CHARLOTTE, N.C. — As summer comes to a close and students strap on their backpacks for school, experts warn parents should be mindful of how much their kids’ bookbags weigh.
When it comes to backpacks, it's all about weight, how that weight is distributed, and how much there is. But what happens if you’re lugging around a backpack that’s too heavy?
THE SOURCES
WHAT WE FOUND
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a backpack should weigh no more than 15% of your child’s weight.
So for example, if your child weighs about 75 pounds, experts say your child’s backpack should not weigh more than 11 pounds.
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Dr. Turner said he is not getting a lot of clients with serious issues related to pain from backpacks, but they can still cause issues.
"Overall, some kids will end up with back pain if they have a super heavy backpack," Turner said. "It's possible that the kids will have some soreness or symptoms if they're indeed having to carry their backpack for a long time during the day."
Turner said keeping your kids active and participating in physical activity can actually condition your child to withstand some of the pressure from a backpack.
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"Staying physically active hopefully allows them to, you know, be just generally strong and ready for day-to-day activities," he said.