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Your child's anaesthetic
Preparing your child for an anaesthetic
How can you help?
When you find out that your child needs an operation or test under a general anaesthetic it is natural to feel anxious. Children often become anxious themselves too, and this can make their time at the hospital much more difficult than if they understand what is going to happen and can approach the whole process feeling calm and confident. So what can help to make your trip to Sheffield Children’s Hospital as calm and relaxed as possible?
Helping yourself
Children very easily pick up on their parents’ feelings, so one of the most important things you can do to help your child is to remain calm and relaxed yourself. This may be easier said than done, especially if you are unsure about exactly what might happen at the hospital, but finding out as much as you can beforehand often helps. You will usually receive a booklet from the hospital called ‘Your child’s general anaesthetic’, which includes useful information, discussion of some of your options and advice about pain relief after the operation.
You can also find out more detailed information about anaesthetics at the Royal College of Anaesthetists’ patient information website. You will probably think of lots of questions that you’d like to ask the anaesthetist.You may like to write them down, so you remember them all on the day.
Helping your child
You may find it hard to talk to your child about their visit to the hospital, because it is difficult to find the right words, or because you don’t want them to worry. It is better to prepare them in advance, however, because children who have not had chance to work through their concerns beforehand often find it much more difficult on the day. It is easy to underestimate how much children can understand about their medical conditions and the treatments involved and children who have no information can easily become confused. Children’s need for information varies with age and it is important that they get information that is right for their level of development.
You can find some booklets written for children at the Royal College of Anaesthetists website, including a story for young children designed to be read with a parent, and a comic-style story suitable for junior school age children. There is also a leaflet and a web-linked information resource for older children and young people.
In general children benefit from simple, honest and reassuring explanations about the things that will happen at the hospital and the people they will meet. It helps to encourage your child to talk about the operation and ask questions. They may wish to act out the hospital visit as a story using their favourite toys, and may enjoy helping to pack their hospital bag.
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