What is sedation?
Sedation is medicine to make your child sleepy or more comfortable during a hospital test or treatment.
This information will help you prepare your child for their test or treatment. It describes what sedation is, what happens when your child gets sedation, and how to care for your child after the test or treatment.
Sedation is used to help your child relax
Your child may find the test or treatment frightening or uncomfortable. Your child may need sedation to help them relax and stay still during the test or treatment. The sedation may make your child fall asleep or just feel sleepy. The sedation may also help make your child forget what happened during the treatment.
For treatments that are painful, your child will also be given medicine for pain.
Before sedation
A nurse or doctor will decide if your child needs sedation
After you come to the hospital for your child's test or treatment, a nurse or doctor will check your child. Then, you and the nurse or doctor will decide if your child should have sedation.
A nurse or doctor will give your child sedation
A nurse or doctor at the hospital will give your child sedation. This person will also watch your child closely while they are sedated.
Do not give your child any other medicine that may calm, relax or make them sleepy before coming to the hospital.
There are different ways your child can get sedation
Sedation can be given in the following ways:
- as a drink
- as a pill to swallow
- through a mask
- through an intravenous line (IV), a small tube that is placed in a vein in an arm or leg using a small needle
The doctor or nurse will decide and discuss with you which type of sedation is best for your child for the procedure. If your child is having sedation through an IV, ask for cream to numb the area where the needle goes in so it does not hurt your child. You should ask for the cream as soon as you arrive on the day of your appointment.
What to feed your child before sedation
Your child's stomach must be empty before sedation. If your child has even a small amount of food or drink in the stomach, your child could throw up (vomit) and damage their lungs. An empty stomach lowers the chance that your child will vomit.
Follow these instructions to make sure your child's stomach is empty. If you do not follow these instructions, your child's procedure will be delayed or cancelled.
- Eight hours before the sedation, your child must stop eating solid food, gum, candy, milk or orange juice. Your child can still drink clear liquids, which means liquids you can see through like a window. Clear liquids include water, ginger ale and clear apple juice.
- Two hours before the sedation, your child must stop drinking clear liquids. Your child should not take anything by mouth until after they wake up.
- If your child needs to take prescription medicine, talk to the doctor who prescribed the medicine before giving it.
Your child is having the sedation at this time: ___________________________________
Your child should stop drinking clear fluids at this time: ____________________________
For babies
If your baby is breastfeeding, stop breastfeeding your baby four hours before the sedation.
If your baby drinks formula, stop giving formula six hours before the sedation.
Summary: Eating and drinking before the sedation
| Time | What your child can eat and drink |
|---|---|
| 8 hours before the sedation | No more solid food, gum, candy, milk or orange juice. Your child can only drink clear liquids, including water, ginger ale and clear apple juice. |
| 6 hours before the sedation | Stop giving your baby formula. |
| 4 hours before the sedation | Stop breastfeeding your baby. |
| 2 hours before the sedation | No more clear liquids. Your child should not eat or drink anything until they wake up. |
| If your child takes prescription medicine, ask your child's doctor when and how to give the medicine. | |
Tell your child what will happen
It is important to tell your child what will happen during the test or treatment. Tell your child who will be staying with them, what kinds of things will happen, and how they may feel during and after the test or treatment.
Your nurse can help you explain the test or treatment to your child. It is important to be honest. Children feel less anxious and scared when they know what to expect.
The nurse or doctor will watch your child closely during sedation
Before your child gets the sedation, the nurse or doctor will ask you and your child some important questions. They will do a physical exam to make sure that it is okay for your child to get the sedation.
While your child is sedated, the nurse or doctor will monitor your child's blood pressure, heartbeat and breathing often. The nurse may use several different machines, called monitors, to check on your child.
After the sedation, the nurse or doctor will watch your child closely until they are ready to go home.
Sedation may cause minor side effects
Your child may have side effects (problems) after the sedation is given. Usually these side effects are minor. They may include:
- throwing up
- upset mood, feeling grumpy or tearful
- feeling sleepy
- dizziness or instability
Sometimes, instead of making your child sleepy, the sedation may make your child overly active and upset. If this happens, the nurse or doctor will stay with your child until they calm down, but the test or treatment may have to be arranged for another day.
There is also a very small chance that your child may have an allergic reaction to the sedation. There is an even smaller chance that your child may need help with their breathing because of the sedation. This is why we watch your child very closely during and after the sedation.
The nurse will let you know when you can be with your child
For most tests or treatments, you will be allowed to be with your child. In some cases, you may have to wait in the waiting area during your child's test or treatment. Your child's nurse will let you know more about this.
When the test or treatment is over, you can be with your child while they recover from the sedation.
Your child will be asleep for a short time after sedation
The amount of time that your child is asleep after sedation depends on the type of sedation, the drug and the dose. In most cases, your child will be asleep for one to two hours. Your child's nurse will let you know how long to expect.
We will try to keep the amount of time your child is asleep as short as possible. This will allow them to recover quickly when the test or treatment is over.
Going home
Your child will be ready to go home when they are awake
Your child will be ready to go home when they are awake and able to drink clear fluids. This may take one or two hours.
Taking your child home from the hospital
Bring another adult with you when you take your child home from the hospital.
If you are driving home, it is strongly recommended that the second adult is available to sit beside and watch your child in the car. Please make sure your child wears their seat belt.
If your child uses a stroller, bring it with you to the hospital. Your child may be dizzy and unable to walk on their own.
You will get written instructions from your nurse before leaving the hospital. These notes will tell you what you need to know once you are at home.
For more information, please read Sedation: Caring for your child at home.