What Is a Papoose Board?” Terri Mauro, our Guide to Parenting Special Needs, explains what a papoose board is and how it can
be used at dental visits. A Papoose Board is a device commonly used to immobilize children for dental work, blood-drawing, and minor medical procedures. The child is placed on a flat board and wide fabric straps are wrapped around the upper body, middle body, and legs. The restraints can be applied quickly to keep a child from struggling and resisting treatment. Some parents and professionals feel that this is preferable to other options, such as sedation, or the parent attempting to hold the child down. Others believe that the restraints are traumatizing to children and may add to the terror of an already stressful situation.
