Fasting infants and children can be stressful and difficult. To minimise distress and maximise safety, please adhere to the following guidelines.
Your child’s fasting plan should be discussed at booking. While awaiting surgery the fasting plan will be reviewed at intervals with the anaesthetist to minimise dehydration.
Only the anaesthetist may alter the fasting guidelines. If your child appears likely to fast for much longer than these times please ask staff to contact the anaesthetist.
Morning operation – list starts at 8am
Your child must not eat food, lollies, jelly after 2am
No formula or cows milk after 4 am
No breast milk after 5am
Your child may drink clear fluids only (see below) until they arrive at the hospital
∗ Clear fluids are fluids which are transparent. They include sugar-based drinks, cordials and clear juices. They do not include milk-based or particulate products, such as orange juice.
Anaesthetists may modify the above if prolonged fasting is likely according to the principles below:
Formula or cow’s milk up to 4 hours before anaesthesia
Breast milk up to 3 hours before anaesthesia
Clear fluids up until 1 hour before anaesthesia
Afternoon operation – list starts at 1.30pm
Your child must not eat food, lollies, jelly after 07:30am
No formula or cows milk after 9:30am
No breast milk after 10:30am
Your child may drink clear fluids only (see below) until they arrive at the hospital
∗ Clear fluids are fluids which are transparent. They include sugar-based drinks, cordials and clear juices. They do not include milk-based or particulate products, such as orange juice.
Anaesthetists may modify the above if prolonged fasting is likely according to the principles below:
Formula or cow’s milk up to 4 hours before anaesthesia
Breast milk up to 3 hours before anaesthesia
Clear fluids up until 1 hour before anaesthesia
Medication
Your child must not eat food, lollies, jelly after 2am
No formula or cows milk after 4 am
No breast milk after 5am
Your child may drink clear fluids only (see below) until they arrive at the hospital
∗ Clear fluids are fluids which are transparent. They include sugar-based drinks, cordials and clear juices. They do not include milk-based or particulate products, such as orange juice.
Anaesthetists may modify the above if prolonged fasting is likely according to the principles below:
Formula or cow’s milk up to 4 hours before anaesthesia
Breast milk up to 3 hours before anaesthesia
Clear fluids up until 1 hour before anaesthesia
Your child must not eat food, lollies, jelly after 07:30am
No formula or cows milk after 9:30am
No breast milk after 10:30am
Your child may drink clear fluids only (see below) until they arrive at the hospital
∗ Clear fluids are fluids which are transparent. They include sugar-based drinks, cordials and clear juices. They do not include milk-based or particulate products, such as orange juice.
Anaesthetists may modify the above if prolonged fasting is likely according to the principles below:
Formula or cow’s milk up to 4 hours before anaesthesia
Breast milk up to 3 hours before anaesthesia
Clear fluids up until 1 hour before anaesthesia
Please continue all normal medications (tablets, capsules and syrups) unless otherwise instructed by the treating doctor or anaesthetist.
Medications can be taken with a sip of clear fluid – even within 1 hour of surgery.
Children with diabetes will have special requirements. Their diabetes doctor should make a written management plan for fasting, oral medications and insulin prior to surgery.