Eating and Drinking Guidelines

Day of Surgery Fasting Rules

For your child's health and safety during surgery, your child must stop eating or drinking according to the rules below. In general, your child should stop taking: 

• Clear liquids 1 hour before arrival to the hospital. These include water and clear soda, such as Sprite; popsicles (no pulp, no milk); apple juice (pulp-free); sports drinks, such as Gatorade; or gelatin without fruit, such as Jell-O. 
• Breast milk 3 hours before arrival to the hospital
• Formula or milk 5 hours before arrival to the hospital
• All other foods 7 hours before arrival to the hospital

Medications may be taken with a sip of water on the morning of surgery as directed by your physician. Bring a list of medications and the amount that your child takes.

Please note: While we would never advise their use, on the day of surgery patients should not smoke, drink alcohol or use recreational drugs. These can cause your surgery to be unsafe and cancelled.

If eating and drinking guidelines are not followed, your child's surgery will be delayed or cancelled for your child's safety.

To learn how to prepare your child, and his or her siblings, emotionally for surgery, visit Talking to Your Child.