Is your kid’s backpack too heavy?
Florida pediatrician Gabriella Dauer is sounding the alarm on how kids who carry “large, heavy backpacks” can develop pain and injuries. Dauer’s solution comes in “backpack rules,” which she shares in a TikTok video.
Dauer points out that “significant back pain that’s continuous” is not necessarily the result of heavy backpacks, and is something to consult a healthcare provider about.
But she suggests several tips and tricks for helping kids stay safe and healthy.
- Backpacks should have wide, thick shoulder straps.
“You tell your kid to put both of those shoulder straps on because they’ll usually put it on one, and it’ll cause unilateral shoulder strain and back strain on that one side. Use both the straps.”
- Use a chest or belly clip.
The clip, Dauer says, can be used to “distribute that weight a little nicer.”
- Get a backpack with multiple compartments.
The compartments are ideal “because you can then put the heaviest stuff towards the kiddo’s back, as far back into the backpack as possible, so it’s closest to the body, easier to carry.”
Dauer tells TODAY.com that heavier items should rest against a child’s back, so “Kids won’t lean forward trying to lift that weight. That causes more muscle strain.”
- Backpacks should properly fit children.
“They shouldn’t be wider than a child’s back or hang below their waist,” Dauer says. If your child complains about their backpack, try to carry it yourself (whenever you can) or ask kids to hold lighter objects like lunchboxes or water bottles by the handles, says Dauer.
- Consider your child’s weight when choosing a backpack
A study published in “AAP Grand Rounds,” a publication of the American Academy of Pediatrics, found that backpacks should not be heavier than 10% of a child’s weight “for all grades and ages.”
Dauer tells TODAY.com that computers, chargers, tablets, folders, textbooks, cell phones, headphones, water bottles and lunch bags weigh kids down.
If your child complains about their backpack, try to carry it yourself (whenever you can) or ask kids to hold lighter objects like lunchboxes or water bottles by the handles, says Dauer.
Heavy bags stress a child’s joints and cause back pain, says Dauer, though she encourages parents to pay attention to the severity and nature of pain.
“Significant back pain — which, for example, wakes up a child from sleep — is a red flag … and should be evaluated by a doctor,” says Dauer. “That’s different from a bit of back pain or muscle strain after a long day of carrying a backpack.”
This story first appeared on TODAY.com. More from TODAY:
Allison Craig is a passionate sports writer and analyst with a deep love for game strategies, player performances, and the latest trends in the sports world. With years of experience covering football, basketball, tennis, and more, she delivers insightful analysis and engaging content for sports enthusiasts.
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