Preschool backpacks, from nursery to reception class

A nursery backpack is primarily used to carry a comfort toy, a water bottle, a change of clothes, and a communication book. Three criteria set it apart from an elementary backpack: a very low empty weight, a clasp that can be operated independently, and a soft back. Our nursery backpacks range from small to big sections.

What a nursery backpack carries in the small section

In the small section, a nursery backpack carries a comfort toy, a water bottle, a complete change of clothes, and a communication book, rarely anything else. The volume matters less than the shape: a wide opening that shows the bottom, a hook-and-loop closure or clip that the child can operate alone, and straps that do not slip off the shoulders. A stitched name or a clearly visible label prevents mix-ups on the coat rack, where fifteen bags look alike.

Nursery backpacks on wheels or carried on the back

A wheeled nursery backpack reassures parents, but at three years old, the child does not pull it straight, the telescopic handle is too high, and any stairs send it back into the adult's arms. The bag carried on the back remains the simplest solution until the middle section, as long as nothing is put inside that won't be used during the day. Wheeled versions make more sense in the big section when the writing book and first binders arrive.

Choosing a nursery backpack by design and back

The design is the main factor at this age, and it's the child who decides. A nursery backpack is primarily chosen for its design, and our selection remains short at this age. The back and straps do not change from one model to another. The only useful guideline is durability: the same bag generally lasts for two or three consecutive years, and a cartoon print goes out of fashion before the material wears out.

• Empty weight: first criterion for nursery backpacks, far ahead of volume
• Closure: hook-and-loop, clip or large zipper, opened and closed without an adult
• Labeling: visible name, for the coat rack and lost items

A nursery backpack with a design or a plain model follows the same rule: at this age, the bag should not exceed the width of the shoulders.