Toddler Backpack

Little kids like to carry things around with them; from stuffed toys to books, toting their treasures is second nature to toddlers. A great way to help them carry their things around is a toddler backpack. The toddler backpack allows them not only to carry their things from room to room, but is ideal for road trips, transporting things to their daycare center, or for overnight visits with grandma.

Choosing a Toddler Backpack

While your toddler may be crazy about Dora the Explorer or Sponge Bob Square Pants, that's not the sole reason to buy a flashy character backpack. You must also make sure that it is sturdy. A lightweight canvas backpack is great as long as it features strong stitching that will be able to stand up to rough and tumble play. Backpacks made from PVC are a good choice that will wipe off with ease and be waterproof and resistant to moisture. Check all zippers or closures on the backpack to make sure that they close securely and open easily. Think about buying a toddler backpack that has pockets, such as the outer pocket that will carry their smaller items and crayons, and a larger inner pocket for bigger stuff. The size of the backpack is also important. The toddler backpack should be small enough for the child to wear without putting too much stress on the child's back, neck and shoulders. As a general rule, a backpack and its contents must not weigh more than 15% of the child's total body weight; this means that your thirty pound toddler should carry no more than a pound-and-a-half, including the backpack. The wheeled-handle toddler backpack is a growing trend for toddlers that feature a handle that retracts and can be released in order to pull the backpack on wheels. Make certain that the child is big enough for this type of backpack, and that it has a sturdy handle. You also want to ensure that the child's small fingers cannot get caught in the handle when it is being pushed back in. Wheeled-handle toddler backpacks have many of the features of a regular backpack, just in a wheeled version that will allow them to transport more weight than one that hangs from the back.