3 yo son going to hospital for operation

[wheresmyliein1973]

Morning all,

Our 3 year old DS is going into hospital on Saturday for a hernia removal under general anaesthetic. All going well, he should be home on the same day.

So here's my question - we haven't mentioned it to him yet. I'm not sure how much to tell him in advance as I don't want to scare him. Any tips?

Thanks

Usborne first experiences do a great book about 'going to the hospital'. It's about a little boy who has an operation on his ear. They take you through the whole thing. My 3 year old really enjoyed it and keeps asking if he can have an operation

Hope all goes well for you.

great, thanks

I was going to recommend the exact same book! I would definitely explain it all to him.

There's also a Mr Tumble something special episode about a boy going into hospital for an operation. If you go on youtube, and search for Mr Tumble it's the first video that comes up.

I've got that book too. There's also a something special episode about hospitals.

Tbh I think he's more likely to be scared if he's had no preparation.

I'd prepare him for the gas mask and having a drip in when he wakes. He may also wake in recovery before you get to him. When ds has had ops (grommets) they let them wake before they fetch you, so he woke in a strange room with no one he knew around. Naturally he was a little upset.

x-post... beaten to it.

My DD went when she was 4 - we just talked about it gently with her beforehand - how she needed the op, it would help her feel better ("you know the nasty feeling you get when you stretch - a week or so after the op it will be gone forever" etc...) - and gave her a cheap disposable camera to take some photos for play group - she was so focused on the camera, she didn't really pay much attention to the rest....

They put a tube in the back of her hand - that was a bit distressing, but I don't think talking about that bit would have made her feel less distressed- it is just something that needed doing..... I think that the way we treated it on the day - as if we were just off to the supermarket or something routine, helped her feel it was not such a big thing...

With it being a weekend - make sure you grab the doc in charge of the ward to sign the release before he leaves... we spent ages waiting for someone to assess her as being fit after a general anaesthetic before being allowed to leave

My son went in for a grommet operation at 2yrs (also GA). I think you need to prepare him for the nil by mouth at the very least. I got lots of books from the library about it. I don't think he will be scared as long as you present it in a factual way and reassure him you will be there in the hospital the whole time. Talk through the whole process, let him help you pack a bag with colouring stuff etc as the waiting beforehand is the worst bit.

Don't worry - it will be worse for you than for him! Just prepare yourself for him to be a bit disorientated and scared after coming round from the GA (no need to prepare him for that as he won't remember it afterwards).

I'd explain as much as you can in a simple to understand, 'this is an exciting adventure' kind of way. I did that with the whole hospital experience, including the magic numbing cream before a cannula in the hand. Little children will have no idea it's anything other than an adventure and if you are upbeat about it all they probably will be also. All the best for the op.