It’s common for children to feel confused or upset when waking up from anesthesia. They may cry or seem disoriented, which can be hard to watch as a parent. Staying with your child during this time can help calm them and ease your own worries.
If your child needs to stay in the hospital overnight, you’ll be able to stay with them. When it’s time to go home—whether the same day or after a longer stay—a nurse will walk you through a detailed discharge plan. This may include:
After surgery, your child may feel pain, discomfort or irritability. Your pediatric surgeon may recommend medication to help manage these symptoms. Comforting your child by holding, rocking or simply being present can also help.
You may notice temporary changes in your child’s behavior, such as:
These changes are usually short-term and improve within a couple of weeks. Talk with your child about their experience to help them process what happened. Our child life specialists are also here to help. They can work directly with your child or give you ideas to support their emotional recovery at home.
At Banner Children’s, we know how important it is for your child to return to being their happy, healthy self. We’re here to support you every step of the way—with answers to your questions, guidance for care at home and the reassurance of knowing you’re not alone in this journey.
Sign in to Patient Account
