Credits
Best Backpacks
For all the things they need to carry
DESIGNER: DASHA BUROBINA
MANAGING EDITOR: CATRINA YOHAY
CANDACE DAVISON
Candace Davison
WRITERS/EDITORS: Rachel Bowie
Submissions for
the 2025 Happy
SCHOOL DAY Awards
Our winners span the following categories:
PureWow editors consulted dozens of parents and caregivers across the country; spent hundreds of hours researching and testing products; combed through thousands of reviews; and tapped multiple experts for their advice and recommendations. These experts ranged from pediatricians and educators to nutritionists, professional organizers and even our own readers. (Yep, the “reader favorite” picks came directly from your feedback via polls and questionnaires we’ve sent out this year.) The result? A list of products that truly stand out for their quality, functionality and design.
How Our Winners Were Chosen
PureWow editors select every item that appears on this page, and the company may earn compensation through affiliate links within the story. All prices are accurate upon date of publish. You can learn more about the affiliate process here.
The back-to-school rush sneaks up on every parent, no matter how prepared. Wouldn’t it be nice to know about the things you really need, as well as the coolest and most innovative back-to-school offerings before the supply list comes out? That’s why we’re doing the work for you. For the fifth year in a row, we’ve evaluated the best back-to-school products on the market, to bring you our top picks.
Our carefully curated selection has been vetted by both parents and experts, all with the aim of streamlining the school year ahead—without sacrificing functionality or fun. (After all, we can’t be the only ones who remember the thrill of a backpack stuffed with all-new school supplies.) Consider this your ultimate back-to-school shopping list.
DAY awards
Happy School
STATE Kane Kids Double Pocket Large
It’s a favorite of NYC cool kids, but parents also swear by the brand for its color-rich designs, spacious pockets and extra-long life span. (The wax-like exterior coating makes it almost impervious to stains, one tester remarked, although you can spot clean it as needed.) Pre-teens especially love that this bag is built to carry so much—everything from a 15-inch laptop to hefty books.
$130 AT STATE
Crate & Kids Medium
Kids Backpack
Not only is this backpack sustainably made, its durability lasted an entire school year (truly, it still looks brand-new) and also comes in a range of cute and kid-pleasing designs. (We’re partial to the sharks, but the colorblock styles can be personalized with patches.) Other standout details: The side pockets, which can hold a water bottle, and the front pocket, which is big enough for a bonus snack container.
$49 at Crate & Kids
Pottery Barn Kids Mini MacKenzie Backpack
Parents will love the durability, range of compartments and sternum strap that clips in the front (ideal for maintaining balance, according to teachers and the American Academy of Pediatrics). Kids will love the choice of designs—everything from animals to tie-dye planets to glow-in-the-dark dinos. It also holds up to wear and tear: Spot cleaning is recommended, but one tester told us she didn’t have to wash it all year.
$45 at Pottery Barn Kids
Best for Bathtime
Best for Feeding
Best for the Nursery
Best for Bedtime
Best Baby Gear
the 2024
Best for Pre-Teens
Best for Elementary
Best for Toddlers
$350 $280 at Amazon
We asked, and you answered:
Britax car seats are the top choice for their easy installation and superior safety features. The Poplar S model stands out as a user-friendly option with its ClickTight technology, allowing for installation in just three simple steps—no sweating or swearing required. It’s also narrower than most (great for families with multiple kids), and includes an anti-rebound bar for added crash protection.
Reader Favorite Car Seat
Britax Poplar S Convertible Car Seat
$148 at Béis
“You’d never guess it’s a diaper bag!” raved our tester. The slightly slouchy vegan leather design is undeniably chic, making this bag one you’ll want to use long after your butt-wiping days are over. When it comes to functionality, the Béis truly shines, offering 14 pockets and a variety of included accessories, such as a teether, pacifier holder, removable clutch and changing pad. Look at you, cool mom.
Best Diaper Bag
Béis Backpack
Diaper Bag
$100 at Amazon
This carrier ticks all the boxes: it’s lightweight and comfortable; it can accommodate six different carrying positions; it has a wide seat and narrow seat option for optimum positioning; and it can be used from birth until 45 pounds with no separate newborn insert needed. We also love the zip-down front panel to keep baby warm/cool and the removable sun hood to protect baby’s face, plus the pouch to store your phone and keys.
Best Baby Carrier
LÍLLÉbaby Complete All Seasons Baby Carrier
To submit a product for next year’s awards, email happykidawards@purewow.com and include the following information:
Name & short description of the product (2-3 sentences)
Link (if available)
Photos
Pricing/availability
Launch date (While we focus on products launched after August 1, 2024,
we accept submissions of brands’ tried-and-true bestsellers as well.)
