My 5-year-old wears a heavily loaded backpack to school and I am concerned this is going to affect his posture. How much weight should he carry and how can I tell if his backpack is starting to affect him physically?
It's amazing what children in school think they must carry with them and have available at all times. This includes textbooks (which seem to get bigger and bigger), school supplies (which must be tailored to meet each class's specifications) and the child's personal items such as MP3 players, etc. Backpacks have become the most popular and perhaps the most practical way for children and teenagers to manage all of their necessary school belongings. If used within a reasonable context, backpacks are a sensible way for children to transport their necessities.
The concept of the backpack is that by wearing the pack on the back with shoulder support, the weight is distributed to some of the body's strongest muscles. If children wear backpacks improperly or consistently put too much weight in their backpack, they can certainly injure their muscles and joints. They may begin to complain of back, shoulder and neck pain and you may actually begin to see some changes in the child's posture. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has established some guidelines that can be helpful. These include:
- Have your child select a backpack that fits him in size. It's a good idea to try on the backpack at the store, before you purchase it. Backpacks should always be lightweight and not add more weight.
- The backpack should be designed so that weight can be evenly distributed across the back. Padding to the back side of the pack increases comfort.
- The child should always wear both shoulder straps and avoid slinging the pack over one shoulder. Straps should fit snuggly and the pack should rest two inches above the waist.
- Shoulder straps should be wide and padded to allow proper distribution of weight. An added waist strap can help distribute the weight and keep the backpack from shifting from side to side.
- Do not put too much weight in the individual backpack. A rule of thumb should be that the pack never weighs more than 10 to 20 percent of the child's body weight. A 60-pound child should not carry a backpack that weighs more than 10 to 12 pounds.
- Encourage children to maintain a school locker they can visit at different times during the day, so they can swap books according to their class schedule.
- Discuss guidelines about backpacks with your school. Children should be allowed to stop at their lockers throughout the day. Some attention should be paid to the actual textbooks and material the children are required to have. Another important note about backpacks is that parents should know what kind of backpack is allowed in school. Concern about security and unacceptable items such as knives, guns, etc., have prompted some schools to implement rules that only allow backpacks with clear sides so the contents are visible.
With the above suggestions in place, parents should routinely observe their child's posture and the amount, weight and type of material being carried in backpacks. If your child complains of back pain or you notice a difference in posture, they should be evaluated by your pediatrician. Even though the child's back pain is most likely due to his backpack, there are other causes of back pain that should be detected early. If your child does not use the backpack for a week, pain and posture changes should stop. If there is no way to avoid an overly heavy backpack, some other solution such as a rolling backpack or keeping a set of books at home should be considered.
