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General product information for laboratory, imaging and clinic staff. It is not medical advice and does not describe how to apply a restraint to a patient.
Short answer
A papoose board is a padded board with fabric flaps and straps that wraps a child’s body to hold it still for a short time, most often during an exam or an X-ray. Manufacturers describe it as a temporary immobilizer. Products differ in age band, material and care instructions, so staff who stock them should compare each maker’s stated specifications and instructions for use.
Definition and scope
A papoose board is a pediatric immobilizer: a flat board with flaps that fold over the child and fasten with Velcro, plus arm or head straps on some models. MXR Imaging describes its papoose boards as being “for temporary fast, safe patient immobilization during exam or treatment” (checked 2026-11-01). Phillips Safety lists its regular radiation-department board as a nylon board described as a “great selection for use during X-rays” (checked 2026-11-01).
The phrase “pediatric immobilizer for X-ray” in search results usually points to this same product family. It is separate from rigid spinal boards and neck braces, which are covered in backboards and stretchers and what a cervical collar is.
How it is used in practice
MXR Imaging describes a design with three opposing pairs of Velcro-fastened flaps. The flaps open one pair at a time, so one body area can be exposed while the child stays secured by the remaining flaps and straps. That is the design idea behind using the board for imaging: the area being imaged is uncovered and the rest of the body remains held.
Phillips Safety states that the restraint should be used only under the supervision of a licensed medical practitioner, only for temporary restraint and never as continuous or long-term restraint, and that it must not impair breathing or circulation or cause overheating or positional injuries. Application technique belongs in the manufacturer’s instructions for use and in local training, not on this page.
The Society and College of Radiographers and the British Society of Paediatric Radiology jointly issued guidance titled “Imaging Children; immobilisation, distraction techniques and use of sedation” (April 2012). Its stated background is concern about safe and effective immobilisation of children, particularly during skeletal surveys for suspected non-accidental injury. Immobilisation for imaging is therefore treated as a matter for local restraint policy and professional guidance, not only for product choice.
Two manufacturers compared
The table lists only what each manufacturer’s page states (both checked 2026-11-01).
| Item | Phillips Safety, regular board | MXR Imaging, papoose boards |
|---|---|---|
| Stated age band | Children 2 to 5 years | Regular: children 2 to 6 years. Small: infants up to 24 months. Extra Large: teenagers and adults |
| Stated size or weight | 37 in long, 11 in wide; board 4 lb | Sizes named by age band; each includes head and arm straps |
| Material | Nylon | Canvas flap set, adjustable Velcro straps |
| MRI statement | “MRI safe”; “metal free design”; latex-free | No MRI statement on the page |
| Cleaning | No cleaning method stated on the product page | Wipe board with liquid disinfectant or soap and water; flap sets and arm straps can be machine washed |
| Use cautions on the page | Licensed practitioner supervision; temporary use only | None stated |
The “regular” size is not the same everywhere: one maker’s regular board is for ages 2 to 5, another’s for ages 2 to 6. A size name alone does not tell you which child it fits.
Where it matters for labs, clinics and supply decisions
A checklist built from the comparison above, for staff reviewing a papoose board listing or instructions for use:
- Age and size band. Read the maker’s own stated band and dimensions; do not assume “small” or “regular” means the same across brands.
- Imaging-environment statements. Check whether the manufacturer states “MRI safe” or “metal free”, as one does, or makes no MRI statement, as the other does.
- Material and cleaning. Nylon and canvas products come with different care instructions. Find the cleaning method in the instructions for use before the product enters a department’s cleaning routine.
- Supervision and duration cautions. Confirm that staff training and local policy match the maker’s statement that use is supervised and temporary.
- Local policy. Hospital restraint rules are a separate subject; see restraint and seclusion under the CMS conditions of participation for that framework. For other clinic items, see the sports medicine clinic supply checklist.
Common misunderstandings
- “MRI safe” is not implied by being used for X-rays. One listing states it; the other makes no MRI claim. Each statement belongs to that product’s documentation.
- Immobilizer and restraint are not interchangeable terms in guidance. The professional guidance above frames immobilisation within restraint policy, so the vocabulary on a product page may differ from the wording a department’s policy uses.
- It is not a long-term device. The manufacturer cautions cited above limit it to temporary use.
FAQ
What is a papoose board used for?
Manufacturers describe it as a temporary immobilizer for a child during an exam, treatment or X-ray, used under the supervision of a licensed medical practitioner.
Is a pediatric immobilizer for X-ray the same as a papoose board?
In product listings, the terms usually describe the same type of wrap-and-strap board. A rigid spinal board or cervical collar is a different product.
What ages do papoose boards fit?
It depends on the manufacturer. Phillips Safety states 2 to 5 years for its regular board; MXR Imaging states 2 to 6 years for its regular size and 24 months and under for its small size.
Can a papoose board be used in an MRI room?
Only if the specific product’s documentation says so. Phillips Safety lists its regular board as MRI safe and metal free; the MXR Imaging page makes no MRI statement.
Sources
All sources checked 2026-11-01.
- Phillips Safety, “Regular Papoose Board MRI Safe”: https://www.phillips-safety.com/shop/radiation/papoose-boards/regular-radiolucent-papoose-board-mri-safe/
- MXR Imaging, “Papoose Boards”: https://shop.mxrimaging.com/papoose-boards.html
- Society and College of Radiographers and British Society of Paediatric Radiology, “Imaging Children; immobilisation, distraction techniques and use of sedation” (April 2012): https://sor.org/learning-advice/professional-body-guidance-and-publications/documents-and-publications/policy-guidance-document-library/imaging-children;-immobilisation,-distraction-tech