Our submission period runs from February 1, 2025 to April 21, 2025. There is no cost to enter a product for awards consideration, though we may ask to receive up to three samples to have families test and provide feedback on. If you have any questions about the process, please feel free to email our team.
Update: The 2024 Happy Kid Awards will be unveiled in three phases: Happy Baby (launching in June), Happy School Days (launching in July) and Happy Kid Awards: The Best Toys and Games (formerly Happy Playtime, launching in November). As a result, we're extending our submissions period:
Best Backpacks
Best Lunch Supplies
Best School Supplies
Best After-School Essentials
Best for Commuting
Best Tech
$50 at Amazon
Bentgo is a brand with staying power, having earned a Happy Kid Award not once, but twice. It’s also beloved by parents—this Stainless Steel lunchbox is no exception. First, it’s buzzy (stainless steel is phthalate-, BPA- and toxin-free compared to plastic). Second, it comes with three compartments and an optional fourth, all in a container that’s just two inches thick. Did we mention it’s also dishwasher-safe?
Best Lunchbox
Bentgo Kids Stainless
Steel Lunchbox
$38 at Ahimsa
From a brand that was founded by a pediatrician, the Ahimsa Circle Trio (again, in stainless steel) features three stackable snack containers that are as chic as they are easy for little hands to open. Our kid testers love the metallic rainbow hue, and parents love the dishwasher-safe design and flexible use. Families can use the tins to transport snacks for lunch or repurpose the containers for leftovers.
Best Snack Container
Ahimsa Circle Trio
$20 at Owala
This new water bottle design from Owala comes in bold colors and features a spill-proof lockable lid and flip cap that can be opened with one hand (minimal parent involvement required). Water stays cold for 6+ hours and the cup holds up to 14 ounces, but parents take note: The cap is the only part that’s dishwasher-safe. (Hand-washing the bottle is recommended to preserve the color.)
Best Water Bottle
Owala Kids Stainless
Steel Flip
$90 at Amazon
This clever three-in-one device is a night light, sound machine and time-to-rise sleep training tool. With its user-friendly app, parents can effortlessly customize settings, choosing from 10 soothing colors and 15 calming sounds like wind, rain and lullabies. Establishing sleep and wake schedules is a breeze; simply select a sound and color for bedtime, and another for wake-up time
(“Red means bed, OK?“).
Best Night Light
Hatch Rest 2nd Generation
$50 at Yogasleep
There are plenty of fancy sound machines on the market but as our pediatric sleep consultant explained—sometimes the simplest option is the best option. Case in point: The Dohm. This no-frills pick offers fan-based white noise, which delivers a constant whirr that’s not abrasive to the ears. It’s also easy to use in the dark, keeps a low profile on a nightstand and features two different speed adjustments.
Best Baby Sound Machine
Dohm Classic Sound Machine
$240 at Amazon
This Wi-Fi video monitor has been a fan-favorite for years due to its stellar HD video, user-friendly interface and flexible mounting options. And we’re excited about the new upgrades: standing detection alerts you if your child stands for more than five seconds, enhanced cry detection distinguishes between cries and other noises, and sleep pattern/developmental milestone logging so parents don’t miss the first roll or sit-up.
Reader Favorite Monitor
The Nanit Pro
Cafeteria convenience is key
Best Lunch Supplies
$8 at Decomposition
Sustainably made and featuring clever designs, these eco-friendly notebooks put the fun in functional. There are 80 pages of wide-ruled paper—perfect for working out a math problem or jotting down a note that gets passed to a friend. But we’re in it for the covers, which are colorful and charming. After all, what kid doesn’t love a fruit or ocean theme? For older kids, the spiral-bound format offers even more themes to choose from.
Best for Note-Taking
Decomposition
Notebooks
$15 at Ooly
The classroom is one of the few places left where putting pen to paper isn’t a lost art. Make it even more artful with this pack of six writing tools that pull double duty in pretty pastels. Each one can be used as either a fine-tipped pen if you angle it one way and a highlighter if you angle it the other, offering creativity and convenience all in one.
Best Writing Tool
Ooly 2-in-1 Micro
Fine-Tipped Highlighters
$29 AT MABEL'S LABELS
Mabel’s Labels has long been a front-runner when it comes to labeling all the things kids carry and wear—from lunchboxes and water bottles to clothing and shoes. Not only are they waterproof, but they’re dishwasher- and laundry-safe, too. All you have to do is peel and stick them on. This year, the brand has launched textured sensory labels for kids that need a little extra help keeping fidgety hands busy.
