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How can you care for your child at home?
Activity
- Do not be afraid to hold or handle your child. Your child may need extra closeness in the first few days after surgery.
- Ask your doctor when your child can return to day care.
Diet
- Give your child frequent small feedings of formula or breast milk. Follow your doctor's instructions.
Medicines
- Your doctor will tell you if and when your child can restart any medicines. The doctor will also give you instructions about any new medicines.
- Give your child acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) for pain. Do not use ibuprofen if your child is less than 6 months old unless the doctor gave you instructions to use it. Be safe with medicines. Read and follow all instructions on the label. Do not give aspirin to anyone younger than 20. It has been linked to Reye syndrome, a serious illness.
- Do not give a child two or more pain medicines at the same time unless the doctor told you to. Many pain medicines have acetaminophen, which is Tylenol. Too much acetaminophen (Tylenol) can be harmful.
- If your child is under age 2 or weighs less than 24 pounds, follow your doctor's advice about the amount of medicine to give your child.
- To avoid an upset stomach, have your child take pain medicine with formula or breast milk.
- If your child is given antibiotics, be sure your child finishes them all. Your child should not stop taking them just because your child feels better.
Incision care
- If there are strips of tape closing the incision, leave them on until they fall off.
- Do not soak the incision under water during the first 2 weeks. Give your child sponge baths.
- Your child may have some swelling around the surgery site. This is normal and may take several weeks to go away.
When should you call for help?
Watch closely for any changes in your child's health, and be sure to contact your doctor if:
- Your child continues to vomit beyond 2 to 3 days after surgery.
- Your child has fewer wet diapers than normal.
- Your child has a bloated or swollen belly.
- Your child will not eat or drink.
- Your child is not gaining weight.
- Your child is sleepy, hard to wake up, or very fussy.
- Your child has pain that does not get better after taking pain medicine.
- Your child has a fever.
- Your child has signs of infection. These include increasing tenderness, red streaks, or pus from the incision.
Current as of: October 19, 2024
Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff
Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.
