Now that kids are back in school, you may have noticed your little one’s backpack looking like it’s weighing them down and that’s no good. While students need something to carry all their gear and supplies in for the day at school, packs that are too heavy, don’t fit well, or are unevenly distributed can cause pain or bad posture, so here’s how to avoid that.
- Check out hiking and camping stores - Chiropractor Daniel Pozarnsky advises going to these stores for an in-person try-on session. They have pros who know how to fit your child with the right backpack and give recommendations based on your kid’s body frame.
- When choosing a backpack, look for:
- Two wide, padded, adjustable shoulder straps - skinny straps can dig in and cross-body bags don’t distribute weight evenly.
- Lots of compartments - So you have more places to move stuff around and make it more comfy.
- Lightweight materials - Leather looks nice but weighs more than canvas or nylon.
- A waist belt and sternum strap - To help distribute weight evenly.
- A proper fit - Look for one that sits just below the child’s shoulder blades, isn’t wider than their back and doesn’t hang lower than the waist.
- Lighten the load - The American Academy of Pediatricsrecommends that kids not carry more than 10% to 20% of their body weight in their backpack. So kindergarteners should only be lugging four pounds or so. Weigh it if you’re not sure if it’s too heavy.
- Look out for signs the backpack is too heavy - If your kid grunts when they pick it up, leans forward when standing, or complains of numb arms and hands, that bag is too heavy.
- Avoid attaching a lunch box to the backpack - It’s convenient, but heavy lunch bags make it weigh more, so it’s probably easier for your kid to carry it separately.
- Do weekly checks - Kids accumulate PTA flyers, art projects, supplies, water bottles, socks, old snacks, and other junk in their bags, so clean it out frequently to lighten their load.
Source: Lifehacker
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