subject: Backpack Fit Weights For Kids [print this page] Kids of all ages from grade school on up to high school love to pick out new backpacks for school. They each have their own idea of what a backpack should look like, and how they want it to function.
As parents we need to guide our children through the process of choosing a proper backpack based on their age, height and weight. This is important as so many doctors and chiropractors are seeing more and more back, neck, shoulder, and arm injuries.
It is pretty common now for kids of any age to overload their packs, and not carry their backpacks properly. If we teach our kids from kindergarten the proper weight allowed and why and how to wear the pack properly, there will be less tension with our teens in the future, and less back, neck, shoulder and arm injuries.
Along with those injuries come headaches and problems with posture. Keep an eye on your son or daughter as they put on and take off the backpack, watch to see if they are struggling with it. You may notice them leaning forward or you might notice one shoulder is higher than the other as they carry it. Sometimes you might hear them complain of numbness or tingling or weakness concerning their arms or legs. These are just a few of the warning signs that something might be wrong and they might need to see a doctor or chiropractor.
The standard rule of thumb from most authorities is the bottom of the backpack should lie in the curve of the lower back. Bigger is not always better when it comes to the size of a backpack. Sure, your child might get more in it, but is it worth risking an injury. Ideally a backpack should not exceed the width of your child's shoulder blades. Some say it can be two inches wider; meaning the width of your child's shoulders plus one inch to each side. Anything more than this is asking for trouble.
You can have the greatest fitting backpack but if its weight goes beyond fifteen percent of your child's weight it will still place strain on their back. The American Physical Therapy Association, American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons and the American Chiropractic Association has recommended the following backpack weight limits:
oA 60 lbs. child can carry a maximum backpack weight of 5 lbs.
o60-75 lbs. can carry 10 lbs.
o100 lbs. can carry 15 lbs.
o125 lbs. can carry 18 lbs.
o150 lbs. can carry 20 lbs.
o200 lbs. can carry 25 lbs.
No one should carry more than 25 lbs. in a backpack
They further recommend that you buy a pack with padding in the back. To help reduce the load, buy a lighter weight pack and encourage your child to pack only what they need. Putting the heavier items toward the bottom and the flat items where they will lay against the back will help to distribute the weight more evenly. Look for packs with two wide padded shoulder straps which will be more comfortable, avoid those with two narrow shoulder straps which can dig in and cause tingling and numbness in the arms or hands. Ideally a pack should have a waist belt to further help distribute the weight of the pack across the body.
Now that you know what to look for in a backpack for kids, it is up to you to monitor the weight and use. From time to time pick up the pack and weigh it if necessary. Observe whether they are using the shoulder straps and the waist belt and that they are adjusted correcting. Some kids like to just sling the pack over one shoulder and that is a big no no! This can cause great misalignment in the back and shoulders. Some injuries don't show up right away, they can appear later when they are an adult.
Remember there is more to a backpack than meets the eye. There are many shapes, styles, sizes and colors, but it's up to you to find the right fit for your child. When worn properly with the weight distributed evenly, injuries are much less likely to occur than when someone is carrying a heavy briefcase or purse.
by: Donna Randol
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