Moderate sedation makes kids sleepy and relaxed and able to safely have a needed medical procedure or test without remembering it. After sedation, your child may be more tired than usual for the next 24 hours and need more help with activities. Here's how to care for your child at home until they're back to normal.

• On the way home, your child should sit in their usual safe position in a car seat, booster seat, or with a seatbelt.
• If your child falls asleep in the car or at home and their head falls forward or to the side, prop it up so the neck is straight.
• An adult should stay with your child until they're back to normal.
• Sleepy children can easily have a fall:
  • Until your child feels back to normal, don't let them crawl or walk without help.
  • Your child might need help in the bathroom.
• If your child is upset, try keeping lights dim and the room quiet.
• Feed your child when they're hungry and fully awake.
• If your child vomits:
  • Do not give anything to eat or drink for about 1 hour. Then, offer small sips of a clear liquid. The best liquid to prevent or treat dehydration in kids is an oral rehydration solution, like Pedialyte^® or Enfalyte^® (or a store brand). You can buy it without a prescription at drugstores or supermarkets. If your child doesn't want an oral rehydration solution, just pick something they will drink. If your child vomits again, start over with a smaller amount of liquid.
  • You also can give frozen electrolyte pops (such as Pedialyte or a store brand), water ice, and flavored gelatin.
  • When your child has not vomited in 8 hours, offer small amounts of plain foods, such as toast, crackers, cereal, rice, or mashed potatoes. Babies can start taking breast milk or formula in small amounts, which you can increase slowly to their usual amount.

• For the next 24 hours, do not allow your child to do activities that take strength and balance, such as climbing stairs alone, riding a bike, or swimming.
• If your teen is old enough to drive, don't let them drive for 24 hours.
• People should not drink alcohol after having sedation.

Your child:

• vomits more than a few times
• is unable to drink
• is upset and can't calm down

Your child:

• is hard to wake up
• has blue lips
• has trouble breathing, loud snoring, or wheezing
• appears dehydrated; signs include a dry or sticky mouth, sunken eyes, crying with few or no tears, peeing less often (or having fewer wet diapers), dizziness or drowsiness

How long do the effects of moderate sedation last? Some sedation medicines stay in the body even after a child is completely awake. It can take up to 24 hours for some medicines to completely leave the body. Until they do, kids can be nauseated and could be sleepy and a little off balance.