Backpacks can pose a threat to kids’ backs, necks, and shoulders if used improperly. In 2013, there were more than 5,400 backpack-related injuries treated in emergency rooms in the United States. Dr. Scott Bautch, a member of the American Chiropractic Association’s Council on Occupational Health, advises that a backpack should weigh no more than 5-10% of a child’s weight. Additionally, the backpack should never be wider or longer than the child’s torso and should not hang more than 4 inches (~10 cm) below the waistline.

American Chiropractic Association, July 2015