It's a pain in the neck - motherhood. Being a parent is not far off from being a packhorse, and being a female parent is like being an ass. You are the one who carries everything. When it comes to dividing up the children's load, women are suddenly no longer considered the feeble sex. The babies' baggage is added to mother's, not father's, back. Why is it I always end up carrying the twins' toy tractors? Why is retrieving the bag of juice boxes from the overhead locker always my responsibility?

My moan is supported by hard statistics. In a survey of 3,000 mothers by Maclaren (maclarenbaby.com), 70% said they've suffered neck, shoulder and back ache as a result of baby equipment being dumped on them. (Maclaren also produces a useful free Travelling With Your Baby' booklet).

It's our punishment for being too accommodating: the vast majority of mums say that other family members give them things to carry "because they're already carrying things". To compensate, nine out of 10 mums pack fewer of their own possessions. Out goes the dispensable little black dress; in comes the essential spare set of pyjamas for the twins.

Short of a complete change of attitude, so that responsibility for carrying the physical as well as emotional baggage is shared equally between parents, what can mothers do about being so burdened?

I squash everything in a backpack, so at least the weight is easier to bear. Some are designed for new parents (mothercare.com stocks a range). But once nappies are no longer necessary, there are only regular rucksacks to rely on. I use a Berghaus Cubic 20 (berghaus.com) because it is the most comfortable, multi-pocketed small backpack I have come across.

But if you know of a better way to bear the load, let us know.

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