Eating and drinking instructions
If your child is scheduled for a sedated test or procedure, please follow the eating and drinking instructions carefully.
Children two years old or older
STOP YOUR CHILD'S NORMAL EATING AND DRINKING BY MIDNIGHT the night before their procedure. (This includes gum, mints, and candy.)
On the day of your child's procedure they may ONLY drink the following liquids until two hours before the procedure. After that time, your child may not drink anything.
- Water
- Apple juice
- Ginger ale
- Black coffee/tea (NO milk or creamer)
Children under two years of age
- May breastfeed until four hours before the procedure
- May have formula until six hours before the procedure
Parental presence during procedures
This can be an anxious time for you and your child. We ask that you not bring other children with you. Please make the necessary child care arrangements prior to the day of the procedure.
As anesthesia is being started (induction)
A maximum of two parents or family members (over the age of 18) are allowed to be present during anesthesia induction. Parents will not be present at induction if:
- The anesthesiologist or other physician feels that, because of specific medical issues, parental presence will compromise the safety of the child
- The child is under eight months of age and has not yet reached the stage of stranger anxiety, so does not require parental presence for "calming" during induction
- The parent is using a video or cell phone to record the procedure. Due to hospital policy, video/cell phone recording is not allowed anywhere in the PainFree Program area including during induction.
After anesthesia induction, parents and family must leave the PainFree area. Before leaving the area, you will receive a pager. After the test or procedure is complete, you will be paged so that you can be present as your child wakes up from sedation or anesthesia.
During tests and procedures
It is important that medical personnel be able to focus solely on their patient. Parents and family members are not allowed to be present during tests/procedures with the following exception:
- If parts of the procedure require your child to be awake and aware, one parent or family member may be allowed to be present during this part of the test/procedure.
Preparing your child for PainFree procedures
You can help your child get the best results from a CHaD PainFree Program visit by preparing in advance for the procedure. See our age-appropriate information for ways to reduce and possibly avoid causing anxiety for your child as you prepare for a visit to the CHaD PainFree Program or for surgery.
If you have questions about your child's upcoming PainFree visit or want to provide feedback about your child's recent visit, please contact us.