According to an expert, the weight limit of a child’s backpack depends on the weight of the child.
Doctor Guillaume Corbin, president of the Association of Chiropractors of Quebec (ACQ), gave an interview on the subject to presenter Jean-François Baril on Qub radio.
“For a primary school child, ideally it should not exceed 10% of the child’s body weight. If the child weighs 60 pounds, he said, he should weigh no more than 6 pounds. […] In secondary school you can achieve up to 15% of your body weight.”
If a child must carry a backpack that exceeds the recommended weight limit, the doctor recommends placing the backpack on the ground when not moving to avoid injury.
Carrying a bag also makes a difference. It must be stable and fit snugly against the wearer’s body.
“We often see that the backpack is much too low,” emphasizes Guillaume Corbin. It must be close to the body. You can put one hand between your back and the backpack.”
“We see it in clinics, a poorly worn backpack leads to back problems,” he added. […] We repeatedly see neck, back and shoulder pain. There is always tension in the neck and shoulders.