latin school girl carrying very heavy backpack or full bagAs a new school year gets underway, you may be concerned about the size and weight of your child’s backpack. You have good reason to worry – According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, about 14,000 American children are treated annually for backpack-related injuries. To keep your child safe from harm, use these tips to lighten heavy backpacks.

Buy the Right Backpack

Here’s what to look for in a quality backpack for your school-age child:

  • Durable, lightweight material: Backpacks designed for hiking and camping tend to make great school bags because they’re sturdy but light. Avoid leather, which weighs your child down even when the bag is empty.
  • Thick straps and padding: When backpacks start to get heavy, two-inch-wide adjustable straps distribute the weight better. A padded back also makes carrying books and supplies more comfortable, as do hip and chest straps.
  • Small size: Your child needs a bag that can carry all the essentials, but an oversized backpack is easy to fill with worthless things, only adding to the weight.
  • Plenty of compartments: Zippers, pockets, and dividers make it easier to keep a backpack organized so a heavy object doesn’t accidentally get left at the bottom. Mesh pockets on the outside are especially useful for carrying water bottles where they’re easy to reach.
  • Think twice before buying a rolling backpack: This may seem like an obvious way to remove a heavy bag from your child’s shoulders, but rolling backpacks are often banned for being tripping hazards. They may not even fit in increasingly smaller lockers, and they don’t roll well in the snow.

Lighten the Load

According to The American Physical Therapy Association, backpacks should never weigh more than 20% of the person’s body weight. Far too many 100-pound sixth graders are expected to carry backpacks that weigh more than 20 pounds! If your child must lean forward to feel balanced when wearing her backpack, it’s too heavy. Here’s how to lighten the load:

  • Don’t lug textbooks back and forth: Look into digital books for tablets and e-readers or buy a used textbook to keep at home. If those options fail, scan relevant chapters at the start of the semester to have at home.
  • Divide coursework into separate binders: This way, your child only carries around the binder she needs for that day.
  • Keep lunchboxes and laptops separate: By carrying these items in their own bags, they don’t further weigh down your child’s already heavy backpack.
  • Bring an empty water bottle: Then, your child can fill it at school.
  • Sort through the backpack once a week: By reassessing the load, your child can remove obsolete papers and other clutter that add unnecessary weight.
  • Consider band and orchestra instruments: Look into buying, renting, or borrowing a used instrument your child can practice at home.

Teach Your Child How to Wear a Backpack Properly

When kids want to look cool, they often wear their heavy backpacks in harmful ways. Teach your child the proper techniques:

  • Wear both shoulder straps. For heavy loads, use the bag’s hip and chest straps as well.
  • Adjust the straps so the bag fits snugly rather than sagging down.
  • Pack heavy, flat items first to keep the bulk of the weight low and close to the body.
  • Load pockets evenly from side to side to evenly distribute the weight.
  • Pack sharp or bulky items last so they don’t come in contact with wearer’s back.

Schedule a Back Pain Consultation for Your Child

If your child’s back bothered her before implementing these tips, it’s not too late to counter the damage. It all starts with a free back pain consultation at Spine Correction Center in Fort Collins. We perform spinal decompression, chiropractic adjustments, and spinal rehabilitation to help relieve your child’s symptoms. Simply call (970) 658-5115 or contact us online today to get started.