Which restraint instruction is described for examining ears, eyes, nose, and throat?

• A. Lay the child on the exam table and have the parent hold both arms against the head by grasping the hands together above the head.
• B. Gently turn the child's head from side to side so the physician may examine each ear.
• C. Use a mummy restraint for this procedure.
• D. Let the child rest on the parent's knee without restraint.

Answer: (C)

During a pediatric ENT examination, keeping the head and upper body still is essential to get a clear view of the ears, eyes, nose, and throat. The mummy restraint achieves this by snugly wrapping the child in a blanket or sheet, holding the arms close to the body and stabilizing the head. This immobilizes movement so the clinician can inspect each structure safely and accurately without sudden shifts or scratches.

Other approaches either don’t provide secure stillness or rely on parental hold without proper immobilization, which can be unsafe or inadequate for a thorough ENT check. Allowing movement by resting on a parent’s knee or turning the head side to side without a dedicated restraint also hinders safe, precise examination.