Is your child’s backpack too heavy? How to tell

Is your kid’s backpack too heavy?

Florida pediatrician Gabriella Dauer is sounding the alarm on how kids who carry “large, heavy backpacks” can develop pain and injuries. Dauer’s solution comes in “backpack rules,” which she shares in a TikTok video .

Dauer points out that “significant back pain that’s continuous” is not necessarily the result of heavy backpacks, and is something to consult a healthcare provider about.

But she suggests several tips and tricks for helping kids stay safe and healthy.

Backpacks should have wide, thick shoulder straps.

“You tell your kid to put both of those shoulder straps on because they’ll usually put it on one, and it’ll cause unilateral shoulder strain and back strain on that one side. Use both the straps.”

Use a chest or belly clip.

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