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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Heavy Schoolbags. Does anyone use a trolleybag?

139 replies

MyBonnyLiesOverTheOcean2020 · 30/11/2020 11:34

Dd is in year 8 and walks to school but her bag is just so heavy. With Covid they are not using their lockers so having to carry this load around all day as well. When I suggested a trolleybag she wrinkled her nose and said that nobody uses one. Does anyone's son or daughter use a trolleybag for school and if so can I ask which one? Thank you.

OP posts:

EmilySpinach · 30/11/2020 13:48

If their stuff is that heavy then how is the child going to get their wheeled bag up and down the stairs? I'd be more concerned about safety than any social issues.

EmeraldShamrock · 30/11/2020 13:49

@LucyLocketsPocket that's terrible.
The bag is much heavier than secondary schools.
An 11y.o boy in DD's class is very small it affects his confidence he could not get his bag on when he swung his bag it toppled him across the room he couldn't stand up, everyone was laughing DD is really soft she ran to help him.
I know pp's are mentioning how they managed years ago there is a lot more books we didn't bring home everything every day because there wasn't a pandemic.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 30/11/2020 13:49

I think just work with her on improving what she carries.

Why big files? She could take a lined and hole punched pad of paper in, make all her notes across all classes in it, then when she gets home, file the sheets in corresponding subject files at home.

Get a thin A4 file she can clip that days homework into to hand in.

Check her timetable that night for what's on the next day and only take the textbooks required.

JustAPassingFashion · 30/11/2020 13:51

Oh OP, I hear you and I know it's coming from a good place but please don't do this to your daughter. I'm sure she would probably prefer to carry a heavy bag then to pull a trolley bag along...

Wishitsnows · 30/11/2020 13:51

Won't be good for getting up stairs and could be called a suitcase wanker or similar like the briefcase one in the inbetweeners.

TheDowagerDuchess · 30/11/2020 13:52

I know what you mean, they are hugely heavy!

But I’m guessing the bag would ruin all street cred. When I was at school you couldn’t even wear the bag on two shoulders if you didn’t want to be derided!

BigSandyBalls2015 · 30/11/2020 13:53

Oh blimey, school is brutal at the best of times, don't do that to her!

YippieKayakOtherBuckets · 30/11/2020 13:57

This would be unbelievably dangerous on the stairs at lesson changeover. Sorry OP.

Namerchanger42 · 30/11/2020 13:59

On a completely practical note how would she get them up & down stairs at school?
I’ve only ever seen teachers lugging their equipment around in these at our school.
It’s wrong but Teenagers aren’t known for their restraint in taking the piss for things like this - it’s likely your DD would become a laughing stick if she did this. I’m not saying that this is ok though.

EmeraldShamrock · 30/11/2020 13:59

I just picked up on year 8 I'd assumed age 8 not in the UK.
Then definitely not.

JorisBonson · 30/11/2020 14:01

Literally the first thing I thought of.

Heavy Schoolbags. Does anyone use a trolleybag?

turkeyboots · 30/11/2020 14:02

Social death here too I am assured. I offer to buy DD one everytime she complains about the weight.
I also offered to steal her a tesco trolley and that was considered a more acceptable option.

JustDanceAddict · 30/11/2020 14:03

No way 😆
My kids’ bags were always really heavy, but they had good rucksacks and unfortunately had to grin and bear it. I did encourage them to use their lockers but they were a bit rubbish at it.
They did get occasional backache though I have to say!

JustDanceAddict · 30/11/2020 14:04

@TheDowagerDuchess - totally re the one-shoulder thing. Thankfully not now.

ZolaGrey · 30/11/2020 14:04

No, she'll get eaten alive.

Spidey66 · 30/11/2020 14:07

I'm not a parent but when I was at that age i'd have been mortified. Think of their street credibility! I'm putting t off long enough now at 54 to go shopping with!

What about a decent ergonomically designed rucksack?

timeforanewstart · 30/11/2020 14:09

No and at my ds school they have hardly any lockers even in normal
Times , my oldest ds used to keep every book he had in his bag a and lug it around even if he never had that lesson rather than sort it out , my second ds just takes in what he needs but it can be heavy yes but doesn't have a locker ever , i was the same though when at school and more concerned about cool bag than how heavy

Whoateallthestuffingballs · 30/11/2020 14:12

I have scoliosis (late diagnosis and borderline whether to operate) and we didn't have lockers or anything at our school and I'm sure my really heavy bag didn't help.

On the other hand, I definitely wouldn't have used a trolley bag - I wouldn't even carry my rucksack on both shoulders as I was bullied enough as it was.

I'd say best rucksack you can get and the best shoes you can get (proper fitted insoles in less supportive shoes won't show, for example). The shoes thing sounds a bit mad, but it really makes a world of difference to how well they walk and therefore how well they can carry stuff (I can carry a massive rucksack with good boots when alpine climbing, can barely carry a handbag with the wrong shoes).

Also, would DD consider cycling to school? You could bungee the bag on the luggage rack so she'd be carrying it for less time?

1forAll74 · 30/11/2020 14:15

No to a trolley bag, just not right, children should be able to carry some heavy things without much fuss.

My late Mum had a red tartan trolley bag, to walk to her local supermarket a mile away, but she was 86 then, she used to whiz along quite speedily with it. She had one, as she used to do other people's shopping also.

BarbaraofSeville · 30/11/2020 14:17

^Would it be social suicide? Op, what is the social status of your dd? Would she get picked on or would others look at her and think it's a good idea?
I would have been mercilessly laughed out of school but there were some girls who I think would have got away with it^

Exactly. If the OPs DD is the coolest girl in the school and she did this, there would be dozens of students with trolleybags within a fortnight. If a less popular student decided to take the same path, she would be ridiculed. Very sad.

Notcontent · 30/11/2020 14:20

I know what you mean OP. My dd’s school bag is really heavy and she has had some back and shoulder pain from it. This is despite being quite strong and fit, and having a good quality backpack with wide padded straps. I would really struggle to carry it.

MissBaskinIfYoureNasty · 30/11/2020 14:30

My 5 year old has that frozen one and I don't even think she would use it for school 😂

TheDowagerDuchess · 30/11/2020 14:31

@JustDanceAddict No, now I happily go around with a rucksack on two shoulders - it was a happy day when I realised how much more comfortable this is that a handbag!

TheDowagerDuchess · 30/11/2020 14:32

In fact my dd has a regulation school backpack, as does my ds’ primary but I don’t think that helps the OP!

Changethetoner · 30/11/2020 14:35

Our school is allowing lockers to be used. At the start of term they didn't, as they had to re-organize them to ensure the year groups all had lockers in the same area, rather than randomly all over the school. Now they have the use of lockers again. Perhaps ask at school again, if they can't permit lockers be used?

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