Your child had sedation for a procedure. The medicines used for sedation make kids sleepy and relaxed so they can have a procedure without pain. 

Your child was checked often after the procedure and is now ready to go home. Many kids feel fully awake and back to normal within a few hours of the procedure. But some kids can feel tired or cranky, have a headache, or vomit for up to 24 hours after.

Here's how to care for your child as they recover from the sedation.

• On the way home, your child should sit in their usual safe position in a car seat, booster seat, or with a seatbelt. If their head falls forward or to the side, prop it up so it is easy for them to breathe.
• Give any medicines as instructed by your health care provider.
• For the first 24 hours after sedation:
  • You or another adult should stay with your child when they are awake. This way, if they are drowsy or unsteady on their feet, you can help them with walking, eating and drinking, and using the bathroom.
  • Let your child rest or sleep as needed. If they are napping, you or another adult should stay close by in case they need you. When your child goes to sleep for the night, check them every few hours to make sure they're comfortable and not having any problems.
  • Your teen should not drive or drink alcohol.
  • Your child should not ride a bike or swim.
• Give your child liquids. For kids, start with clear liquids like water, apple juice, and broth. For babies, give them their usual diet of breast milk or formula. Do not give plain water to babies. If your child isn't vomiting, you can slowly add other drinks and plain foods, such as toast, crackers, cereal, rice, applesauce, or mashed potatoes.
• If your child vomits:
  • Don't give anything to eat or drink for about 20–30 minutes. Then, if your child doesn't vomit again, give small amounts of liquids:
    • Give babies who are on breast milk small, more frequent feedings.
    • Babies who are on formula and toddlers can have small sips of an oral rehydration solution (like Pedialyte®, Enfalyte®, or a store brand). You can buy it without a prescription at drugstores or supermarkets. 
    • Older kids and teens can have an oral rehydration solution, ice chips, flat ginger ale or lemon-lime soda, clear broth, ice pops, or juice mixed with water.
  • If your child isn't vomiting, slowly increase giving liquids until they're taking their usual amount.
  • If your child vomits again, wait another 20–30 minutes, then try a small amount of liquids again. If they do OK with liquids, offer small amounts of plain foods.

Your child:

• vomits more than 2–3 times
• can't drink any liquids
• shows signs of dehydration (not enough water in the body) such as a dry, sticky mouth; not peeing as much as usual; or crying without tears
• has pain that is not controlled by the medicines the health care provider prescribed

Your child:

• is hard to wake up
• has trouble breathing, is snoring loudly, or is wheezing

What are the types of sedation? The main types of sedation are:

• Minimal: The patient is relaxed but can still answer questions.
• Moderate: The patient is very sleepy and may not remember the procedure.
• Deep: The patient is fully asleep and won't remember most or any of the procedure. Unlike during general anesthesia, though, the patient usually can breathe on their own.

What are the risks of sedation? For most people, sedation is very safe. Rarely, someone can have an allergic reaction, breathing problems, or abnormal heart rhythms shortly after the medicine is given. Your health care provider would have told you if your child had any problems during the procedure. Some kids might get dehydrated if they vomit a lot after sedation, but this isn't common.

Researchers are studying whether sedation or anesthesia can affect the brain development of young children. Most likely, getting sedation or anesthesia for a short time for one surgery or procedure does not put a young child at risk.