PATIENT INFORMATION
Fasting for children
Children should not be kept without fluids for unnecessarily long periods. The exact instruction depends on the child’s age, what they are drinking or eating, and local paediatric anaesthesia policy.
The ISA guideline allows water up to 1 hour before anaesthesia in selected children, in limited volumes, and other clear liquids up to 2 hours before. ASA 2023 states that evidence is insufficient to recommend 1 hour rather than 2 hours universally and advises allowing clear liquids as close to 2 hours as possible in children at low aspiration risk.
Paediatric fasting varies by age, intake and local protocol. Parents should use the fasting schedule supplied for their child’s procedure and should not substitute an internet timetable for an individual paediatric anaesthesia plan.