Childen's Hospital Boston
International Visitorsdotted lineRequest Appointmentdotted lineDirections
 advanced search
About Us Find a Specialist Locations Careers Press Room Giving To
Clinical Services For Patients & Families For Health Professionals Research
My Child Has
or find by letter:  A-F  G-L  M-R  S-Z

Preoperative Clinic
Preoperative Clinic
What to Bring to Pre-Op
Dietary Guidelines
Parents in the OR
Special Considerations
Pre-Op Clinic FAQs
Pre-Op Clinic Directions
Take a Tour of Pre-Op
Meet the Team
Contact Us
Find Us
Email this page
Printer Friendly
X
Home Clinical Services Preoperative Clinic Dietary Guidelines
Flower Diertary Guidelines
Image Before anesthesia, eating and drinking are not allowed for specified periods of time. Guidelines vary, depending on the child's age. It is important that you follow these directions carefully to prepare your child. If your child eats or drinks after the indicated time, the surgery may have to be rescheduled to another day.

Note: No food or drink is allowed in Pre-Op areas.

Newborns to age 6 months:
  • Do not give your child any solid food for eight hours before the time of surgery. (This includes cereal mixed with formula.) Your child should finish eating solid foods eight hours before the time of surgery.
  • Give the last bottle of formula so it is finished six hours before the time of surgery.
  • Plan the last breastfeeding so the feeding is finished three hours before the time of surgery. You may give clear liquids up to three hours before the surgery. Clear liquids include breast milk, infant electrolyte solution (such as Pedialyte), apple juice and sugar water
Do not give your child anything to drink during the three hours before surgery.
Age 6 months to 12 years:
  • Do not give your child any solid food for eight hours before the time of surgery. Also, do not give chewing gum, candy, milk, orange juice or carbonated drinks (soda or tonic). Your child should finish eating everything (except clear liquids) eight hours before the time of surgery.
  • You may give clear liquids up to three hours before surgery. Clear liquids include breast milk, clear juice drinks (like apple juice), water and infant electrolyte solution (such as Pedialyte).
Do not give your child anything to drink during the three hours before surgery.
Age 12 years and older:
  • Do not give your child any solid food after midnight before the time of surgery. Also, do not give chewing gum, candy, milk, orange juice or carbonated drinks (soda or tonic). Your child should finish eating everything (except clear liquids) by midnight before the time of surgery.
  • You may give clear liquids up to three hours before surgery. Clear liquids include clear juice drinks (like apple juice) and water.
Do not give your child anything to drink during the three hours before surgery.
Other important guidelines for the day of surgery
  • Plan to arrive at the Pre-op Clinic 60 to 90 minutes before the surgery is scheduled. No food or drinks are allowed in pre-op areas.
  • Please bring in all medication bottles, and/or pharmacy receipts, so medication doses can be verified.
  • All female patients over the age of 12 years will need to provide a urine sample the day of surgery for a standard pregnancy test.
  • All jewelry, including body piercing and nail polish must be removed. Tampons may not be worn to surgery, sanitary napkins are recommended.
  • Please remove your contact lenses, bring glasses.
  • Please call the Pre-Op Clinic at 617-355-3765 with any questions.
  • Please call 617-355-7737 after 5 p.m. for questions about next day surgery.
On the day of discharge, plan on leaving the hospital by 11 am. Please be sure that all arrangements (transportation, work schedules, child care needs) have been made to allow for a morning discharge.
X
Children's Hospital Boston is the primary pediatric teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School
Contact Us Site Map Privacy Accessibility Give Now en Español
Children's Hospital Boston300 Longwood AvenueBoston, MA 02115(617) 355-6000 © 2005-2007 All rights reserved