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- Nursery Articles -

What Size Backpack

do Kindergarteners Need?

Young child wearing dinosaur print backpack while waiting for school bus.

Before you know it, your tiny baby is a big kid ready for kindergarten. There are tons of emotions that come with dropping them off on their first day of school, but concern about their little spines shouldn’t be one of them. Here’s how to determine what size backpack your child should wear to kindergarten.

How to Measure for a Backpack

Kids come in all shapes and sizes and luckily, backpacks do too. To determine the best size backpack for your kindergartner:

1. First, measure the distance from your child’s shoulders to their belly button. Add 2 inches to this measurement to determine your child’s ideal backpack length. 

2. Then, measure between your child’s shoulder blades. This measurement (and up to 2 inches longer) is their ideal backpack width.

Use these helpful backpack charts to help determine the correct sized backpack for your child:

types of backpacks chart
  MINI SMALL LARGE ROLLING
OVERALL
(W, D, H)		 8.5'' x 4.25'' x 10.75'' 12'' x 6'' x 15'' 13.75'' x 7.5'' x 17'' 13'' x 7'' x 18''

INTERIOR
(W, D, H)

 8'' x 3.75'' x 10.25'' 11.5'' x 5.5'' x 14.5'' 12.5'' x 6.5'' x 16.5'' 12'' x 6'' x 17''

SHOULDER STRAP (2)
(W, L)

 2.2'' x 12-19.5'' 2.5'' x 17.25-32.25'' 3'' x 18-34'' 3'' x 21-34''

CARRYING HANDLE
(W, L)

 1'' x 6'' 1.25'' x 7.5'' 1.5'' x 6.25'' 1.5'' x 8.75''

How to Determine Minimum Backpack Size

The minimum backpack size for your kindergartener will depend on what they are expected to bring to and from school. The average folders and notebooks are 12 inches tall, so if your child needs to carry those, select a backpack that’s at least 15 inches in height. For most kindergarteners, our size small backpack will be the perfect fit.

Young child sitting on curb putting a folder in a backpack.

Other Backpack Features to Consider

Once you’ve determined the right size backpack for your kindergartner, there are a few other features to consider for the perfect pack.

Padded Back and Shoulder Straps

Backpacks full of crayons, markers and big dreams get heavy fast, so choose a backpack with padded straps and back. This will prevent unnecessary pressure or abrasion on your little one’s body.

Storage

In addition to storage for folders and notebooks, make sure your child’s backpack includes storage space for a water bottle. If they bring their lunch to school, their backpack should also be able to hold a lunch box. Some backpacks come with clips that a lunch box can attach to.

Adjustability

Choose a backpack with adjustable straps and modify them so the backpack sits in the middle of your child’s back, with the bottom of the backpack resting on their lower back. Remind your child to always wear both straps.

Durability

Choose a backpack durable enough to withstand the wear and tear of kindergarten, including lunch box spills and the occasional (or not so occasional) drop.

Design

Your little one is a lot more likely to do their homework if it comes home in a bag with their favorite characters. Let them choose their favorite design at the start of the school year. 

Young child standing in street wearing a unicorn backpack.

Sending your child off to kindergarten is a big deal, and we know you want them to start the school year feeling healthy, happy and confident. A properly sized backpack and a big hug from you are the perfect ways to begin.

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