. In chillier weather, they may need even more space to stash items like gloves and a hat. What better time—and what better tool—for them to start learning how to keep track of their belongings, now that they’re a big kid and want to do it themselves?
Are backpacks safe for toddlers?
Despite all of that stuff, for safety reasons, those little people need special backpacks to match their small size. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, a backpack that’s too large or too heavy is not only hard to wear, but can even lead to back, neck, and shoulder pain now or down the road. To avoid this, the AAP says the weight of a child’s loaded backpack shouldn’t exceed 15% of their body weight. At age two, the average child weighs somewhere between 25 and 30 pounds, meaning their backpack and its contents shouldn’t exceed about three or four pounds, so you’ll want to start with a lightweight pack.
The AAP also suggests looking for backpacks with two wide, padded shoulder straps and a waist belt or chest strap to help better distribute the weight, plus a padded back to prevent any of the interior contents from poking your kiddo when they wear it. A variety of compartments can also help more evenly distribute the weight of the backpack.
To help you find the best toddler backpacks on the market, we scoured top retailers for bestsellers and well-reviewed options. We also polled parents who’ve been there, done that, to see what they recommend the most.
Our top picks:
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