Pediatric Pre-Surgery Eating and Drinking Guidelines

Please read the following guidelines carefully. It is important to us that your child has a safe and pleasant surgical experience. For any questions not covered in these guidelines, please check with your doctor.

Your doctor will tell you your child can have nothing to eat or drink before his/her surgery. Nothing to eat or drink means your child cannot have any foods, drinks, water, candy, chewing gum, suckers, mints, or small sips of water while brushing his/her teeth. The amount of time your child can have nothing to eat or drink depends on his/her age.

Newborn up to 6 months
Your child may eat or drink his/her normal foods until 8 hours before surgery. At this time you must stop normal foods, including breast milk and formula, and give him/her clear liquids only. Clear liquids means water, sugar water, Pedialyte, or apple juice only. Then you must stop clear liquids 4 hours before surgery. He/she can have nothing to eat or drink 4 hours before surgery.

6 months to three years
Your child may eat or drink his/her normal foods until midnight the evening before surgery. At this time, you must stop normal foods and give him/her clear liquids only. Clear liquids means water, sugar water, Pedialyte, or apple juice only. Then you must stop clear liquids 6 hours before surgery. He/she can have nothing to eat or drink 6 hours before surgery.

These guidelines must be followed for your child's safety. If your child has had anything to eat or drink after the recommended time before surgery, his/her surgery will be cancelled for his/her safety. This is because eating or drinking before surgery could cause serious problems with anesthesia.