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When my kids were little, our bean bag chairs were coveted pieces of furniture. Great for sitting with a book, lounging with a stuffie, or throwing at your brother, these hard-working cushions served as couches and gaming chairs.
Fast forward, ours didn’t last longer than a few years, including 2020, when they got an exceptional amount of use, even by the grownups, and once even served as an office chair.
But then their insides leaked, their shapes became more flat than pouf, and, like kids' bikes, everyone eventually needed to size up for comfortable seating.
A good bean bag’s shelf life usually depends on material and usage over time, so if you are searching for a new one or simply curious, read on for the best bean bag chairs for kids.
We love this chair because it has a childproof zipper for safety, and you can replenish the inner material to keep the bean bag chair alive through different ages and stages. The cotton twill doesn’t make a scratchy sound like polyester fabric, comes in 23 color choices, and has a removable cover for when you need to deep clean food or drink stains that will inevitably show up one day if you have kids. And it's available on Wayfair, which is ranked as one of our best online furniture stores.
This bean bag is affordable and fun. Its removable cover is easy to clean, and the zipper is child-safe, making it appropriate for young children.
Like a kid’s smartwatch, this oversized chair is suitable for elementary school kids and their caregivers (adults). Comfy and cool, Big Joe is a brand known for its stylish bean bags in a variety of covers—colors and patterns. Given the size, younger children may need supervision and most likely would prefer something smaller. Older kids will get a kick out of its size and durability.
An inexpensive oversized bean bag with a removable, washable cover plus handles so you can easily move it around the home.
Referred to as the “anti-anxiety float chair” due to its responsive high-density bead filling, this bean bag is a must for teens who want a cool pouf that serves a purpose: To help create a restful seating area for older kids searching for some downtime, or double as a gaming chair. This bean bag is engineered to accommodate any body shape because kids come in all sizes, and your teen can sit, recline, or even nap (it lays flat) on it. This 12 pound bag is on the pricer side, coming in at over $200, but it’s elegant engineering with ergonomic support, plus shape-shifting ability (with the bonus of a sensory tool to potentially lower anxiety) makes it worth it. If your kid likes gaming, this bean bag is the ultimate lounger for sitting upright comfortably and having enough space to set down their Xbox controller when they need to take a snack break.
This is a great choice for kids who need a calming place to relax, play, and even rest (it can be laid flat for bedding).
This bean bag chair isn’t specifically marketed towards small kids, but it makes a wonderful addition to a family room because up to four people, maybe even more if kids are small, can jump on it and enjoy its versatility. It can be a recliner, sectional couch, and bed for sleepovers and slumber parties. It is filled with near-frictionless beads and washable covers, so it conforms to your body for ultimate comfort. Highly rated, with nearly 900 positive reviews, this is a great choice for families—stylish, durable, and great for pregnant women, people with back issues, and sensory-seeking children. It’s even used in therapeutic settings. It is 19 pounds and not something I would personally feel comfortable putting in a toddler or very young child’s room, given its size and heft, but with family supervision, it could be a great addition to your home.
Highly rated for comfort and style, this bean bag can act as a chair, couch, and even a bed. It's great for teens and families, with a washable cover and plenty of room to spread out solo.
This upscale bean bag is actually good for kids or adults and is a sturdy, durable option in the realm of kids' bean bags. Ready for all the jumping, pulling, slamming, and tugging done by high-energy kiddos, this “super strong” nylon bag is water- and dirt-resistant, which is great if you have kids and pets. It is an expensive choice, coming in at nearly $250, but this choice can be used outdoors or indoors and lays flat for when you want to stretch out. Colors include black, but the brighter rainbow hues could make it an excellent addition to your kid’s playroom.
A large (comfortably holds two kids), water- and dirt-resistant bean bag that can be used outdoors as well as inside.
If you have a toddler or preschooler at home, this outdoor bean bag chair is a perfect addition to your deck or porch. It’s cute and lightweight (only 5 pounds), and it also comes with a handle for portability by little hands. The cover is fade-, UV-, mold-, and weather-resistant and can be used in multiple seasons. The design is specifically for young children, with double stitching and double zippers for safety. You can choose from colorful hues in rainbow shades or classic stripes.
Price on publish: $119.99
Lightweight and weather-resistant, this toddler-sized bean bag is a smart and safe choice if you’re in the market for a comfy outdoor chair for your little one.
A bean bag chair that doesn’t need beans—just stuffed animals and out-of-season bedding—is a great choice for families with overflowing bins. Kids love to stuff their sacks (an extra-large sack can hold up to 140 average stuffed animals), and parents can enjoy less mess. The cute color combinations, patterns, extra large or large options, and an affordable price tag make this choice a no-brainer for a bean bag buy. Bonus: It’s machine washable, too.
It is a cute and cheap way to store linens, out-of-season clothes, and stuffed animals while offering your kids a fun bean bag to sit on and play with.
