Preparing Your Child for Surgery
- Having an elective procedure gives you time to prepare your child psychologically for the hospital and the surgery.
- Good preparation can help kids feel less anxious about the anesthesia and surgery and get through the recovery period faster.
- Provide information at your child’s level of understanding, correct misunderstandings and dispel any fears.
- Allow your child to share his or her fears and let them know it’s okay to feel afraid.
- Help your child understand why the surgery is needed and become familiar with the hospital and the procedures he or she will undergo.
- Compare the time your child will be in surgery to the length of a favorite cartoon or video.
- Explain that you’ll be there when your child wakes up — and a favorite toy can come along, too.
- Tell your child that if anything feels sore right after the operation, a doctor or nurse can give medication that will make it feel better.
- Encourage your child’s questions about the health problem and hospital experience, so that other fears and anxieties can be expressed.
- Take all questions seriously and answer them to the best of your ability.
- If you don’t know an answer, tell your child that you’ll find it out, and explain that the doctors and nurses are happy to answer questions, too.
- Remember, your tone of voice, facial expressions, gestures and body language send powerful messages.
- If you appear fearful, your child is likely to feel fearful regardless of the words you use.
- Schedule a pre-operative tour, program or orientation as soon as the appointment for the surgery is made.
- Children who are less anxious and fearful about a procedure have an easier time before and after surgery.