Can a 1-year-old wear a backpack?

When Claire was a year and a half, we got one of those monkey backpacks with a leash. Whether or not putting your kid on a leash is acceptable is a discussion for another day. Regardless, she hated it, pulled at it and fell down. The monkey has a seat of honor at the bottom of her toy box. I’m now waiting for Tommy to be ready for me to try it on him. Why waste a perfectly new backpack? But back to the question: Can a 1-year-old wear a backpack? For most babies who have just celebrated their first birthday, the answer is no. They are only just learning to walk. Most can’t even walk unaided yet. Putting a backpack on them will only unbalance them and cause falls. When they are about 1 and a half, that’s a different story.

How old are toddlers when they start carrying their first backpack?

Nobody has done a study on this so I don’t know for sure. But based on my personal and worldly experience, most toddlers start carrying their first backpack when they are about 1.5 to 2 years old. But age is not the determining factor for whether or not your toddler should be able to carry a backpack. Toddlers are ready to carry a backpack when they can walk around independently while carrying a little toy. It’s important that parents don’t rush their child into carrying a backpack.

How do I know my 1-year-old is ready for a backpack?

These signs tell you your 1-year-old is ready for a backpack:

• they are walking steadily without aid
• they are walking with their whole foot on the ground (instead of on tip toe)
• they can walk in shoes
• they can carry a little toy with them while walking
• they show interest in wearing a backpack

How do I choose a backpack for my 1-year-old toddler?

The rule of thumb is to go with the lightest, smallest, simplest backpack you can find. Remember, at this stage, your toddler’s backpack is ‘just for fun’. It’s not really to get them to carry their own food.

Style

Look for backpacks that are easy to open and close. Ones with Velcro fasteners are the easiest for little hands to manoeuvre. Some ‘backpacks’ are just little cuddly toys that they can wear on their back for fun.

Size

A one-year-old isn’t very tall or very wide. Unfortunately, most bags that are listed as suitable for 1-3 year olds are actually way too big for a one-year-old. In general, I recommend that your toddler’s backpack has a maximum height of 8 inches and a maximum width of 5 inches but depends on how big your child is. It should also be really, really light. The backpack (including the contents in it) shouldn’t be heavier than 10% of your toddler’s weight.

Safety features

I don’t know about your 1-year-old but both mine put everything into their mouths when they were that age. Make sure the backpack you choose don’t have strings, ribbons, flaps or zippers that are easily detached when chewed on. Other safety features to look for are wide shoulder straps, a chest strap and a padded back for comfort. Some might disagree, but I consider a child leash as a safety feature too.

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Material

Things can get messy quickly with toddlers. Think spills, crumbs, and sticky hands. A backpack made of water-resistant material protects the backpacks’ contents when this happens. Go for lightweight material that is easily washed and is safe for a bit of chewing.

Can I buy a backpack for my 1-year-old before they are ready for one?

You wouldn’t be the first parent to buy stuff for their kids way before they are ready for them. By all means, go for it! Any of the backpacks I listed in this article would make an awesome gift for their first birthday.

What can I put in my 1-year-old’s backpack?

Nothing really. You can put in a little container with 2 wafers if you want. Or a light toy. Your tot won’t be able to safely carry more than that.

To wrap up

There is no hurry to get your little 1-year-old a backpack. Wait until they are a bit bigger, walking independently, and not trying to eat everything in sight.