Good Question: No Character Backpacks

Veronica wrote us an e-mail: My daughter is starting kindergarten next week and she needs a regular old backpack. I'm looking for something that doesn't have any sort of commercial character: NO princesses, NO Barbie, NO Disney just something cute, sweet and colorful. What can you recommend?

We think we can help you out, Veronica.

We really like Little Kid backpack in Bee, $36.00, available at Genius Jones. The yellow shade just makes us instantly happy.

The Trans by JanSport comes in a fun white and pink puzzle pattern, $29.99

We love how sleek and modern the Sunflower backpack by Allerhand, $57.99, is. It's available in three color combinations: blue/green/grey; pink/burgundy/red; and red/orange/yellow.

Preschool Toddler Go-Go Backpack, $19.97, is perfect if your daughter is into pirates. It's a funny take on the Jolly Roger.

Do you have any other recommendations for Veronica?

Comments (13)

LLbean bookbags are super sturdy...which is important in kindergarden. I had the same one from 2-6 grade! They cost a bit more up front by you don't have to replace them as often.

Hanna Anderson has very girly backpacks, also very sturdy. And lucky you, on sale this week for $15.00!

Check Target! They have their own brand of adorable fruits, rockstar (NOT Hannah Montana), solids, and other nice non-commercial bags and lunch boxes. Better go quick though, they're almost gone!

Garnet Hill also has some cute, girly backpacks.

1. fourpeas backpacks:
http://www.fourpeasonline.com/

mamabargains.com often has these on sale.

2. kelty junior backpacks (my 3 year old has the "minnow" and loves it)

3. stephen joseph go-go and quilted backpacks:
http://mookiegifts.com/stjogogobaba.html
http://mookiegifts.com/kiquba.html

4. bratsacks (handmade and from upcycled corduroy, customizable designs)
www.bratsacksbaby.etsy.com

5. PBK, llbean, land's end, north face, jansport, etc all have little-kid sized bags, though more conservative

good luck! girls' stuff always seems to be more fun to shop for.

Agatha Ruiz de la Prada.

Just google agatha ruiz de la prada backpacks -- there are many designs, carried by many stores.

We just got the hearts-on-blue.

ooo - and there are matching child-sized fountain pens

(lest you jest, my 5 year old's Swiss school requested them on the supplies list. Ink stains, here we come... but they are incredibly cute!)

?

seems the cat erased my post

My first (missing post) suggested "Agatha Ruiz de la Prada backpacks" -- just google the term, and you'll come up with lots of fun designs at many different stores. (and matching the backpacks are child-sized writing instruments, including fountain pens)

monika, these are too cute! i'll have to get these as gifts.

I recently shopped for a toddler back back too. I bought the Four Peas Toddler back pack in Funkier Monkey. It comes in blue or pink with a monkey face on the back. I had her name put on it too. It's a perfect size for toddlers, but it won't hold a full size notebook (per to the Four Peas website). They make larger kids size too. The quality is great, thick nylon fabric (won't tear like some of the cheaper ones), and the personalization is cute. The straps can be shortened enough to even fit my 15 month old. Not that I make her carry her own gear, but she likes to try. The link is above in Selena's post.

We bought my daughter this Pooki backpack for Kindergarten. She loves it and NO other kid has anything like it!

I'll second the Hanna Andersson packs. My girls have had theirs for two years now and they still look brand new. They also have lunch boxes, wallets and pencil cases.