Fasting

All children, even small babies, need to fast appropriately before having an anaesthetic.

Fasting means not eating or drinking for a certain amount of time. It usually means no food or milk for at least six hours before an anaesthetic. It is an important safety measure to fast before surgery.

If your child has food or excess liquid in his or her stomach when anaesthetised, there is a risk it could end up in the lungs.

 If you are coming in from home, a nurse will phone you the day before the procedure to give you your child鈥檚 fasting times. Please let nursing staff know if your child takes regular medication. 

It is important for anyone having an anaesthetic to have an empty stomach.

Fasting guidelines

Generally, your child CANNOT have any:

  • food or milk (including formula milk) within six hours before the anaesthetic
  • water or clear juice within two hours before the anaesthetic 

Patients at Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick should follow the 'Sip Til Send' guide below for drinking fluids. 

If your child does not fast correctly, the procedure may be delayed or cancelled. This is for their safety.

Formula and breastfeeding

Infants and babies that are fed with formula, need to have their last feed finished six hours before the anaesthetic.

If your baby is breastfed, he or she can have a last feed finished four hours before the anaesthetic.

Checking fasting times

Your child must have nothing to eat or drink (not even a sip of water from the time you are told to fast).

Please check the fasting times with the nurses in the Short Stay Surgical Unit between 3.30 pm to 4.30 pm, Monday to Friday:

  • Randwick: (02) 9382 1447 or (02) 9382 1448
  • Westmead: (02) 7825  2211

Write down the fasting instructions and follow them carefully to avoid delays or cancellation of your child鈥檚 surgery. 

Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick, has聽eased the strict liquid restrictions on surgery patients with a new approach called 'Sip Til Send'

Sip Til Send

Sip Til Send allows patients to sip approved clear liquids every hour until their surgery. Children can sip up to 3mls for every kilo they weigh, hourly until the child is called to theatre.

Clear fluids include:

  • water
  • clear apple juice 
  • lemonade iceblock 
  • hydralyte
  • glucose 5% solution 

Children are encouraged to Sip Til Send but not forced to do so if they aren't feeling well.

Children who are NIL by mouth for medical or surgical reasons can moisten their mouth and lips with water.