At the Queensland Children’s Hospital, we perform thousands of procedures safely each year on children and young people. To make going to sleep for a procedure (anaesthesia) as safe as possible, your child or young person will need to fast before their surgery or procedure.
Your child’s procedure time
A nurse will call you the business day before your child’s surgery, and you will be given an approximate procedure time. The time your child needs to start fasting will depend on this time.
Why does my child have to stop eating and drinking before surgery?
If there is food or liquid in your child’s stomach when it is time to have an anaesthetic, it could come back up and then enter their lungs as they go off to sleep. This can cause serious damage. We appreciate it is hard for a child to stop eating and drinking before their procedure, but it is very important for their safety that you follow the fasting instructions you are given. If your child has not fasted properly, their procedure may be delayed to later in the day, or to another day.
Why are fasting times different for food and drink?
Clear fluids pass through the stomach faster than food, so they can be safely given closer to the time of the operation or procedure.
What clear fluids can my child drink?
The clear fluids your child can choose from are:
- Water
- Clear (pulp-free) fruit juices and cordials – i.e. apple juice
- Clear non-carbonated drinks – i.e. Powerade, Gatorade
- Clear carbonated drinks e.g. lemonade.
- Ready-to-mix sugar and electrolyte powders – i.e. SOS, Poly-Joule, Carb Plus, Hydralyte.
Please do not give your child any other types of drinks.
When should my baby or child stop eating and drinking before their surgery or procedure?
Following the fasting instructions will not only ensure your child is safe to have an anaesthetic for the procedure, but it will also help to reduce the time they need to fast.
Six hours before the procedure time - Make sure your child doesn’t eat any food or drink any non-human milk for at least 6 hours before their procedure. This includes eating lollies or chewing gum.
Please note:
- Lollies are considered food.
- Chewing gum may be swallowed accidentally and is considered a food.
- Thickeners and jellies are considered food.
Four hours before the procedure time — If your baby has infant formula, plan to finish feeding your baby as close to 4 hours before the time of your procedure as possible. Do not add thickeners.
Three hours before the procedure time – If your baby has breast milk, plan to finish feeding your baby as close to 3 hours before the time of your procedure time as possible. Do not add thickeners.
Until the time you arrive at the admission location — You can offer your baby or child clear fluids to drink until the time you arrive at the admission location. Nursing staff may offer your child more to drink as you wait for your procedure.
Your child must not eat or drink anything else after you arrive at the admission location, unless this has been allowed by the nursing or medical staff.
Can my child take medication while fasting?
Please continue your child’s usual medications, including those that normally would be taken on the day of surgery, unless told otherwise by a doctor or nurse. Take liquid medicines as usual and tablets can be taken with a sip of water or other clear fluid when fasting.
When you come to hospital, please bring a list of medications your child has recently been taking, including herbal medicines and supplements.
If your child is having ear, nose, throat or eye surgery, please do not give your child Nurofen®/ibuprofen in the 72 hours before their surgery.
Please stop taking all fish oils and garlic supplements at least one week before surgery.
Your surgical team will provide you with information specific to aspirin if your child takes this regularly.
