Correct fit tips for a Backpack

Tips for a healthy Spine…

Backpack Safety:

• Lighten the Load
• An ergonomic design
• The correct size: never wider or longer than your child’s torso and never hanging more than 4 inches below the waist
• Padded back and shoulder straps
• Hip and chest belts to help transfer some of the weight to the hips and torso
• A backpack with multiple compartments helps in positioning the contents most effectively. Make sure that pointy or bulky objects are packed away from the area that will rest on your child’s back
• Compression straps on the sides or bottom to stabilize the contents
• Reflective material
• Help your child determine what is absolutely necessary to carry. If it’s not essential, leave it at home.

• Although the use of rolling packs – or backpacks on wheels – has become popular in recent years, ACA is now recommending that they be used cautiously and on a limited basis by only those students who are not physically able to carry a backpack. Some school districts have begun banning the use of rolling packs because they clutter hallways, resulting in dangerous trips and falls.

Backpacks that are too heavy can cause a lot of problems for kids, like back and shoulder pain, and poor posture.

Remember: A roomy backpack may seem like a good idea, but the more space there is to fill, the more likely your child will fill it. Make sure your child uses both straps when carrying the backpack. Using one strap shifts the weight to one side and causes muscle pain and posture problems.