Sedation: Caring for your child at home

Your child was given sedation during their visit to the hospital. Sedation is a medicine that helps your child relax, stay calm or sleep.

Your child will be ready to go home when they are wide awake, or back to how they were before being given sedation.

Your child may feel unsteady or groggy after sedation

Your child may be unsteady on their feet. If your child feels this way, do not let them run, walk or crawl on their own.

Your child may feel the effects of the sedation for up to one day; they may feel dizzy and groggy, and may be less active. Watch them closely. They may also become cranky, grumpy or hyper.

Activities after sedation

Watch all of your child’s activities for up to 24 hours until the effects of sedation have completely worn off, especially anything that needs the child’s attention and balance such as running, playing ball and studying.

Most children will be ready to go back to their regular routine the day after sedation.

If your child is a teenager, they should not drive or use machines for at least one day after sedation.

Feeding your child

Do not feed your child until they are wide awake. Do not feed them too much food, too fast because this can make them throw up.

Give your child clear fluids at first. Clear fluids include sugar water, apple juice, ginger ale, a Popsicle, broth or tea. When your child can drink clear fluids without throwing up, slowly start feeding your child their regular food.

If your baby is able to drink from a bottle, try to give them one or two feedings of clear fluid before giving formula or breastfeeding. If your baby cannot drink from a bottle, make sure your baby is wide awake and start with a short feed.

Driving with your child

When your child rides in a car, tip the car seat back slightly. Your child’s head should be up and back a little. If their head falls forward, they may have trouble breathing. The child should be properly belted in on the ride home from the hospital.

Please have an adult (other than the driver) sit beside your child to watch them.

Your child may not sleep normally after sedation

Check your child several times during the first three to four hours that they sleep after leaving the hospital. They should wake a little when you disturb them, but sometimes children are quite sleepy and it takes some effort to wake them.

Make sure your child is breathing regularly and that their skin is its usual colour. Your child may not sleep normally because they slept at the hospital. They may sleep or wake up a lot.

When to seek medical assistance

If your child throws up more than twice, call your family doctor or take your child to the nearest Emergency Department. Bring this information with you so the doctor or nurse will know the name, time and amount of sedation your child received.

If you have other questions or concerns that are not urgent, call the department where your child received the sedation.

When to call 911

The following problems are rare. However, if you notice any of these, call 911 for help:

• Your child is having problems breathing.
• Your child’s breathing is shallow, slow or different than usual.
• Your child’s skin colour is very blue or grey.
• You are not able to wake your child.