When we started shopping for a crib, I was struck by how many have fixed side rails.  It doesn’t make sense!  How are you supposed to put down or pick up a child from the bottom of that crib?!

Little did I know the crib industry has been going through some turmoil (and many recalls)  because drop-down sides have been blamed for the deaths of 32 infants in the last ten years.  Many manufacturers now only produce cribs with stationary sides. Child safety goes first but a crib with fixed sides is asking for back trouble.  They might work well with a newborn because you can keep the mattress at its highest position, limiting the need to bend forward to pick her up. But what happens when your baby gets bigger and somewhat more mobile?  As you move the mattress down to the lower level and have to bend and reach to pick up or lay down your sleeping baby — ouch!

But just a month ago, the Consumer Product Safety Commission banned cribs with drop-down sides.  Federal crib standards will take effect in June 2011, stopping the sale, manufacture, resale and distribution of drop-side cribs.  Cribs with drop gates, where the top portion of one side folds down, are the only option to give you better access to your child in the crib without killing your back, but there are not too many on the market yet.  If you’re shopping for a full size crib, you’ll have considerably more choices. But good luck if you’re like us, where space limitations require a mini or compact crib, because those with a drop gate are a rare species.

I’m hoping to see more ergonomic crib options from manufacturers soon, but in the mean time, we’ll opt for safety and get a fixed-side mini crib that will work while our baby is little and hope for better ergonomic choices by the time we’re ready to drop her mattress down to the bottom of that crib.

Whatever you buy, make sure it has been certified by the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

Even with a well-fitting bag, the tendency with a regular backpack is to lean forward to counteract the added weight on the shoulders and back.  The Bak2Pak fixes that problem by transferring the load of the bag onto the pelvis and lower back, which promotes a more erect posture and reduces strain on the spine.

The adjustable shoulder straps are well-padded.  The back strap allows you to adjust the height of the bag on your hip.  The chest strap helps to distribute the load to the front of the body.  My only complaint is the waist strap, which I find too thin.  A wider and better padded waist strap would help stabilize the bag on the pelvis and reduce strain on the back and shoulder.

The Bum Back Hybrid’s strap system is adjustable so that the bag can be used as a backpack or a messenger bag.  But keep in mind that ergonomically, the backpack option is easier on the body because it reduces energy consumption and promotes better body symmetry.

All and all, no matter what you want to call this bag, it gets my vote.  I like it!

As mentioned in an prior post (Backpack: How much is too much?), the weight you’re carrying and how it’s distributed have a significant impact on your posture and comfort. When holding a bag in one hand or over one shoulder, the tendency is to compensate by leaning towards the opposite side of the load. A similar phenomenon can happen when carrying a backpack. The tendency is to raise the shoulders and lean forward, especially with an ill-fitting bag or when carrying too much weight.

The BackTpack offers a revolutionary design to the standard backpack by dividing and distributing the load on each side of the body. Keeping the load close to the body and more at waist level allows you to maintain a more erect posture when walking.

Leaving your back free, you can comfortably wear this bag when sitting. This can expedite your morning commute and help get the kids in and out of the car more effectively – with their bags strapped on from the moment they leave the house.
This bag design also allows you to squeeze in a packed bus without knocking over all the other passengers. You can wear it on a motorcycle or bicycle — just make sure to adjust it so that it doesn’t impede with your leg motion. And as opposed to your standard backpack, the BackTpack’s compartments are easily accessible while sitting or moving.

The bag comes in various sizes fitting children and adults ranging in height from 4’0” to 6’3”. Well-padded shoulder, chest and waist straps are easy to adjust for your comfort and optimal fit.

Remember that your BackTpack should weigh no more than 15% of your body weight — the less the better — and the weight of your load should be equally distributed to each side.

So wear your BackTpack, “walk tall” and be a trend setter!

The size of the backpack is crucial. We all behave the same way — the bigger the bag, the more stuff we pack in. Limit the size of the backpack and it will reduce the load. We already mentioned that 15% of the body weight is the most weight that anyone should carry, with an absolute maximum load of 25 lbs. But obviously, the lighter the load, the better.

The bag should be no wider than the shoulders, and ideally, no wider than the torso. The length of the bag is often problematic for little ones. At most, the bag should extend from the shoulders to a couple of inches below the waist or belly button. That way, when the straps are adjusted properly, the bag will rest on the upper hips region or low back area, which is more stable and stronger. If you can’t see your child’s butt when he/she’s wearing her backpack, the straps are not adjusted properly or the bag is too big.

Well-padded, adjustable shoulder straps are typically standard with well-constructed bags, but try the bag on your child. The shoulder straps should rest on the shoulders pretty much in the middle between the shoulder caps and the neck. By the way, encourage your kids to wear their backpack with both straps at all times; otherwise they look like a crooked mess as their body is fighting with the weight of their bag. That’s one that I always nag Toddy about when he runs out of the house in the morning with his backpack hanging off one shoulder.

