Main Content
Your Child's Surgery
How do I prepare my child?
Preparing your child
Babies
Toddlers
Preschoolers
School-age children
Teens
Helping your other children cope
Before surgery timeline
6 weeks before
2-3 weeks before
1 day before
The night before
The morning of
At the hospital
Getting ready
The operating room (OR)
Post-anesthetic care unit (PACU)
After surgery
Day surgery
Staying more than 1 night
Patient safety
Going home
Plan for transportation home
Care at home after surgery
Resources
Packing lists
Healthcare team members
In hospital programs
Parent's surgery FAQs
Anesthesia FAQs for children
Planning, getting ready, and thinking clearly as you prepare for your child’s surgery is sometimes confusing and hard. Knowing what to expect and how to prepare ahead of time will help to lessen anxiety for both you and your child. The 2 most important things to do:
Go to Top