My 6 Favorite “Mini” Backpacks for Preschoolers (All Lightweight and Adjustable!)

Skip Hop backpacks have been out for a couple of decades and are still among the best for preschoolers ages 3 and 4. They’re sized for kids between 43 and 49 inches tall. The brand’s Sparks backpack has cute design additions, in this case a strawberry flower. There are other versions like a soccer theme and a rocket, plus the brand’s animal backpacks, like an octopus. Each has one main pocket, a second, smaller zippered compartment on the front of the pack and a side mesh cupholder.

While there are valid reasons to not personalize a backpack with your child’s name, having their initial on there is cool, and can help them easily identify their bag. Customize this mini backpack by first choosing the monogram’s floral print (love the Liberty florals so much!) and then a letter. It’s got a main compartment and a smaller zippered compartment, too.

We have a soft spot for the Aussie dog Bluey. (See our favorite Bluey toys!) This ultra-affordable preschool backpack has a main compartment with organizational pockets inside, a second zippered pocket plus two mesh cupholders. It’s got siblings Bingo and Bluey, with Bluey’s ears peeking up over the backpack top.

If your kid is more into Spidey, check out this cool Marvel backpack, which is a close-up of Spider-Man’s face. There’s a front and back zippered compartment, both the whole height of the backpack, so it stores a bit more than others. There’s even a tech sleeve on the inside, not that your preschool is going to be toting a laptop, but it is nice for travel if they want to bring along a tablet.

We put Pottery Barn Kids backpacks on every list of the best backpacks — there are sizes for every age and designs for every kind of kid. The Little Critters backpack, here in a dino version, are for small kids who are between 36 and 43 inches tall, so even a 2-year-old going to daycare can wear this. It’s just one main, zippered compartment, keeping things nice and easy for the youngest people. You can buy a coordinating lunch box.

Wildkin makes durable tot-size backpacks appropriate for ages 2 to 4, in patterns that aren’t licensed characters but do appeal to preschooler passions. Prints include rescue vehicles, dinosaurs, robots, sharks, and the like. There’s a main compartment and a front zippered compartment, plus one mesh cupholder.