****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
I bought this for my 2 1/2 year old son. It fits him well, it's just the right size. It's also super cute!!! Though I agree with other reviewers that the straps are sewn on too far apart from each other at the top. This makes it easy to slip off. Right now he walks with his shoulders pulled forward, but I'm sure he'll adjust to it with use. If the straps were closer together at the top of the bag allowing for a more comfortable fit I'd rate it 5 stars. I may have to get a mitten clip like one person said they did.The large velco flap is easy for him to open and close. It's lightly padded all around, which I'm sure allows for more comfort, so he's not feeling every toy or book poking through. The carry handle on top is helpful when he's carrying it from here to there to stuff things inside. He immediately filled the bag with Wheat Thins, which I immediately dumped out and had to clean the bag. He then filled it with a random assortment of toys. He just wants to fill it up and wear it!I got it as a toy more than anything, and for him to take a few things with him and spare pants/undies when we go out, so I don't have to carry his stuff. It's not a school bag, however, so don't be bummed if you can't fit a folder and books in it.UPDATE: My son loves his backpack so much he often sleeps with it. One night he wet the bed and got a LOT on the back pack. I ran it through the washer on cold in the "hand wash" setting and hung it up to dry. It came out in very good shape, though looking a little worn. The edges of the flap crunched up a tiny bit. I think it looks great considering it went through the wash, and is actually a bit softer now. I'm happy to know I can wash it and it's ok!UPDATE 12/28/11 - Just bought another one for my second son. The robot style, since he loves "bo-bots." Can't wait to give it to him for his second birthday! I will be back for a third when my daughter turns two in 16 months. They better still be available!UPDATE 4/17/13: - Just bought a third for my daughter! I love these, and the kids do too! The original, now 2 1/2 years old, is doing very well. And the only thing that really pooped it out was a couple of runs in the washing machine. I have been able to avoid having to wash the robot one and it's still nearly like new! We will be giving our daughter her's on her 2nd birthday in two days and she's going to be so excited to be just like her brothers!My only complaint would be the limited girl styles. I mean, there are a lot, but they are all just so...well, girly!! I really wanted the Dia de los Muertos backpack, but my husband said that was me trying too hard (still, I like it!) We settled for one with owls and hearts and not too much pink. Still cute, but they need tomboy options. :)I waffled a bit over buying this backpack, having read about the issue of size from other reviewers, and having measured it out on paper beforehand and realizing that it is, in fact, exactly the size of a piece of notebook paper and thus, would likely not be able to hold an actual notebook-sized object.The deciding factor was the pattern. Skip Hop's Owl Pack is adorable -- and a little larger -- but my little girl only likes owls, while she LOVES monsters. And no doubt, this monster pattern is absolutely adorable. My daughter lit up when the package arrived today, and promptly put her backpack on. She is three and the pack looks so sweet and perfect on her. Even sweeter was the fact that she wore the pack ALL DAY long, while playing in the sandbox, filled with her Playmobil dinos for a trip to the grocery store where she insisted on walking and showing off the whole time (which ellicited many an admiring stare from onlookers, much to her pleasure). So, all in all, I've no doubt this will be a well-loved, well-used little item.But we had another motive. We were hoping this would be a pack that she could wear to 3K next year, in spite of the size. And I'm not sure it's ideal for that. It *will* actually hold a notebook of standard size or a full-size coloring book, a few of them actually, but they don't go in easily enough for my daughter to pack them up herself I don't believe, and the flap is somewhat resistant to velcroing closed when this sort of large object is placed inside. I can't help but wonder why the dimensions couldn't have been ever-so-slightly larger, or even if this pack were offered in a closer-to-standard backpack size for older kids? It's darn-near impossible to find a backpack that doesn't have PVC or some other nasty material, and that has kid-appeal too. I love the thick, cotton canvas of this. It's absolutely ideal -- and I think it'll survive washing too, though I may do it on delicate out of an abundance of caution. We'll soon find out as it does have a slightly chemical odor inside, perhaps from the finishing process, and I will probably wash it in the next few days.Overall, I'm pretty pleased with this little pack, and even if it doesn't pan out as a 3K backpack, I think it will see plenty of use as a convenient tote for toys, small books, and art supplies for outings. Or just, apparently, as a fun accessory to wear around everywhere.I did a LOT of research before deciding on this particular backpack for my son. We've been using it for almost a year now and have absolutely loved it. We also have a Sugarbooger lunch bag to match and a splat mat in another Sugarbooger pattern (Outerspace) and love them both as well. The backpack is just the right size for taking to mother's day out and short nursery stays, or on trips in the car. We pretty much take it everywhere with us; for the amount we've used it already, the price was extremely reasonable. I fit several diapers (sz 5), a travel package of wipes, an insulated sippy cup, a package of diaper disposal bags, at least one toy, some crayons, and usually a fruit pouch and/or fruit snacks in it at one time, so it's pretty roomy. The nice thing is that the flap with the velcro is the only fastener so you don't have to worry about overstuffing it and breaking a zipper or anything. There is a zipper pocket inside, but I've never actually used it. My son is almost two and still a bit young to carry it on his back, but the top handle makes it just as easy for me to carry around. I love that the style, size and pattern are such that my son will probably be carrying this around until he goes to kindergarten and maybe even longer. Just a note: I had this monogrammed with his name pretty large on the flap in brown and it looks adorable. There was an ID sleeve on the inside of the pouch that the monogrammer removed in order to monogram it, but that was no big deal and didn't cost extra. I've also washed this in my washing machine and just hung it up to dry and it faired just fine. The inside can be easily wiped out, but the outside is a durable fabric (almost like a canvas) that isn't as easily wiped down, but came out of the washer perfectly clean. I get lots of compliments on my Sugarbooger products because they're so cute and unique!
