12 Bean Bag Chairs for Kids and Teens That Are Both Comfortable and Stylish (Yes, Really)

Remember when bean bag chairs were all the rage? Well, friends, they’re making a major comeback—namely because their modern incarnation bears no resemblance to the crunchy, uncomfortable bean bag sack of yore. In fact, the new and improved chairs on the market offer all the comfort and coziness of a well-loved couch (hello, memory foam) for a fraction of the cost. Plus, their low-profile—in terms of both style and actual height off the ground— makes them particularly appropriate for kids of all ages and adults, too. (Personally, I use my kids’ bean bag chair more than anyone else since it provides me with a comfortable place to sit when they want me to play with them.) Don’t take our word for it, though. Here, find our roundup of the best bean bag chairs for kids and teens—from waterproof and washable, to patterned and plush—that will make a believer out of you and your brood. And in case you were wondering what a bean bag chair is doing to your kid’s back, we tapped an orthopedic surgeon for his tips about what to look for.

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Dr. Marcus Duda is a board certified general orthopedic surgeon in Greensboro, North Carolina who has been practicing since 1998. He received his Doctor of Medicine from Wake Forest School of Medicine. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery and active member of the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society, as well as the Wound Healing Society (WHS) and the Association for the Advancement of Wound Care (AAWC).

When looking for the best bean bag chairs, I considered the fabric, filling, size and shape of the bean bag, ensuring that there was a range of options for different age groups (a toddler needs a different type of bean bag than a teen, for example) as well as budgets. I also consulted an orthopedic surgeon to get his tips on what makes a good bean bag (spoiler alert: it’s all about balance), tested a few chairs myself and carefully poured over reviews of the ones I did not test.

• Fabric: This all depends on the level of durability and softness you want from your bean bag. For example, if you’re looking for something that’ll provide maximum comfort, cotton and microsuede fabrics are just as pretty as they are cozy. However, these fabrics tend to be fickle in the wash and they’re rarely stain-resistant. That said, if you have two young boys under the age of six, you’ll probably want something more durable (i.e., polyester or leather) that can hold up in the wash. Same goes if you have a cat, for example. (I learned the hard way that the cover of our bean bag chair could not stand up to cat claws or getting caught on furniture as my kids dragged it around.)
• Filling: Most bean bags are constructed with either polystyrene beads or foam filler…. so what’s the difference? In terms of comfort, polystyrene beads compress while you sit on them, but quickly spring back to their original shape when you get up. Foam, on the other hand, offers more support and precisely-molded comfort when compressed, but takes a much longer time to spring back up. Furthermore, polystyrene beads have been used to fill bean bags for years, foam filler is relatively new to the market. When deciding between the two, it’s important to consider how much support you’d like from your bean bag. While some people love the shiftiness of the beads, others love the sink-into-me feeling of the foam.
• Size and Shape: Gone are the days where you could only choose from a standard, 4-foot circular bean bag. Now, you can choose from rectangular, square and even tear-drop-shaped bags that range from 4-feet to 8-feet long. When it comes to selecting the best size for kids, we’d say something in the 4-to-5 foot range should give them ample room to spread out. And, if you have limited space, rectangular or teardrop shapes can easily fit in the corner without taking up too much room. Otherwise, if you’re looking for something that can accommodate the whole family—or a group of growing teens—we’d recommend going with an oversized, (minimum of 6-feet) circular bag that allows 2-4 people to plop down comfortably.