Backpack Safety: What Loveland Parents Should Know This School Year

By Dr. Brian Flemming · August 28, 2026

Every fall I see the same thing in my office: kids from all over Loveland carrying backpacks that weigh far more than they should, slung over one shoulder, hanging halfway down their backs. Most parents have no idea, because kids do not complain about it — they just adapt. And a growing spine adapts to whatever you give it, which is exactly the problem.

The 10 Percent Rule

A loaded backpack should weigh no more than about 10 percent of your child’s body weight. For a 70-pound fourth grader, that is 7 pounds — roughly a lunchbox, a binder and a couple of notebooks. Weigh your child’s loaded pack on the bathroom scale this week. Most families are surprised.

Both Straps. Every Time.

The one-shoulder carry looks cool and loads the spine sideways, every single day, on a body that is still deciding what shape to grow into. Both straps, snugged so the pack sits against the mid-back — not swinging below the beltline. If the pack sways when your child walks, it is too loose.

What to Watch For

Red flags worth taking seriously: your child leans forward to carry the pack, complains of neck or shoulder soreness on school nights, or you see red strap marks on their shoulders. None of those mean something is wrong with their spine — they mean the load is wrong for their spine. Fix the load first: lighten it, tighten the straps, use both shoulders, and put the heaviest items closest to their back.

When a Check Makes Sense

If the soreness keeps showing up after you have fixed the backpack, that is worth a look. A child’s spine is easier to keep aligned than to correct later — that is the whole idea behind gentle pediatric chiropractic care. The exam is gentle, parents stay in the room the whole time, and I will tell you plainly if nothing needs doing.

Here is to a healthy school year, Loveland. Lighten those packs.