Best Name Labels
Mabel’s Labels
$30 at Ban.do
This 17-month style from Ban.do comes with bonus sticker pages, activity sheets and more. (For example, what kid wouldn’t want to chart the books they’ve read this year by coloring in a page full of blank spines?)
Best Planner
Ban.do 17-Month Academic Planner
$10 AT POKETO
Like we said, putting pen to paper and jotting down reminders is still an effective (and satisfying) way to cross things off your list. That’s why kids will love keeping track of homework and school project to-dos with this rainbow-hued roll, featuring 30 sheets of peel-and-stick paper that can be torn off and posted wherever you need a visual reminder. (It’s also just a great way to keep a running log of weekly tasks.)
Best Homework Helper
Poketo Sticky Roll
$16 at Touchland
Germs abound, and one of the most delightful ways to combat them is with this soothing and aromatic hand sanitizer. Not only is it practical and pocket-sized, it’s Instagram-friendly and ideal for sensitive skin. Come on, what other hand sanitizer is infused with crisp cucumber and refreshing lemon?
Best Germ Protector
Touchland
Hand Sanitizer
Focus on learning, with a bit of flair
Best School Supplies
$399 at Article
This desk is compact, low-profile and comes with a drawer and cubby-like setup, ideal for tucking school projects or textbooks out of the way. It’s also an item that easily works throughout their school career, up through high school.
Best Desk
Article Fantol Warm
Oak Desk
$429 at Pottery Barn Teen
If you’re going to invest in a desk, you’re going to also need a desk chair. This swivel design provides both comfort and style. It’s fully cushioned and features an adjustable seat height, which means your child can grow with it. More details to love: The four caster wheels and the option to order it in easy-to-clean performance velvet.
Best Desk Chair
Pottery Barn Teen Andie Swivel Desk Chair
$38 AT POKETO
There’s no shortage of paperwork to keep track of as the school year progresses, which is why this accordion file—which comes with subfolders that you can easily label and categorize—is a savior when it comes to organization. Snag one in either an 8- or 12-pocket format and your kid can stuff it to the gills with worksheets or test results. Once filled, it snaps back together to be compact and easily fits in a backpack or desk drawer.
Best Classwork Organizer
Poketo Accordian File
$300 at Amazon
“I love washing baby bottles,” said no parent ever. This sanity-saving device does the hard work for you by washing, sanitizing and drying bottles of varying sizes and shapes. It can tackle four bottles at once with a choice of six different cycles that will take from nine to 88 minutes to complete (so longer than it would take you to wash by hand but way less tedious). Psst: It works with pacifiers and breast pump parts too.
Best Bottle Cleaner
Baby Brezza New Bottle Washer Pro
$180 at Pumpables
Moms tells us that this small but mighty pump is just as powerful and effective as bigger models but significantly more convenient for work and travel. The size of an iPhone, it also lets you save your preferred settings and is super quiet (mama needs to hear her show!), plus has a long-lasting battery. The only downside? The parts aren’t dishwasher safe
(but hey, that’s what the Brezza
is for, right?)
Best Breast Pump
Pumpables Genie Advanced Portable Breast Pump
$44 at Skims
Investing in a high-quality nursing bra might seem extravagant for something you’ll only use temporarily, but the Skims bra proves its worth. Exceptionally lightweight yet remarkably supportive, it offers the perfect balance of stretch and structure. It also features convenient front clasps for easy access and leak protection, resulting in a seamless blend of comfort and functionality for nursing moms.
Best Nursing Bra
Skims Nursing Sculpting Bra
For a more organized learning environment at home
Best After-School Essentials
$380 at Amazon
It can print, it can scan, it can fax (hey, you never know!), but this printer from Canon also comes at a reasonable price point and delivers top-notch color and black-and-white print-outs, ideal for homework and school projects of all sizes. Even better, the design helps preserve ink, thanks to its refillable tank model that yields about 6,000 pages per fill and costs just about $22 to replace.
Best Printer
Canon MegaTank PIXMA G7020 Printer
$230 at Amazon
This new smartwatch, for kids ages 7 to 14, is a game-changer for parents looking to temper tech addiction while still staying connected. It has built-in games designed to get kids moving (which you can turn off), and it allows phone and text message access for up to 20 phone numbers (all set by parents), as well as location sharing. Note: A $10/month subscription is required and you monitor kids via an app on your own phone.
