Preparing Your Toddler for Surgery

Surgery can be frightening at any age, but for toddlers it is downright terrifying. A small child doesn't understand what is going on or why they are in pain and it can be very difficult to calm a frightened child in the confines of the hospital. Here are a few ideas for making things a little easier.

Start preparing your toddler at least a week in advance. Find out if you are allowed to bring toys and music into the hospital room beforehand. If so, then it is a good idea to begin a gentle routine of cuddling and listening to classical music or any other music that your little one enjoys. You can also read favorite books more frequently in these days leading up to the surgery.

These activities will become a comfort to your toddler and once in the hospital, may have a calming effect on her. Having access to comfort objects such as a favorite toy or book can be very reassuring once the surgery is over and your child is in recovery. The hospital can be a frightening place, especially if your little one is afraid of doctors and nurses in their uniforms.

If your child is used to drinking a bottle at night, it is a good idea to wean her off of it at least a couple of weeks before the surgery. Most surgeries done on small children are performed in the morning to make the fasting period easier. You will probably be told that your child cannot eat anything after about 7 pm and that clear liquids should be stopped before midnight. For children who are dependent on that night bottle, this can be an absolute nightmare, so do your weaning early on and avoid extra problems.

Should you end up with a hungry, crying toddler in the wee hours of the morning, there isn't much you can do. Giving her water can cause problems during the surgery, so even if you feel bad, you need to follow the doctor's instructions. Distractions such as a favorite video or playing games can help. Trying to get a grumpy child to sleep before surgery can be a stressful event

Staying calm yourself is vital if you want your little one to be relaxed. Children can sense their parent's stress and will tend to pick up on it. If you are nervous, your toddler will be, too. Try to act relaxed and nonchalant as you prepare your little one for the hospital. Avoid getting upset when you have to turn her over to the nurses to be taken to the surgery prep area. If you are emotional, hold it in until after your child has been taken away.

Once the surgery is over, you will be very relieved. Now comes the hard part . . . helping your little one recover! If you have prepared well, this will be a little easier. Play her favorite music and try reading to her as soon as she is awake enough to listen to your voice. The activities that you did earlier in the week will be relaxing for her now, even when she is in pain.

Preparing your toddler for surgery can be emotionally difficult, but in the long run, it is worth doing. Having established comfort routines can help enormously in those long hours of fasting before the procedure and during the recovery period. Before you know it, your little one will be running around again, good as new!