Looking for a backpack for a toddler

[NYEmomma]

DD is 2 and will be starting preschool in the fall. It's a part-time mommy & me program -- she's very reserved & doesn't do well with changes so I figured this would be a good way to prepare her for actual preschool the year after.

She's fairly small for her age (ironic since she was an ENORMOUS infant, lol!) so I don't want to get her anything that'll make her top-heavy. She'll also be using this backpack as her carry-on when we go to WDW in October.

Anyone know of a place they sell cute toddler-size backpacks?? What about the ones on the Disney Store site? I love the princess backpack & DD would LOVE it, but I'm afraid it might be too big for her??

She's 34" & 29lb right now.

 

[VeroBeachGirl]

Pottery Barn Kids has preschool sized backpacks that are really cute.

 

[figment3258]

My dd was about the same height at two but she weighed much less and we bought her a backpack from the Disney store and it fit her great the only thing is no mattter how much or how little stuff sometimes she would always say it was too heavy

 

[ThreeBeans]

All my kids used the LL Bean junior backpack. The thing is perfect, very well made. Oldest DS is going into 1st grade and still uses it; he's had it since his third birthday (he's turning 7 in October). So, four years of public school and countless trips, it still looks nearly new. I imagine we'll be retiring it after the end of the coming school year as the homework will become more intensive and he'll need a larger bag at that juncture.

 

[Nanu57v]

My oldest used the LL Bean junior backpack for 2 years of preschool and then 1 year of Kindergarten. Very well made!

http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/62855?feat=818-GN1

Hers is pink.

 

[deegack]

Dd has a skip hop one in the shape of a bee. She also has the matching lunch bag. It's the perfect size for her to use for her moms morning out program.

 

[figment41]

Target carries smaller back packs Princess Tink Dora Cars Toy Story

Good Luck

 

[patchchild]

I love the LLBean ones. So strong!

 

[Kali14]

Pottery barn kids was the best way for us to go when my daughter started 3 year old preschool last fall. Held up very well. Used it for 2 Disney trips also and plan on using it for much longer. Great quality, size, features. We had bought LL Bean for all the cousins but like this PBK one much better and will invest in them again when this one wears out

 

[MSSANDRA]

Ask the program director what they recommend. Most programs ask for a regular size back pack instead of the toddler ones because the art work that she does at school will become really mashed in a toddler one. At our program most of the 2's do not really carry it much on their back anyway. Parents carry it in at drop off and the teachers carry it out at pick up. To get her excited about preschool, I would let her choose any design she wants. While I LOVE the lands end type bags, little children love a new bag each school year and their taste changes so much I would just let her pick one at target or wal-mart for now.

 

[ThreeBeans]

Ask the program director what they recommend. Most programs ask for a regular size back pack instead of the toddler ones because the art work that she does at school will become really mashed in a toddler one. At our program most of the 2's do not really carry it much on their back anyway. Parents carry it in at drop off and the teachers carry it out at pick up. To get her excited about preschool, I would let her choose any design she wants. While I LOVE the lands end type bags, little children love a new bag each school year and their taste changes so much I would just let her pick one at target or wal-mart for now.

To specify, schools don't want those 'mini-packs' so common at Walmart/Target etc., usually with bright characters on them. They're too small.

The LL Bean junior pack is small enough for a preschooler, but still large enough to be considered full size (I.e. it can comfortably accommodate a lunch box, change of clothes, and several folders.)

 

[sevans89]

I just got this one from LL Bean for my DD who is starting Pre K in the fall. It's a great price for a really cute backpack.

 

[tinkercat]

Another vote here for the LL Bean Junior backpack!

My oldest DD used her for 1 year of preschool, kindergarten and 1st grade. She still uses it for dance class, but upgraded to a bigger LL Bean pack for 2nd grade (and will use that for a few more years minimum...they hold up awesomely!).

My DS used his LL Bean Junior for 2 years of preschool and half of kindergarten. The only reason we went ahead and upgraded him to a larger pack was because I saw a deal I could not refuse. He uses his junior pack for sleepovers now.

My now 4.5 year old has used hers for 2 years of preschool and will take it to kindergarten in the fall.

I love these bags and have been beyond satisfied with LL Bean in general. As for size, my 23lb/32inch 22 month old can put on her older sibs' bags and they are a bit big but not to the point of being TOO big, if that makes sense.

 

[msmama]

I just got my son a LL Bean Jr backpack for his 2nd year of preshool (and camp this summer).

Last year I got him a Lion one from Gymboree. There's an episode of Curious George had a lion backpack and he desperately wanted on. It was pretty useless size wise though.

 

[NYEmomma]

Wow, *I* remember carrying an LL Bean backpack when I was in high school! I thought for sure something that was popular when I was younger definitely wouldn't be popular anymore... nothing from the 90s is, lol.

I wish they had one of the junior LL Bean ones in yellow. It's her absolute favorite color.

Maybe I'll just get her the one from the Disney Store... she'll grow into it over the next couple of years (if she likes it, that is) & for now, like a PP said, I'll probably be the one carrying it anyways.

She's got one of those tiny character ones from Walmart and they really are so small that they're practically useless. She has her small La La Loopsies in it & that's all that fits.

 

[momofrrr]

I don't remember where I got is because she is 19 now but when she started PreK we got her a Lamb Chop back pack. I still to this day can hear her asking me to help her put on her "Chop chop pack pack". She just finished her freshman year at college.

 

[*JoGo*]

i'm a preschool teacher and we despise!!! the tiny little backpacks. if it cannot fit a piece of paper 8 1/2 x 11 in it w/o folding it up, skip it. our kids are also supposed to keep a spare set of clothes in their bag. we hate folding up the kids' papers into tiny little squares and smashing up their art work or special project for mom/ dad/ xmas, etc.

they're cute, and proportionate to a toddler, but very impractical.

 

[Nanu57v]

i'm a preschool teacher and we despise!!! the tiny little backpacks. if it cannot fit a piece of paper 8 1/2 x 11 in it w/o folding it up, skip it. our kids are also supposed to keep a spare set of clothes in their bag. we hate folding up the kids' papers into tiny little squares and smashing up their art work or special project for mom/ dad/ xmas, etc.

they're cute, and proportionate to a toddler, but very impractical.

I think she means this kind:

One of the little boys I watched had it for preschool. He often had to hand carry his stuff home instead of the teacher folding it to stuff it in. The other little boy I watched and my DD both had the LL Bean junior pack.

 

[amberdburke]

I have a very small DD, and I bought her a toddler-sized princess backpack at Babies R Us. It was $12.99 and you can use the 20% off coupon to save some $ and shipping costs.