What size backpack should my toddler have?

Claire walked around the house with my MacPac the other day. Granted, it was empty but she still walked like she was an old woman. The sad part is, her own bag is ginormous too. That got me thinking about toddler backpack sizes. It’s not one-size-fits-all so there must be a size system. There isn’t really. But a good rule of thumb is to make sure that the backpack is no longer than your child’s back.

What is a toddler backpack?

A toddler backpack is a mini backpack specifically designed for little shoulders and backs. It’s not just a miniature version of an adult backpack, but has special safety features like zips that little fingers can grasp and pull open.

What size are toddler backpacks?

Backpacks are measured in volume, dimensions and weight. Toddler backpacks are not usually measured in volume since they are so small but all online retailers have the dimensions and weight listed on all their backpacks. Unfortunately, there is no standardized size and all toddler backpacks vary in size depending on the brand. Generally, speaking, the maximum dimensions of a toddler backpack should be no more than 11 inches (height) x 9 inches (width) x 3 inches (depth) and should weight no more than 5-6 ounces (so they can put a few things into their bag and still safely carry it).

Why does size matter? Impact of using the wrong-sized backpack

Toddlers often carry heavy backpacks that are much larger than what they need. Moms like me buy bigger backpacks so their kids can ‘grow into them’ and kids like Claire stuff their life belongings in their packs. This leads to an increased risk of:

• muscle strain – heavy backpacks put excessive weight on your child’s shoulder, back and neck.
• misaligned spine – toddlers lean forward when they carry a backpack to balance themselves. The heavier the backpack, the more they lean forward. Over time, this can put the spine out of alignment.
• fatigue – we feel the pain after a day of moving boxes. Imagine how our little ones feel after carrying the equivalent of a tortoise shell on their backs all day.
• Skin pressure – shoulder straps that are too large can cut into your child’s sensitive skin and cause pressure sores or abrasions.
• headaches – your child might complain of a headache if their neck is sore from backpack strain. Or they would just cry and play up. And you’ll have to guess why.

Professional recommendations

Doctors recommend kids carry no more than 10 – 20% of their body weight. In fact, the latest guidelines recommend 10% of a child’s body weight as the maximum limit.

How to know what size backpack to buy for your toddler?

There’s 2 ways to go about this:

Be pedantic

Take 2 measurements of your child’s back:

• measure between the ridges of the shoulder blades and add an extra inch.
• measure from the shoulder line where the straps will rest to the belly button. Then add 2 inches.

These 2 measurements give you the maximum width and height your toddler’s backpack should be.

Make an educated guesstimate

You can use my Toddlers’ Backpack Size Chart  as a guide: Most backpack brands list the recommended age group their bag is for. For the most part, this is a good guide unless your child is smaller than average. You can also check out reviews and real-life pics. What’s most important is to try the bag out and if it’s too big, return it before the return window closes. If in doubt, it’s better for your toddler to end up with a backpack that is slightly too small than too large.

What size backpack is good for a:

1-year-old

To be clear, toddlers who are not walking independently yet shouldn’t be wearing backpacks. It’s hard enough learning to walk without carrying a hump on your back. Once your toddler is walking well by themselves and you want to get a toddler backpack for them, choose the lightest and smallest backpack possible. This mini toddler bag comes with a detachable leash:

Check it out on Amazon

2-year-old

2-year-olds can carry most toddler backpacks. On average, a backpack that is about 8 inches in height would do just fine.

3-year-old

3-year-olds are in that sweet spot between toddlerhood and pre-kindy. They can carry ‘bigger’ toddler backpacks up to 11 inches in length. Some of the smaller kid’s backpacks might do too. Again, the maximum dimensions you should allow is 11 inches in height and 9 inches in length.

To wrap up

At the end of the day, these are all estimates based on averages. The best thing you can do is let your toddler try a backpack. If the backpack sits at the center of their back and isn’t longer than their back or wider than their shoulders, you’ve got a winner. Is your toddler going to daycare? Read my article on the best backpack size for daycare.