5 Tips to Ensure a Good Backpack Fit

A properly fitting backpack can help prevent problems with the neck, shoulders, and back – now and later in life. Check out these tips to ensure your child’s backpack fits well and won’t cause issues.

One of the most important aspects of a backpack is the weight. A backpack should weigh no more than 5-10% of your child’s weight. Additionally, no one should carry more than 25 lbs. in a backpack all day.

Second, fitting: the backpack should be no wider than your child’s shoulders, and not hang more than 4″ below their waist. The straps should be tight so the pack is on the back, not hanging low. Encourage your child to use the waist strap.

While padding may not seem as significant as weight or fit, it is very important. The shoulder straps and back area of a backpack should be well padded for additional support and comfort.

We know the contents inside a backpack can get messy quick! Try your best to keep the backpack organized, distribute contents as evenly as possible, and always place the heaviest items at the bottom. This will help keep the backpack’s weight distributed more evenly across the shoulders and back.

Encourage your child to wear their backpack across both shoulders, rather than hanging it off one shoulder. This is another way to ensure the backpack’s weight is evenly distributed across the shoulders and back. It also reduces the chance of neck, shoulder, or back strain in one area. And of course it never hurts to tell them to stand up straight!