Kids' Backpacks 101

packed and worn properly -- can
be a valuable tool from elementary school all the way through college.

Buy a Better Backpack

There are dozens of kids' backpack brands available to choose from, starting
at about $10 and running upwards of $25 or more. When you're shopping for the
new school year, here are some backpack basics to follow:

• 
  Two is better than one. While your child might beg for this because
  it's what all the "cool kids" are carrying, avoid the sling-style
  backpack, which has one strap that crosses the chest. "Using a backpack
  with one strap, not two, puts all the pressure on one shoulder," says
  Hennrikus, who is a pediatric orthopaedic surgeon at Children's Hospital in
  California. "It pulls the shoulder down and can cause back, neck, and
  shoulder pain." Look for a backpack with two straps instead, which splits
  the weight of the backpack across the shoulders.B


• 
  The thicker the shoulder pads, the better.B "Padded
  shoulder straps help prevent the straps from digging into your child's
  shoulders, back, and neck," says Hennrikus.B


• 
  Wheels optional. "Backpacks with wheels definitely ease the
  burden of your child having to carry a lot of weight around all day," says
  Karol. "But many schools have stairs, which can be difficult for wheeled
  bags, and they might not fit in a locker." And they're pretty tough to roll
  in the snow. Weather permitting, check with your child's school before you buy
  a backpack with wheels.

Pack for Maximum Comfort

A backpack loaded with a day's worth of books and gear can be a heavy burden
for your child. B B Before you start packing, experts recommend a
simple set of guidelines to follow that will help you measure the weight of
your kid's backpack against his or her body weight.B

"The AAOS recommends that a child shouldn't carry a backpack that
exceeds 15%-20% of their body weight," says Karol.

An easy way to test how much your kid's backpack actually weighs is to place
it on your bathroom scale. While it might not be exact, it'll tell you if
you're creeping into the red zone and putting your child at risk of developing
back pain. But err on the side of caution, explains Hennrikus.

"A reasonable recommendation is a 10% cutoff weight for bodyweight,"
he says. "This will help reduce the risk of injury related to falls and
relieve pain that comes from wearing giant backpacks loaded with school
supplies."

With 10% as the more conservative target, here's a breakdown by body weight
for measuring how much your child should be lugging around in his backpack:

Child's WeightB
B B B B B B B B B Backpack
Weight

50 poundsB B B B B B B B
B B B B B B B B B 5 pounds

75
poundsB B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B
7.5 pounds

100
poundsB B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B
10 pounds

125
poundsB B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B
12.5 pounds

150
poundsB B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B
15 pounds

Wear It Well

So now you know what to buy, how to pack it, and how much your kid's
backpack should weigh. But does your child know how to wear it well? Experts
offer backpack tips to help kids lighten the load:

• Always use both shoulder straps. Slinging the backpack over one shoulder
  can cause muscle pain in the neck, back, and shoulder.B B


• Let kids figure out where it fits most comfortably, but try to tighten the
  straps so that the pack is close to the body. Still, don't go overboard. The
  straps should be not so tight that they pull on the shoulders.B


• Backpacks are teeming with pockets, and you should use them all!B
  Distribute the load throughout all the different compartments to even out the
  weight, and avoid putting all of your child's books in one area so that the
  backpack becomes top- or bottom-heavy.B


• If our child has a locker, encourage him to drop his stuff off for the day
  so he isn't forced to carry around extra weight.B


• Remember that your kids' arms work, too. "Just because you have a
  backpack doesn't mean everything has to go in it," says Karol.B
  "They can take one or two books out of their bags and carry them in their
  arms."

What does your child carry in his school backpack? Talk about it on WebMD's
Parenting:
Preschoolers and Grade Schoolers message board .

By Heather Hatfield
Reviewed by Louise Chang
B)2005-2006 WebMD, Inc. All rights reserved