my 4 year old son is going in for surgery...what shoud i tell him....?

Question

my 4 year old boy has to go for surgery soon. i am not going to tell him what the doctors are going to do to him. its a simple surgery and he knows waht surgery means. i need to find a way to tell him why he is being put to sleep without scaring him. whats a good way to tell my son without freaking him out about " surgery" thanks

my son is having surgery on his testicles where they might have to cut. he knows he has to go to the doctors i just dont want to tell him that they are going to cut him open, just an easy way to explain why he has to be put to sleep, ie why are they putting an IV in and stuff like that.

Answer 1

He's only 4, you can't be too specific unless he's really interested to know and has a problem he's actually aware of. My dentist tried to put me to sleep as a child and my mother hadn't explained what was going to happen when I went for my appointment, so I couldn't take the capsule they gave me (I'd never tried to swallow a tablet before) fought the mask they tried to put over my nose and mouth (very scary) and cried due to effects of the anaesthetic afterwards!
All-in-all, more scary for not having the "help-you-to-go-to-sleep" bit explained. I didn't need to know any more than "the dentist is going to take a tooth out for you", no gory details.
Your son is going to be sore after the anaesthetic wears off, and he will need help in coping with that, at that point you may want to explain simply why and where they put things right and how to let Mummy know if it hurts etc. The Houseman in the hospital may be more able than you to make the explanation. Your son will just see the pain in your eyes and know its serious. The Houseman will keep it clinical and kids can respond really well to gruesome stuff if delivered by a really good professional. I wish you and him all the best. Hope it all goes smoothly.

Answer 2

Let him know that he'll sleep through it and not feel any thing and wake up with you. Let him know that he'll be asleep so he won't wiggle while they're working, and so he won't get bored. If you were planning on having a special something or a little surprise waiting for him tell him he'll be able to dream about it and when he wakes up he'll be able to get it. It could even be a friend coming to visit as a surprise.

The Best recommendation I can give is to request that they give him the anesthetic through the IV that he already has. I went in for two surgeries when I was 8, the first they added the med to the Iv while I was on my side talking to my parents and I never even knew, my mom told me years later! I don't remember falling asleep and was completely relaxed waking up. The second time they took me into the OR and tried to knock me out with the mask and I completely panicked. It took a lot of people to pin me down and hold the mask on.

For the IV itself tell him to give him medicine while he's asleep because he won't be able to drink it. You should also be sure to tell him that the Needle Won't stay in his arm! it's just a soft plastic tube like a straw.

Keep in mind that his doctors should also be used to comforting and explaining things in ways that work well for children.

My one other sugestion is be ready for anything when he gets up. After my first surgery I didn't feel too well and wasn't hungry, after the second my mom brought a friend and pizza but she didn't get much thinking I wouldn't eat and I was Starving I could've finished one myself! His favorite icecream or a treat would be nice after the hospital meals when he's feeling up to it.

Best of luck for you and your boy

Answer 3

Focus on the results, on the outcome. Tell him he's gonna take a short nap, and Mom and Dad will both be there when he wakes up, and by the first of the year, he'll be much, much better.

To lighten the mood, we brought a camera to make it seem more like camp.

Now, expect the absolute worst when he wakes up. The staff may not warn you, but the first 2 hours are brutal for you and your child.

Answer 4

Explain it to him in a way that makes it sound "fun", like...that he gets to wear a silly mask and that it will make him fall asleep and when he's done with his dream you'll be right there beside him and the surgery will be done. Make sure you bring a favorite toy or stuffed animal that he can look forward to seeing in the recovery room. When my daughter was 4 she had her tonsils removed and we put a bandaid on her favorite stuffed animals neck like it had its tonsils out too. I wish you the best of luck and hope all goes well with the surgery.

Answer 5

if he knows what surgery is, I would tell him that he needs it to make him better with out going into the medical side of things, but when you tell him be reassuring if you yourself are worried about it then he will pick up on it, after telling him about needing the surgery, then tell him that they will give him a needle (if this doesn't bother him) or medicine (if it does bother him) that will make him sleep reassuring him again that when he wakes up mummy will be sitting there right beside him and you will be the first thing he sees when he opens his eyes.

Answer 6

simply put. The doctors do better work when you are sleeping. Why? Because. I was never concerned with the sleeping part...as they did mine at 3 in the morning.

Answer 7

I would like to know what type of surgery it is. You are giving your son the "Fear of the Unknown" which is the worst fear people experience in their lives.

Does your son know theres something wrong with him? I don't think not telling him what will happen is a good idea. He may freak out.

Answer 8

I would tell him that they are putting him to sleep because they don't want him to fell any pain. Keep it simple and give as many facts that he can understand.

Answer 9

tell your child the truth. he deserves that. why hide this from him. hes gonna be more scared not knowing what is happening

Answer 10

Can his dad or an uncle help explain it to him?