Top tips for 3yo surgery and or tonsillectomy

[Apple2026]

Just wondering if anyone has any advice or things they wish they’d known before their toddler had surgery? DS has just turned 3 and I’m not really sure what to expect recovery-wise!
What sort of foods did your little ones eat afterwards, and how quickly were they back to normal? Also any ideas for keeping a 3 year old occupied while he’s recovering would be very welcome 😆
Anything you found really useful to have at home beforehand? Thanks!

Our DS was older, so around 6 I think. He was fully recovered within a week. Says now that he “woke up hungry and has been hungry ever since” but he did used to lose a bit of weight every time he had tonsillitis.

Not sure on the food but they will advise you. I’d try and take him in his favourite water bottle and some cartons of nice juice to encourage him to drink plenty.

We kept him occupied with a DS but you might not want to introduce gaming at this age. Does he have a Tonie?

Just normal diet. Orange juice can sting so maybe avoid that. Sometimes it’s better to leave food they like around so they can pick.

Stock up on calpol and nurofen, give it regularly. It’s worth waking them up overnight for a dose as well. Give it for at least a week.

I’m a children’s nurse and one of mine had their tonsils out so I’ve seen it from
both sides.

Good tip about the orange juice. I wouldn’t have thought of that.

I’ve just had my tonsil out and it worse for adults I have heard but I found water really hard to swallow. Lots of jelly as it is hydrating and slips down! I also liked warm porridge or weetabix (warm kr cold) were easy to eat and chocolate milkshake when I needed calories! Scrambled egg were super easy to eat too. Ice cream and ice lollies too.

If you have a humidifier that helped having that a night to stop throat drying out- pain is worse in the morning . Also need painkillers in the night.

Ice pack and hot water bottle/heatpack - cold pack in the throat takes some sting out. Common to get earache too. Two weeks on and I’m feeling fine, still hurts a bit but I’m fine.