Select a bag with adjustable chest and waist straps. These will help to distribute the load on the hips and chest, which improves standing posture and comfort. All straps should be adjusted to keep the bag close to the back and the load close to the hips. But even with a well-fitted bag, you might need to remind your child to stand up straight, as the natural tendency is to fight gravity on the load by leaning forward.

Compartments inside and out are useful to prevent items from shifting around as you move, and it also expedites finding your stuff in there. An additional handle at the top of the bag facilitates moving the bag around and gives the option to hand carry it for a short time.

When packing, heavy items like a laptop or large textbook should be in the rear of the backpack so that it rests close to the back.

The load being carried in children’s backpacks has become a real problem as schools are cutting expenses and sometimes eliminating lockers and storage areas for students. Work with your children, PTA and teachers to reduce the number of books and binders being carried back and forth between home and school. If your school has come up with a good way to reduce book carrying, please share it with us. If you would like some assistance to convey to your school board the importance of this problem, I’ll be happy to help. In the meantime, select a well-fitted backpack and keep the load as light as possible!

I’m pleased to report that my little personal experimentation concurs with research on the topic.  It’s easier to carry a messenger bag than a shoulder bag, but even easier to carry a backpack.  Research actually says that the energy needed to carry a shoulder bag is 2.4 times more than for a backpack, and carrying a messenger bag requires 1.8 times more energy than a backpack.  In addition, shoulder and messenger bags force a postural correction to compensate for the asymmetry of the load.  Notice people around you with shoulder or messenger bags. You’ll see the carrying shoulder typically riding higher than the other or people leaning to the opposite side of the load being carried, especially when carrying a handbag or briefcase.

But even after trading my fancy-looking shoulder bag for a backpack, I continued to notice discomfort in my back, shoulders and neck.  That’s when I decided to get on the scale with my backpack.  The number I saw was unbelievable — and no, it wasn’t because of the extra ice cream I’d gulped down that summer.  My backpack was way too heavy for me.

Your backpack should weigh no more than 15% of your body weight, and never more than 25 lbs.  So if you weigh 125 lbs., your backpack should weigh no more than 18 lbs. (which is still feels heavy). If you’re 165 lbs. or 200 lbs., your backpack should weigh no more than 25lbs.  You should also pack heavier items closer to your back.

Weigh yourself with and without your backpack (or purse, as a matter of fact, because some purses out there are way too heavy) and lighten up the load.  You probably don’t really need to carry all those items and your body will thank you.

Now, I don’t have kids (… not yet), but it drives me crazy to see little people carrying big heavy backpacks.  So stay tuned for backpack selection recommendations for both children and grown ups.

Crayola Triangular Crayons are a good idea all around. First of all, the crayons don’t roll away since they’re not round. You put them down and they stay there.  More importantly, the triangular shape of the crayons may help youngsters – around 2 years old — develop the proper tripod grip that we use for writing.

So the children will develop proper handwriting habits and you won’t have to pick up crayons all over the place.  That sounds like a win-win to me!

The notable exception to this practice is the way that Malians carry babies, which are carried resting on their mother’s back.  The women wrap a long strip of fabric around their back and chest and put the baby inside, supporting the baby’s weight on their pelvis.  While I’m still not sure how it is all tied up to hold securely, both mother and child appear to be very comfortable. It is a traditional solution that is both economical and ergonomically sound.

So I was pleased to notice for the first time upon my return to the US the ERGObaby carrier. And since then I’ve started seeing them everywhere.  Now compare the two pictures below. Can you see the similarities?

The main and most important feature of this style of carriage is that it allows the mother to carry the baby’s weight on her pelvis.  When walking around, the pelvis is a strong and stable part of the body.  It can sustain added weight without compromising the gait or posture. In contrast, carrying weight on the back and chest relies on the muscles that keep your spine erect. These muscles tend to fatigue easily, causing the back or chest to slump, which then compromises your posture. By carrying their babies’ weight on their pelvis, mothers are able to stand nicely upright, keeping their hands free. (No matter where you live in this world, mothers multi-task.)

As for the babies, they are supported next to their mother’s back with their weight and contact pressure distributed between the child’s thighs and hips.  The distribution of pressure is important to maintain circulation and comfort.

Now, I don’t want to cause anyone to panic (Toddy), but the ERGObaby is already on my wish list.   As they say so well on their site:  “This is the all-in-one soft baby carrier, assisting you through all the stages of your baby’s growth and moving from front to hip to back position easily”.

Ergonomically, I am a big fan of carrying the baby on the back, but flexibility and options for other positions are always a plus for both the mother and the child.  The ERGObaby is also easily adjustable with the waist and shoulder strap fitting a wide variety of body types.

P.S. No offense to the fathers but this post only talks about mothers.  Just like anywhere in the world, the Malian fathers are very caring and devoted to their children. But I only saw mothers carrying babies on their backs.