Ultimate Guide: Kids' Backpacks
by
Caitlin C.
on Jul 18 2024
SAVE ON LEVI'S & HURLEY*
Before you send them off to their first day of school with fresh school supplies, you must buy something to put them in. In this blog, we’ll cover choosing the best backpack for your kid and list a few in-demand backpacks based on their size and features.
How much should a kid’s backpack weigh?
A backpack that’s too heavy can cause significant discomfort and even potential health issues for your child, including neck, shoulder, and back pain. To ensure your child's well-being, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that backpacks not exceed 5% to 10% of their body weight.
How to measure for a kid’s backpack
Since children come in all shapes and sizes, so it’s important to find them the right backpack. Here’s how to measure to find the correct size backpack for your little one:
- Measure the distance between their shoulders and bellybutton, and add two inches. This will be the ideal backpack length.
- Measure the distance between their shoulder blades and then add two inches. This is the ideal width for their backpack.
How big should a kid’s backpack be?
Below is a general guideline for the dimensions of various backpacks available at Rookie Kids.
Large - 17” H x 13.75” W x 7.5” D
Small - 15” H x 12” W x 6” D
Mini - 10.75” H x 8.5” W x 4.25” D
Most notebooks and folders measure 12 inches long, so it's ideal to find a backpack two to three inches longer.
All backpack dimensions are available in the product copy for each backpack.
Backpack Features
Padded Shoulder Straps
Buy a backpack with padded shoulder straps to ease any weight on your child’s shoulders. Not only will it make it more comfortable, but they’ll also be less likely to get indentation lines from their backpack.
Storage
Having dedicated spots for their belongings means there’s less risk of an accident. A loose water bottle next to last night's homework—yikes! Buy them a bag with dedicated water bottle pockets, laptop sleeves, and more.
Adjustability
As discussed, backpacks should be worn properly to prevent pain or injury. With this in mind, buying a backpack with adjustable straps is important. This makes it easy for your child to modify it, so the backpack sits at the midback and the bottom hits their lower back.
Pick up school essentials like kids’ backpacks, lunch boxes, lanyards, and more from Rookie Kids. Our Back-to-School page features in-demand items like tag fobs, mini backpacks, and more!
Remember that all orders over $99 are eligible for free shipping!
Back-to-school accessories
