Eating and Drinking Before Surgery and Diagnostic Tests
Children Under 12 Months | Children Over 12 Months |
What are Clear Liquids?
For your child's safety at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, his or her stomach must be empty before getting anesthesia at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.
It is very important that you follow these eating and drinking instructions carefully. If you do not, your child's procedure may be cancelled or delayed.
For Children Less Than 12 Months Old
| Time of Procedure | Eating and Drinking Instructions |
|---|
Procedure done in the morning | After midnight the night before procedure: No meat, eggs, fried foods or fatty foods. Six (6) hours before procedure: - Stop all food and formula
- May have clear liquids
Four (4) hours before procedure: - Do not give anything more to drink
- Stop clear liquids
- Stop breastfeeding
|
Procedure done in the afternoon | After midnight the night before procedure: No meat, eggs, fried foods or fatty foods. Six (6) hours before procedure: - Stop all food and formula
- May have clear liquids
Four (4) hours before procedure: - Do not give anything more to drink
- Stop clear liquids
- Stop breastfeeding
|
IMPORTANT: Do not give your child meat, eggs, fried foods or fatty foods after midnight the night before the procedure.
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For Children 12 Months of Age or Older
| Time of Procedure | Eating and Drinking Instructions |
|---|
Procedure done in the morning | After midnight the night before procedure: No meat, eggs, fried foods or fatty foods. Eight (8) hours before procedure: - Stop all food, milk products, juices that
you cannot see through, candy, gum - You may give clear liquids
Four (4) hours before procedure: - Do not give anything more to drink
- Stop clear liquids
- Supervise toothbrushing to be sure
child does not drink.
|
Procedure done in the afternoon | After midnight the night before procedure: No meat, eggs, fried foods or fatty foods. Eight (8) hours before procedure: - May only have light breakfast of dry
cereal, dry toast and a clear liquid - Do not give any other solid food
- May drink only clear liquids
Four (4) hours before procedure: - Do not give anything more to drink
- Stop clear liquids
|
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What are Clear Liquids?
Clear liquids are fluids you can see through, like:
- Water or sugar water
- Breast milk
- Pedialyte®
- Jell-O®
- Kool Aid®
- Gatorade®
- Apple juice
- Pulp-free juices
- Soft drinks
- Popsicles
Orange juice and cow’s milk are NOT clear liquids.
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9/08
