5 Tips for Choosing the Right School Bag

EveryMum Blog and the chartered physiotherapist Aoibhin McGreal lets us in on her five top tips to help reduce back, neck and shoulder pain in children.

1. Purchase A Bag With Two Shoulder Straps
Ensure that the bag has two wide, padded, adjustable shoulder straps and, if possible, a waist strap too. Bags with one shoulder strap are bad news for your child’s developing bones and could cause curvature of the spine (scoliosis) in some cases.

2. Check The Posture And The Fit
If the bag is too heavy or if the straps are not properly adjusted, your child may lean forward to counteract the weight. Make sure to adjust the shoulder straps so that the bag sits between the shoulders and the middle of the back.

3. Only Carry What You Need
Ensure that your child only carries the textbooks that are essential for that day. Don’t carry full water bottles if there is a drinking water tap in school.

4. Pack The Bag Correctly
Pack the heaviest items closest to your child’s back and the lightest furthest away.

5. The 10% Rule
The weight of the school bag (including books, water bottles etc) should not exceed 10-15% of your child’s weight. Get the weighing scales out!

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