With the (right) backpack on my back for another year

At a time when back-to-school is underway, it is essential for parents to make the right choices regarding the materials their children use. One of the indispensable items in the daily life of anyone starting or resuming another school year is the backpack or trolley. Here are some tips on what to keep in mind when buying one.

Choose a backpack over a trolley

A backpack allows for a more even distribution of weight, while a trolley, although it makes carrying easier (if the ground is flat), requires the child to pull mainly with one side of the body and forces the spine to stay rotated the entire time. It is the most harmful position.

Avoid shoulder bags or crossbody bags

In the same way, this way of carrying weight overloads one side of the body. It is the worst possible choice.

The straps should be wide and padded, according to the child’s size

As a general rule, the wider the better, since the backpack’s weight is distributed over a larger contact area.

The straps should also be adjustable.

Backpacks are made in series. Children are not. That’s why it is extremely important that they can be adjusted to the child, especially since if the backpack lasts a few years, the little one will grow in the meantime.

Choose straps with hip and chest adjustment

It may be difficult to find children’s backpacks with this feature, but it allows the bag to fit closer to the body, distributing the weight more evenly and helping to prevent both imbalances and spinal overload.

Avoid backpacks with only one large compartment

Avoid backpacks where the main compartment is just a single space. Internal dividers are great for organizing what is placed inside but, above all, for reducing movement. The more items shift inside, the harder it is to carry.

Choose a backpack with a rigid and padded back support

It is important for this area to serve as a kind of “skeleton” for the backpack so it does not deform under its weight. However, it must be properly padded to ensure comfortable contact.

In the case of a trolley, make sure the handle is height adjustable and, when extended, sits slightly higher than the child’s hand.

But if these are tips for choosing good equipment, let’s now look at the best ways to use it:

Place the heaviest items close to the back and at the bottom of the backpack, and make use of any internal dividers.
Use the internal dividers to organize the load as described above.
If there are side pockets, try to distribute the weight evenly on each side.
Make sure your child always wears the backpack using both straps.
Ensure the backpack is not worn hanging over or below the buttocks by adjusting the strap height.
Try to apply the rule of “not carrying more than 10% of the child’s weight”. To achieve this, if possible, leave some books and/or materials at school, in the classroom, or in a locker.

In the case of using a trolley, avoid having the torso rotated or bent forward, and make sure the handle is slightly above the child’s hand.

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At a time when back-to-school is underway, it is essential for parents to make the right choices regarding the materials their little ones use. One of the indispensable items in the daily life of anyone starting or resuming another school year is the backpack or trolley. Here are some tips on what to keep in mind when buying one.

Choose a backpack over a trolley

A backpack allows for a more even distribution of weight, while a trolley, although it makes carrying easier (if the ground is flat), requires the child to pull mainly with one side of the body and forces the spine to remain rotated the entire time. It is the most harmful position.

Avoid shoulder or crossbody bags

Similarly, this way of carrying loads puts strain on one side of the body. It is the worst possible choice.

The straps should be wide and padded, according to the child’s size

As a general rule, the wider the better, since the backpack’s weight is distributed over a larger contact area.

The straps should also be adjustable.

Backpacks are made in series. Children are not. Therefore, it is extremely important that they can be adjusted to the child, especially since if the backpack lasts a few years, the little one will grow in the meantime.

Choose straps with hip and chest adjustment

It may be difficult to find children’s backpacks with this feature, but it allows the bag to fit closer to the body, distributing the weight even more evenly and helping to prevent both imbalances and spinal overload.

Avoid backpacks without internal compartments

Choose a rigid and padded back support

It is important for this area to serve as a kind of “skeleton” for the backpack so that it does not deform under its weight. However, it must be properly padded to ensure comfortable contact.

In the case of a trolley, make sure the handle is height-adjustable and, when extended, is slightly higher than the child’s hand.

But if these are tips for choosing good equipment, let’s now look at the best ways to use it:

Place the heaviest items close to the back and at the bottom of the backpack, and make use of any internal dividers.
Use the internal dividers to organize the load as described above.
If there are side pockets, try to distribute the weight evenly on each side.
Make sure your child always uses both straps of the backpack.
Ensure the backpack is not worn hanging over or below the buttocks by adjusting the strap height.
Try to apply the rule of “not carrying more than 10% of the child’s weight”. To achieve this, if possible, leave some books and/or materials at school, in the classroom, or in a locker.

In the case of using a trolley, avoid keeping the torso rotated and bent forward, and make sure the handle is slightly above the child’s hand.

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