When my kids were younger (oh, about five years ago), we bought a few of these chairs for our playroom from Target, although ours were not in the uber-cute animal designs. Fast forward through the years (including 2020, when they got a ton of use), they still hold up. In fact, we donated them to a friend. Sold in a few places, including Target, the Pillowfort brand for kids is a great option, and these darling chairs (with a non-removable cover) are perfect if you don’t mind spot-cleaning all the spills.
These bean bag chairs for littles come in four freakishly adorable animal designs (even the shark looks cuddly). They have a no-zip for safety and a cozy yet firm seat for the younger set.
If your kiddo loves koalas but you don’t live near a Target or you need an animal bean bag asap, this is a great alternative choice. This sweet stuffie comes in a few different species: koala, sloth, dinosaur, elephant, and lion. A handle on top makes it easy for toddlers to move it around and it has side pockets for books, a small blanket, or little treasures.
If you have a one to three-year-old, this cute bean bag chair is just the thing for creating a cuddly corner for reading and snuggles. The contoured seat allows for a safe seating arrangement for little ones.
Read also: Best Bean Bag Chairs: 11 Options for Every Kind of Lounger
Most children love bean bag chairs, but not all are designed for toddlers. Bean bags can be dangerous and, tragically, have caused accidental deaths in past years. Nowadays, most bean bags have been updated to include safety features like double lining and double zippers. However, because bags are filled with small objects that could cause choking if ingested, your bag must be secured with a child-proof zipper or other form of closure. In addition, you want a bag with a material that is tightly stitched together so it doesn’t tear easily or preferably at all, even with rough and tumble play. If you purchase a large, heavier bag, make sure young children cannot open and get into it, which could pose a serious risk, as well, according to the U.S. Product Safety Commission.
Now, for the fun: consider your child's age and how they will enjoy the bean bag! An older child may want a flexible bag that can be used for sitting upright for reading or gaming, and a younger child may want a cozy pouf to curl up on with their stuffed animals. Consider your child’s age and size when shopping for a bean bag.
This brings us to the size of the bean bag! Make sure to measure your space when considering a bean bag purchase, especially a larger or extra-large bag. You want to make sure there is enough space for kids to lounge comfortably or tumble around on the bags without kicking a wall. Of course, a larger bag should be fine if you are creating a cozy reading nook, but when setting up a playroom, you might want to consider the size. In addition, look at the dimensions and weight of a bean bag when shopping for one. You will likely want something your child can easily move around (the portability of bean bags is a plus for younger kids) and sit comfortably on.
When shopping for a bean bag for kids, a washable cover is a must, and tear and water-resistant materials are also a good idea. Bean bags come in all kinds of covers, from cotton canvas to nylon, and fun materials like faux fur. Some brands only sell covers, so you can stuff them with whatever inner filling you prefer.
Bean bags are no longer stuffed with dried beans, which were a popular filler when the bags were first created, but today, most common bean bags use styrofoam, polystyrene, or similar fillers. Unfortunately, these fillers can be toxic to pets if ingested and are not the most environmentally friendly options around. (Additionally, fillers can also present a choking and/or suffocating hazard, so be sure to make sure it is not possible for a child to access the filling.) Some fillers use recycled and biodegradable materials, like biofoam, which is non-hazardous, lightweight, and hygienic. You can stuff a bag with anything really, including recyclable clothes and shredded paper. Some bags are even made to be stuffed with clothes or soft toys and double as a storage bin!
I spoke to friends and family about their recommendation for bean bags loved by their kids of all ages.
Safety, durability, price, design, and comfort for kids (and customer reviews) were all considered to create this list.
My (now big) kids love bean bag chairs and we’ve owned a few on this list.
Most bean bag chairs are safe for children. There are no sharp edges, they sit low on the ground, they are soft, and some are ergonomically designed for physical comfort. Specialized bean bags can even be therapeutic and are used by pediatric occupational therapists and physical therapists in many settings. There have been instances where a bean bag accident has caused the death of a child, and many parents may not feel comfortable allowing very young children (under age 2) to play unsupervised with them.
Not all bean bags are sized appropriately so the key is making sure your child is physically able to get up and down from one and that the bag has safety features like double zippers and liners. I also can’t reiterate it enough: Make sure that the bean bag you choose has safety features to prevent children from crawling inside (an entrapment and suffocation hazard) and accessing the filler (a choking and suffocation hazard).
Yes. It is perfectly healthy for a child to sit on a bean bag. Some bags are created to be used therapeutically for positive spine alignment. Some people with lower back issues may find sitting on the right bean bag helps relieve pressure on their back and joints.
Anywhere! Bean bags are usually pretty portable. Kids' playrooms and bedrooms are both good locations for a bean bag chair. If you want to use it indoors and outside, find a cover that is weatherproof and can stand up to sunlight.
Most bean bag chairs last for up to four years, but high-end materials may last much longer. How often you use bean bags, how you use them, the weight put on them, and other daily wear-and-tear may impact your bean bag’s life.
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