How to prepare a 2yr old for a minor surgery?

My 2yr 2mo old son is having Surgery in a week from today. He has sleep apena caused by his tonsils and adenoids being too large for its little throat. They are putting him under and keeping him in the hospital for 24hrs because hes under 3yrs old. How would you prepare a child so young for something like this?

I forgot to say the surgery is to remove his tonsils and adenoids.

My daughter was three when she had this done, and honestly even at that age they are too young to understand it.

I waited until the day before the surgery to even bring it up. I told her that the next day we are going for a doctors visit at the hospital, and we're going to have a sleepover at the hospital and mommy will stay the WHOLE time.

If you tell your son too far in advance or give too much detail, he'll be very anxious and upset. No sense in upsetting them too much when they really won't understand.

Just make sure you stock yourself at home with plenty of popsicles and soft foods (he'll be on a soft food diet for 2 weeks). Good luck, you'll be amazed at how resilient kids are and how fast he'll bounce back.

My son had hernia surgery at 1- and we had decided, and spoken to his doctor about having it a children's hospital- instead of the normal hospital (although the normal hospital was closer)

The children's hospital made it so much easier. Every room we were in was filled with toys, and I didn't even think he realized he was getting ready for- even though I was nervous for him- he was too busy having fun.

I'm not sure if its available for you, but I highly recommend it. Just try to explain it to him, too. I know that calms my son down - explaining whats happening, and sounding happy while doing so. Maybe bring some toys and treats for the down times- especially the stay at the hospital. Just spoil him extra hard. ^-^


I hope he feels better, and good luck with the surgery!

my daughter had to have minor surgery on her foot when she was just over 2 years old and it was very scary for me. i just tried to explain to her that she had something wrong with her foot (she could see for herself) and the doctor was going to fix it. ( and she wasnt able to wear shoes so i told her she would be able to wear shoes and she was excited about that.) i told her she was going to take a nap and when she woke up it would be all better! she was still kinda little to understand, the big part was explaining that the doctors had to put an iv in. and the meds they use can have a major effect on them so be prepared when he wakes up for him to be weak, cranky, sleepy, and out of it. you can try to make him feel better but it just doesnt work, they are so miserable. that was the hard part for me.

awww!
I can't imagine how stressful that would be for you and your partner!!
I'm not sure how to -- call the hospital and ask them they'll tell you.
But i think the most important thing would be to prepare you two. Get all your hugs, kisses, snuggles, cuddles and all that stuff that then when you get back from the hosptal be prepared to do that all over again but with each other lol

I cant imagine having that done to my 3 year old boys! Be brave it'll make him that much more incomfortable.
ps stock up on icecream too!

You can't.....I know it sounds horrible, but there is no way you can explain it to him so he can understand. My daughter has a rare disease and has been in and out of hospital for a year and a half.....she is now 22 months old. In July she was in ICU for 5 days and 2 weeks in hosp......they adapt pretty quick actually. She has had 4 surgeries and always comes out fine. YOU just need to make sure that you are ok....sometimes the parents freak out more than the child.....that is what stresses the child. Just be there to hold him when he wakes up and cuddle him and love him. That is all he will need.....he won't understand why this is happening but know mommy is there so that is all he will need.

there is nothing you can do, they will give him something to drink to make the separation easier....... lol.........my son had it and it looked like he was drunk I am laughing thinking about it. He would just look at us and laugh away so when the nurses came to take him back he was just laughing away which made it easier since he was not screaming. Just make sure they let you be there when or shortly after he wakes up. Everything will be fine good luck

My son had this done at the same age. There is nothing to do but tell him whats going on and he will understand what he understand. He'll be fine because your staying with him. As long as you tell him you'll be with him, he should be OK. They give them some meds to make him woozy before taking him to surgery so he won't be scared.
When he wakes up, you will be there. He will be fussy and feel a little rough. He'll need held and cuddled just like at home. By the next morning my son was pretty much back to normal. In fact he cried to eat real food instead of ice cream and Popsicles.
I hope he feels better soon. This helped my boy a lot.

Only give a two year old as much information as they can handle. He's going to see a doctor, they are going to make him go to sleep, and when he wakes up his throat will hurt for a little while. No need to give him details about the operation.

i dont think that there is anything to do to prepare him. have lots of popsicles and jello.. thats all i ate when i had mine out.

I think he will react more to your nervousness that anything else, I think if you act happy and calm, it will be much easier on him. Pretend that it's no big deal (it's really not)

to be honnest I wouldn't tell him
have them knock him out as quickly as possible and then see if you can spend the night there with him