What Is a Papoose Board?
A papoose board is so named after the papoose, a term derived from a Native American word and given by colonist Americans to describe a method of carrying and securing children used by Native Americans. This involved placing the child on a flat board, and securely wrapping and/or tying the child in skins or blankets, so that it could be carried on the back without concern of flailing limbs or inadequate warmth. The papoose board of today is a flat board with wrappings, but its use is principally in the medical field and not as backpack. While mostly intended for children, it may have some application when needing to secure a patient who cannot keep still due to movement disorder or inability to obey commands.
