What to Say to Your Child Before Surgery
It’s natural for children to have questions or feel uncertain if they need surgery. The team at University of Utah Health is here to help you and your child feel at ease.
As a parent, you can offer your child age-appropriate teaching, reassurance, and support. Consider these tips to help your child prepare for surgery.
Top 8 Ways to Prepare Your Child for Surgery
1. Know What to Expect
Start to prepare your child for surgery at home. You’ll need to follow directions around fasting and stopping medications. Your child’s surgical team will tell you how to prepare.
You can help your child by explaining what they can expect on the day of surgery:
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A nurse will take your child’s vital signs and ask a few questions. They may also use special wipes to clean your child.
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You will stay with your child in the preoperative area until they go for surgery.
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Your child will receive anesthesia so they don’t feel anything during the operation.
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A nurse will let you know when you can sit with your child after surgery. You will be with your child when they wake from anesthesia.
2. Reassure Your Child
Children often feel afraid before surgery. You can help by offering reassurance about common fears. You may find it helpful to use comforting words and phrases before surgery:
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“There will probably be a lot of people you don’t recognize in the prep area before surgery. These people are all there to take care of you and keep you safe.”
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“The doctors will give you special medicine to keep you asleep during the surgery. You won’t wake up or feel anything.”
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“I will be there with you before you go into the operating room. You’ll fall asleep before surgery, and I’ll be there with you again when you wake up.”
3. Answer Your Child’s Questions
Your child may have more questions about surgery. But sometimes, children hesitate to ask. You can have a more positive conversation if you know your child’s feelings and concerns.
Explain what your child can expect. Then encourage your child to share what else they’re curious, nervous, or concerned about. It’s okay to tell your child if you don’t know the answer. You can ask their doctor for guidance to help answer their questions.
4. Use Clear, Age-Appropriate Language
You may decide to skip some surgery details because your child is young. But it’s important to acknowledge that something big will happen. Your child will wake from surgery with wounds, and they may feel some pain. Knowing what will happen can make that experience less scary for them.
You can let your child’s age and interest guide the conversation. Younger children may not understand why they’re having surgery or what’s happening. Older children may have more questions and want to hear more details.
5. Ask Your Surgeon Questions
An important part of your preparation is to learn about your child’s procedure. Ask your surgeon where you can read more. You may also ask questions before surgery:
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Do you have recommended resources for helping children understand surgery?
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How long will the procedure take?
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What should my child expect during recovery?
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Will they have a significant wound or scar after the procedure?
The internet is full of information about medical conditions and procedures. Some of this information can help you know what to expect. The internet also contains misleading information. Your surgeon will help you find the best resources for you and your child.
6. Bring Comfort Items
You may have questions about what to bring to your child’s surgery. We recommend letting your child choose a comfort item from home. This might be a favorite toy, blanket, or pillow.
Comfort items aren’t allowed in the operating room. But giving your child these items before and after surgery can help them feel more at ease. It also helps children feel more control over their experience.
7. Educate With Props
Younger children often understand procedures better when you use props. This prop can help you explain what will happen before, during, and after surgery. You may use a doll or stuffed animal to show them where the surgeon will operate.
Our nurses and Child Life specialists often help explain surgery using these techniques. You can ask your child’s care team for help with these explanations as needed.
8. Prepare For Recovery
Your child’s surgeon will tell you what to expect during your child’s recovery from surgery. Your child’s recovery timeline will depend on the type of surgery they’re having. But you can share some recovery basics with your child:
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How much school they may miss
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If they need to restrict their activities
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The size and location of their surgical wound
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Whether they’ll have pain during healing
It's natural to want to protect your child from these details. But your child will likely feel more at ease when they know what to expect.
Caring for Your Child with Compassion
We recognize that pediatric surgery is an unusual and potentially stressful experience for your family. It’s normal to feel out of control or overwhelmed.
Our team is here to reassure you that your child is in capable, caring hands. An entire team of experienced professionals will help you and your child navigate this experience together.
