What should I pack for my sons surgery?

[AintNobodyHereButUsChickens]

DS (7) is having a small surgery on Monday and should hopefully be coming home the same day. But I’m not sure what to pack in his bag? Food, obviously because he won’t be having breakfast so he’ll be starving afterwards. Pyjamas in case he has to stay overnight, clothes, plus toothbrush etc, shower stuff. His teddy, extra long charging cable for his ipad 🤣 I’m not sure if I’m missing anything else.

Did not bother with food. They will give some suitable food afterwards. You don’t want him to be sick, so just go with what they offer after kids are in recovery, then very light food for rest of day when at home.

Don’t bother about packing for a stay unless you have specifically been told this is a good possibility, otherwise you are catastrophising. It is vanishingly rare for someone to be kept in if it’s meant to be day surgery (yes, not impossible, and I’m sure everyone knows someone’s aunt’s butchers’s dog walkers aunt who was, but it is rare). Also, no kid wants to clean their teeth after day surgery, or in fact in the rare event they need to stay overnight, they can do it when they get home.

Take a good power bank in preference to a charger.

From a person who has been both sides of the fence for decades.

ETA - def pack the teddy, it will be appreciated.

Id give the opposite advice from the poster above and say do pack an overnight bag for you and DS but keep it in the car. Just in case, he could end up last on the list etc and end up needing overnight obs.

Id bring comfortable clothes for you, with a selection of temperature ranges. Mostly for too hot, but you can also be sent to wait in freezing lounges.

A good book, or crochet(small easily portable crafty project) to keep your mind off things would be good too)

Food for you, as there might not be food options at the hospital- ours is crap

But other than that your list is perfect

Hope the surgery goes brilliantly and helps your DS

They did tell me to pack overnight stuff just in case. They said it was rare but it’s better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it. The hospital isn’t close to home so it’s not like I can just nip there and back. I’ll have the car so DH can’t bring anything either.

Just pack a toothbrush for yourself. It’s rare enough that it will likely be a wasted exercise, and if not, won’t kill you to sleep in your clothes for a night, and your child will happily be in a gown, as long as they have teddy that’s all that matters. If you want to go overboard, throw in a spare pair of undies for yourself😁.

spare set of clothes/undies is useful even if it's not a planned overnight stay (occasionally needed even if not staying due to unpredictable bladders whilst anaesthetised/waking up). Special treat snacks are nice (and important for kids that have any sensory issues relating to food normally). Helpful to bring in any medication he normally takes if that's relevant. Something mindless to do while he's in theatre and probably a snack for you too!

Few drinks, card game, pens colouring book book to read him a story.his dressing gown to go to the loo pre/post surgery Stuff for you to stay with him overnight you could leave both your overnight stuff in car and bring it if necessary. Your phone charger and thermos coffee cup keep your drinks hot. Hope he has a speedy recovery.

Something for you to do while he’s in surgery.

My 6yo DD had surgery on Friday and I packed so many activity books, her pencil case, stories, a little bed table so she could sit in bed and eat/do her stickers. Didn't use any of it as she was totally knocked out. She did appreciate being fed her favourite breakfast when she woke up briefly around lunch time and wet wipes were handy for cleaning up after she vomitted and bled.

If it had been a long distance to the hospital I think I would have prepared a small overnight bag. I wouldn't have bothers packing a change of clothes though - I'd have worn clothes comfortable enough to sleep in (same for DD) and just packed deodorant and a toothbrush.

But yeah, the only things I used: phone, kindle, wet wipes, tissues, cake (plus fork), water bottle, thermos of tea.

Power bank for you and him in case the socket is at an awkward position.

Waterbottle to keep water cool and a thermos coffee cup to keep your drink hot and save from spills

Soft drink and some snacks/food for you - vending machines are expensive. While I drank lots of water, the stale air and warm room meant I was glad about a coke and lemonade.

pack of wet wipes or a flannel and small towel - DH had some spill and it was nearly impossible to get something for him to clean a hand and he couldn't get out of bed

He may be out from the anaesthetic so I wouldn't go for anything he needs to concentrate on, depending what he likes to do, sticker books or simple colouring are not too bad but I wouldn't expect more than watching a movie on an ipad.
If he likes, headphones for an audiobook maybe

Same for you, headphones, kindle/book, ipad, phone. If you do, crochet or knitting

Whenever I've had surgery they gave me soft foods for a couple of days (white bread, cooked fruit, mashed veggies and broth etc) because it can mess up your digestion. And I never really felt like eating right afterwards anyway. So I wouldn't take lots of food for him.

It's always a good idea to take a toothbrush and power bank because you never know if you might have to stay overnight, if there's an adverse reaction or complication.