Pediatric Elbow Immobilizer Splint and Arm Restraint for Kids & Infants

Pediatric Elbow Stabilizer

There are a number of situations where a child elbow immobilizer might be helpful or necessary. For example, one might need this type of elbow flexion restraint following surgery for cleft palate repair or for IV therapy. Immobilizing the elbow can also be helpful in treating some elbow injuries.

This passive arm restraint is adjustable thanks to a series of hook-and-loop straps. In addition, it comes in an x-small size that is suited for infants and newborns, as well as a small size designed for toddlers. There is also an adult version of this elbow immobilizing brace. 

**Please note that the XS of this elbow stabilizer is very small and designed for infants. A toddler or young child will need the size Small. 

The pediatric elbow brace is made of a soft, medical-grade foam material that is latex free for user comfort. See more pediatric elbow braces and splints.

A Simple Elbow Immobilizer for Infants, Toddlers and Kids

No parent wants to see his or her child bound by a cast or brace, but sometimes such restraint is necessary. This elbow fracture splint gets the job done while still allowing as much arm movement as possible.

The pediatric elbow immobilizer wraps around the arm and includes splints that prevent your child from bending the elbow. This also means your baby won’t be able to touch his or her face. 

But the fact that it still allows other movements of the arm limits how much strength and mobility your child will lose if he has to use the youth elbow brace for weeks at a time.

There are many cases when you might find yourself in need of pediatric arm restraints, which doctors sometimes refer to as welcome sleeves.” A few examples include:

• To protect the face after cleft palate or cleft lip repair
• To prevent special needs children from hitting or scratching their faces
• To stop a baby from pulling out an IV
• To care for some broken arms/elbows
• To treat a sprained elbow
• To stop thumb sucking

This soft elbow extension brace relies on several aluminum splints to prevent the elbow from bending. And while these stiff supports are very effective, they do have a little bit of give that prevents the pediatric elbow splints from being overly confining and uncomfortable.

The pediatric wrap arm immobilizers are composed of a medical-grade foam material. This makes your kid’s elbow brace lightweight and breathable, so it won’t irritate the skin, even if your baby or child has to wear the arm restraints for an extended period of time.

The pediatric elbow immobilizers are also latex-free, so you don’t have to worry about any allergic reaction.  

To put on the straight elbow brace, you simply center and wrap it around your child’s elbow and secure its fastener straps (two for the baby version; three for the toddler/youth version). This makes putting on and taking off pediatric arm immobilizer a breeze. The fastener tabs also result in a more exact fit. To keep them from wearing out, you should close the tabs when you wash the support.

This arm restraint comes in two sizes—extra-small for infants/babies and small for toddlers and youths. 

Usage Tips on Pediatric Arm Restraints

These arm restraints for special needs children, post-operative use and more should fit snugly, but not so tight that your baby or child’s fingers become cold.

For instances where longer-term or around-the-clock use of the elbow straightening brace is needed, you should remove the elbow restraint two or three times a day when you’re able to closely supervise your child.  

Take advantage of these periods of freedom to move around your baby, toddler of child’s arm so it doesn’t get overly stiff. It’s also important to encourage your child to play during this time of immobilization.

Another helpful tip is to check for any red or chafed areas during bath time. You can apply baby lotion to any irritated spots.

Wearing the pediatric arm splints over a thin layer of clothing can also limit the chances of skin irritation.

Elbow Fracture Splint

Elbow fractures are fairly common, making up around 10% of all childhood fractures. A toddler falling off a couch might break the elbow, and when they are a bit older a fall off the monkey bars or other playground equipment can easily result in an elbow break.

Treatment will depend upon the type and location of the fracture, as well as whether the break has caused any problems with the growth plates or the network of nerves and blood vessels running through that area of the arm.

If there are no complications and the bone has not shifted out of place, immobilization with a cast, a pediatrics sling or a broken elbow splint that holds the bones in place as they heal may be the extent of treatment.

While a cast provides more support, pediatric elbow extension splints have the advantage of accommodating changes in swelling. For that reason, a doctor might recommend wearing an arm straightening brace before a cast is applied.If surgery is required to fix the elbow fracture, your child will likely need to wear a cast and/or post-op splint for elbow fractures for a few weeks afterwards.

