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Have a Hunch about Backpack Safety
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In one study, the average age of the child was 14 with a body weight of 113 pounds. The average weight of their backpack was a whopping 21 pounds, which is almost 20 percent of the child's body weight. Experts recommend that the backpack weigh no more than 10 to 15 percent of the body weight. That means if a child weighs 40 pounds, the backpack should weigh no more than 6 pounds.
If the child weighs 50 pounds, the backpack should weigh no more than 7.5 pounds. The American Physical Therapy Association and the American Pediatric Association recommend the following tips to prevent injury. Wear both straps over the shoulder so that the weight is evenly distributed. Also look for padded straps. Take the backpack on and off carefully. Keep the weight of the backpack below 15 percent of the body weight. Carry the backpack in the center of the back and make sure the backpack doesn't hang below the lumbar spine.
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