National Safety Council urges parents to lighten children’s backpacks as school year approaches
NEW JERSEY — As students prepare to head back to school, the National Safety Council is reminding parents to pay attention to the weight and fit of their children’s backpacks to help prevent back, neck and shoulder pain.
Backpacks that are too heavy can cause pain and contribute to poor posture, particularly for children whose bodies are still growing, according to the National Safety Council.
While some children carry backpacks weighing as much as a quarter of their body weight, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that a backpack weigh no more than 5% to 10% of a child’s body weight.
Parents should watch for signs that a backpack may be too heavy, including a child struggling to put it on, bending forward while carrying it or experiencing tingling or numbness.
The National Safety Council recommends choosing an appropriately sized backpack that is no wider than the child’s torso and does not hang more than 4 inches below the waist. Backpacks should have padded, adjustable shoulder straps and a padded back.
Waist and chest straps can help distribute weight more evenly, while multiple compartments can help position items throughout the backpack. Compression straps can stabilize the contents, and reflective material can make children more visible while walking to and from school.
Children should use both shoulder straps rather than carrying a backpack over one shoulder, which can shift weight to one side and contribute to muscle pain and posture problems. Shoulder straps should also be tightened so the backpack fits closely against the child’s back.
Parents can also help children determine which items are necessary to carry each day. Items that are not needed should be left at home, in a locker or in the classroom when possible.
When packing a backpack, the National Safety Council recommends placing the heaviest items closest to the bottom and center of the back and using multiple compartments to distribute the load.
Rolling backpacks can reduce the amount of weight carried on a child’s back, but the council cautions that they can be difficult to carry on stairs and may create tripping hazards in crowded school hallways.
Parents are encouraged to periodically pick up and check their child’s backpack to make sure the load remains manageable.
