Backpacks for kids

DS is starting kindy this year, and needs a backpack. Do you think it
really matters if I get a cheap one with characters on it (like ds
wants) or a good one at a store like REI? I don't want to hurt his
back, but otoh, I want him excited about school stuff. Plus, I'm
running out of time - school starts on Friday!

Ericka Kammerer...

For a little kid, it really doesn't matter much
as long as you're willing to replace the cheap ones
frequently. He shouldn't be carrying heavy loads.
If you get one that's a proper size for him now, you'll
likely be replacing it in a few years when he gets bigger
anyway. If you get a good one, they'll last for years
and years (which is annoying to the kids when they want a
new one and the old one's still perfectly good ;-) ).

Best wishes,
Ericka

0tterbot...

call me a freak (actually, don't ;-) but i'd get a lower-mid-priced,
mid-quality one (hopefully sans characters) which would hopefully last a
couple of years and would be comfortable (and big enough) while it lasted.
buying new cheap rubbish continually is not something i'd ever have the
stomach for, and giving a child a really expensive item i'd expect to be
looked after well is unrealistic for a wee kid.
kylie

Irene...

Lol. Well, I ended up getting him a Spiderman one at Target. I'm
hoping it'll last at least a couple years, but we'll have to see. He
likes it because it has a bunch of pockets on the outside, and it also
has a couple of water bottle pockets on the side. Plus, it's on the
cute rather than obnoxious side. (He had originally been lobbying for
one with a big plastic head of the Thing from Fantastic Four.)

PattyMomVA...

I can't imagine how a cheap backpack could hurt a child's back worse than an
expensive one. Doesn't it depend on how much it weighs? Am I missing
something?

-Patty, mom of 1+2

annie...

Until this year, we've always bought the cheap character backpacks. I
thing they look awful, but they are the only simple ones I could find.
The nicer backpacks always end up being "too functional". 20 pockets
and 8 zippers, etc. I want backpacks with just one large pocket and
maybe one smaller outside pocket. Any more than that and it's too hard
to keep track of things. My boys just won't be bothered to remember
which pocket they put something in or to check each pocket every night.
The simplicity has been worth having to repair and patch mid-year and
expect that the pack will only last one year.

Chris...

I see you have already purchased one, but if your child is in all day
kindergarten, check to be sure his lunchbox will fit in the backpack.
Also, here in upstate NY, the kid needs to be able to cram snowpants
and boots in there, too. It ends up that most kindergartners need full
sized backpacks after all that!

Mary Ann...

I would go for the cheap ones. If he's carrying so much that back pain
would be an issue then he's carrying to much, good backpack or not!

Mary Ann