Straitjacketing Tots -- Humane or Horrible?

on September 15, 2009 at 7:38 AM

Introducing ... a papoose board. An effective way to restrain a petrified and flailing child during a medical procedure.

OMG!

I had no idea they even made such things!

While I hate the idea of giving my child any kind of drug for otherwise quick and routine dental and medical procedures ... Hello, anesthesia! Maybe it's because I'm claustrophobic, but I would never consider restraining my child in a contraption like this, would you? Is it really more humane and less risky?

This is on my mind because I had to take my daughter to the ER Saturday night. Sliced open the inside of her upper right lip. I was so proud of her, she was so brave! She let the doctor examine her cut and answered questions all by her 4-year-old self. Luckily, she didn't need stitches.

But even when my daughter gashed open her chin, and the situation didn't call for sedation, the awesome mommy-minded plastic surgeon in the ER wrapped my daughter in a blanket and let me hold her in my arms while he ran the stitch. At least it was Mommy holding her and not a ... straitjacket!

Moms in the Newcomer's Club were talking about sedation versus a papoose board the other day. Only two percent of moms said they'd choose the straitj--, ah, papoose board.

But perhaps I'm missing something? Educate me so I can stop obsessing about my fear of being buried alive.

Has your toddler ever needed dental work or a procedure that required he stay perfectly still? Did you have the option of a papoose board or sedation? Which did you choose?

Related posts:

Toddlers and Laughing Gas?

Do Toddler's Cavities Need to be Filled?

About the author Cynthia Dermody

is The Stir's Managing Editor who has trophies in her home for her skills at the Irish Jig. She makes cupcakes with as many fattening ingredients as possible, doesn't comb her hair for months at a time, and was probably a faerie in a former life.

Filed Under: doctor visits, health, safety

Comments (36)

aurorabunny

on Sep 15, 2009 at 8:27 AM

These have been around forever, it's not something new. For a flailing child in need of urgent medical care, how is it any different than putting them on a stretcher?

You do what you gotta do. If my child was about to seriously harm themselves (or die from lack of medical treatment) I'd rather have them restrained for a few minutes than dead. I doubt anyone is really using this thing for fun.

Report this comment

sstepph

on Sep 15, 2009 at 8:46 AM

OMG! The 1st time I saw that thing was when we had to take DS to the ER at 8.5 months old when he was walking and fell and gashed his eye brow open. he would NOT stay still so they brought this thing out and I freaked and started bawling, I had to leave the room. It looks terrible, but I guess if they have to do something for them to stay still then do it so they dont get harmed. They had to use dermabond on his eyebrow and didn't want to get it in his eye, so I realize whythey had to do that but WOW it was emotional for me and for him!

KatieP.

on Sep 15, 2009 at 10:01 AM

In extreme medical circumstances you gotta do what you gotta do....

BAconNtofu

on Sep 15, 2009 at 12:35 PM

when I was 7, I had a hospital visit that required me to get 15-20 stitches to my knee. I remember the hallways (which really still look nearlythe same to this day), and I remember what it was like in the room. I remember the doctor giving me the needles to numb the area, and the resulting freak out that followed when they tried to perform the sutures.

After got my stitches out, I was back at the hospital after I reopened part of the gash. My sister pleaded my case against having to getstitches again because of the previous visit.

On a personal level, I'd find what you've dubbed a "straitjacket" more comforting than having a bunch of hands of people you don't know, forcefully holding you down. Less risk of injury to the child, and those trying to help. Child sedation can be a tricky topic, as it's harder to tell how their bodies will react to the sedation than with an adult.

adia823

on Sep 15, 2009 at 12:59 PM

when my now 7 year old was about 2 years old she fell and needed stitches in her chin...they didn't give us an option for sedation...they wrapped her in a blanket and put her on the papoose board. it still took me and 3 other nurses to hold her while they put in the stitches. I was greatful for it, no one got injured or injured worse from the fight that would have been if she had been free.

fmchavez

on Sep 15, 2009 at 2:20 PM

Sedation is risky in young ones, I'd rather use the papoose board.

sodapple

on Sep 15, 2009 at 8:22 PM

i think it will traumatize a child....

abelsmama07

on Sep 16, 2009 at 12:30 AM

oh goodness. they used one on my son when he fell took a hard fall on his head, and they needed to do a cat scan. we didn't think anything of it. he needed to be still and this made sure he was. we weren't given an option, but my husband is an anesthetist, and i can gaurantee you he would choose the "papoose board" over sedation for something like this... because it's not medically necessary.

mommypip

on Sep 16, 2009 at 12:32 AM

They look terrifying, but I would rather use one than have my child not receive emergency care. I don't think sedation is something that you want to mess around with with a small child either. It has a lot of risks.

ethans_momma06

on Sep 16, 2009 at 1:52 AM

I think that if you are in a position where you would have to make that decision it would probably be one of the better options to go ahead and use it. I find any form of physical restraint...to be a choice that I would rather not make...

Not the first choice...but maybe a better choice considering the possible circumstances?