Sedation in Children: Care Instructions

Sedation is the use of medicine to help your child relax or fall asleep during a procedure. The medicine may be given by mouth, in the nose with drops or a mist, or in a vein (intravenous, I.V.). Depending on why your child is getting sedation, they may also get numbing medicine.

The care team will watch your child closely while your child is sedated. They will make sure that your child gets just the right amount of sedative. Your child also will be watched closely after the procedure.

Your child may be unsteady after having sedation. An older child may have trouble walking. A baby may be unsteady when sitting or crawling. It takes time (sometimes a few hours) for the medicine effects to wear off.

It's common for a child to feel sleepy after sedation. A baby might sleep more than usual or be hard to wake up. The care team will make sure that your child isn't too sleepy to go home.

• Have your child rest when they feel tired. A baby may sleep longer between feedings. Getting enough sleep will help your child recover.
• For the first few hours after sedation, follow your doctor's instructions about what your child can eat or drink. For a baby, your doctor will tell you if you need to change anything about your breastfeeding or bottle-feeding.
• After a few hours, allow your child to eat and drink a normal diet, unless your doctor has given you special instructions. Start with small amounts of food. If your child's stomach is upset, try clear liquids and bland, low-fat foods like plain toast or rice. If your baby has started to eat solid foods, your doctor will tell you what and when to feed your baby after sedation.
• Have your child rest for at least 24 hours. This includes not doing schoolwork. It takes time for the medicine effects to completely wear off.