Best for Safety
Fitbit Ace LTE Smartwatch
$1,099 AT BEST BUY
Apple just refreshed its laptop, the Macbook Air, but what makes the 2024 model shine? Mainly, Apple’s M3 chip, which makes it run lightning-fast. Also, the return of the headphone jack (huzzah!), an 18-hour battery life and a design that’s extremely lightweight (just over 2 lbs, so it won’t add bulk to a backpack). It’s ideal for students looking to nail daily tasks, but also invest in a computer that will last them 5+ years.
Best Laptop
Apple Macbook Air
(13-Inch)
For all their digital needs
Best Tech
$152 AT POLARN O. PYRET
Rainsuits are the new snowsuits (thanks, climate change!), which is why we consider them an absolute back-to-school essential. This version from Swedish outerwear brand Polarn O. Pyret is best-in-class given it’s not only wind and waterproof—even in a downpour—but will last you more than one season (sizes span four years). Exactly what you need to help your kid stay dry and warm.
Best Rainy Day Gear
Polarn O. Pyret Rainsuit
$2,199 AT RADIO FLYER
This splurge-worthy item is as good for the environment as it is a zippy way to shuttle your kids to school. With a battery range of up to 50 miles and differing wheel sizes for greater stability on the road, this cargo style e-bike can carry passengers between the ages of 5 and 10. (A car seat is required for younger kiddos, but can be easily strapped to the back).
Best Eco-Friendly Ride
Radio Flyer Via E-Bike
$25 at amazon
The bus ride to school can be long. Assuming kids have an MP3 player or another way to cue up some tunes, this pair of headphones from Altec Lansing is totally clutch. We love the attainable price point, as well as the foldable and break-proof design, the noise-canceling capabilities and the volume-limiting option (super important to protect kid’s hearing).
Best for the Bus
Altec Lansing MZX4500 Headphones
Whether by bus, bike or carpool
Best for Commuting
the 2024
Cafeteria convenience is key
BEST LUNCH SUPPLIES
Focus on learning, with a bit of flair
BEST SCHOOL SUPPLIES
For a more organized learning environment at home
BEST AFTER-SCHOOL
ESSENTIALS
For all their digital needs
Best tech
Whether by bus, bike or carpool
best for commuting
Check out our previous award winners and our awards guidelines here.
There is no cost to enter a product for awards consideration, though we may ask to receive up to three samples to have families test and provide feedback on. If you have any questions about the process, please feel free to email our team.
$599 at Woom
For kids eager to be in the driver’s biker’s seat on the way to school, this set of wheels offers everything they could need, from easy shifting to a seat that adjusts. Our tester was particularly impressed with the solid construction and lightness of the frame. All of which makes for a bike that is easy to carry, goes fast and brakes quickly and easily.
Best for Pedal Pushers
Woom Original Bike
$25 at Amazon
It may seem like a surprising item, but many parents we talked with mentioned the need for bandages on the go. This colorful first aid kit from Welly easily stashes in your car and includes everything from single-use cleansing wipes to ointment to a range of vibrant bandages with designs like narwhals and llamas. (Don’t worry, more neutral choices are also there.)
Best Carpool Companion
Welly First Aid Kit
$150 at Amazon
For kids looking to keep busy on the bus, a Kindle is a convenient solution that won’t add unnecessary backpack heft. With its 10-week battery life, the Kindle makes it a breeze for kids to access everything they’re currently reading on the go. Speaking of which, did you know you can sync it for free with your local library’s e-book offerings? It’s also equipped to play audiobooks, another way to pass the time.
Best for Bookworms
Amazon Kindle
Paperwhite
$152 at polarn o. pyret
Rainsuits are the new snowsuits (thanks, climate change!) which is why we consider them an absolute back-to-school essential. This version from Swedish outerwear brand Polarn O. Pyret is best-in-class given it’s not only wind and waterproof—even in a downpour—but will last you more than one season (sizes span four years). Exactly what you need to help your kid stay dry and warm.
Best Rainy Day Gear
Polarn O. Pyret Rainsuit
$2,199 at radio flyer
This splurge-worthy item is as good for the environment as it is a zippy way to shuttle your kids to school. With a battery range of up to 50 miles and differing wheel sizes for greater stability on the road, this cargo style can carry passengers between the ages of 5 and 10. (A car seat is required for younger kiddos, but can be easily strapped to the back).
Best Eco-Friendly Ride
Radio Flyer Via E-Bike
$25 at Amazon
The bus ride to school can be long. Assuming kids have an MP3 player or another way to cue up some tunes, this pair of headphones from Altec Lansing is totally clutch. We love the attainable price point,but the foldable and break-proof design, the noise-canceling capabilities and the volume-limiting option (super important to protect kid’s hearing).
Best for the Bus
Altec Lansing MZX4500 Headphones