You can also use these elbow restraints to keep a busy baby or toddler from pulling out an IV before or after surgery.

The immobilization the elbow straightener provides is also perfect for treating an elbow sprain. It stabilizes the joint without needlessly restricting movement of the rest of the arm.

Infant Elbow Immobilizer for Cleft Palate/Lip Repair or other Surgeries

Another common use for this baby arm brace is after surgery to repair a cleft palate and/or cleft lip. The incomplete formation of the upper lip (cleft lip) or roof of the mouth (cleft palate) are some of the most common birth defects among children in North America. A surgeon can usually fix the appearance and functional issues associated with these defects.

Since such repairs are usually done when your child is just six to 12 weeks old, you’ll likely need some baby arm restraints to keep your infant’s hands away from the face as it heals. The success of the procedures very much depends upon keeping the face clean and away from scratches or pressure for three to four weeks after surgery.  

Arm Splints for Special Needs Children

Sometimes special precautions need to be taken with special needs children to prevent them from hurting themselves. For instance, some children with autism might display stimming behaviors like repeatedly hitting themselves in the head or scratching the face.

Some therapists believe this is a protective response to being overly sensitive to stimuli or possibly as a way to ease anxiety and therefore should be allowed. But in instances where such behavior is a threat to your child, you may need to intervene.

Some parents find arm splints very helpful for special needs kids in such cases. The gentle material with boning to keep the elbow straight can keep the hands away from the face, without being overly restrictive. Plus the fasteners make it easy for you to quickly take the arm restraints on and off your child.

FAQs on this Pediatric Arm Wrap & Elbow Immobilizer

• What conditions / injuries does this pediatric elbow brace treat? These elbow supports for kids and babies are highly versatile products. They can be used in any situation where there arm/elbow needs to be kept straight, such as for treating some fractures and sprains of the elbow or arm. Keeping your child from bending the elbow also prevents him or her from touching the face. This might be needed after cleft lip or cleft palate repair or for a special needs child in need of gentle restraint. This can also be a great tool for breaking a thumb-sucking habit. An elbow immobilizer brace can also stop a kid from disrupting an IV.
• How does it work? The arm restraints for babies and children rely on an incredibly simple design. The soft cuff wraps around the arm and its rigid splints keep the arm and elbow straight. Try touching your face without bending the elbow… it can’t be done. That’s why this product is such a great one for things like cleft palate repair or for special needs children where the hands need to be kept away from the face. Immobilizing the elbow also protects against additional damage and allows healing to take place for sprains and fractures.
• Who can wear this elbow extension splint? The XS version of this arm-straightening brace will fit infants and young babies. It is 4 inches wide and 7.5 inches long. The small size of the restraint fits toddlers and children. It is 6 inches wide and 9 inches long. To make sure your baby or child’s arm will fit in the splint, use a soft tape measure the circumference of the elbow. Check out the sizing chart for more details.
• When should my baby/child wear it? This will vary widely depending on what you’re using the arm and elbow brace for. If you’re in need of an elbow stabilizer for a fracture or sprain, your child will likely need to wear the splint around the clock for several days to weeks. For thumb-sucking or special needs children, the straight arm brace can be donned on an as-needed basis. And following cleft palate or lip repair, your baby will likely need to wear the infant arm immobilizers nearly around the clock for around a month.
• How do I put it on? First, wrap the cuff around the arm so the brace is centered over the elbow. Then secure its fastener tabs, starting at the forearm and working your way up. The elbow brace should be snug, but not so tight that your baby’s fingers become cold. 
• What is it made of? The pediatric elbow extension splint is made of a soft, medical-grade foam material with finished edges and rigid splints that keep the arm extended. Fastener straps secure the arm splint. This is a latex-free brace.
• Washing Instructions: Start by closing the fastener tabs to keep the material from wearing out or sticking to other clothes. Then toss it in the washing machine and wash it with cold water and mild detergent. Air-dry the pediatric restraint.
• Other features:
  • While it prevents bending of the elbow, it does allow other arm movements.
  • It can be used on either the left or right arm.
  • The fastener tabs allow some sizing flexibility.
  • The soft, breathable material of the cuff makes it comfortable for long periods of use and even at night.
  • Color: Blue with white detailing.