This guide helps parents prepare for their child’s tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy by offering tips on what to expect before, during, and after surgery, and advice on how to talk to and comfort your child.
This guide helps parents prepare for their child’s tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy by offering tips on what to expect before, during, and after surgery, and advice on how to talk to and comfort your child.
A tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy (often called a T&A) are surgical procedures typically done at the same time to treat chronic infections or breathing issues, such as sleep apnea or recurring throat infections.
A tonsillectomy is the removal of your child’s tonsils – two round pieces of tissue located at the back of your child’s throat, one on each side, that help trap germs that enter the mouth.
An adenoidectomy is the removal of the adenoids – these are located higher up in the throat, behind your child’s nose and soft palate (the back of the roof of their mouth). You can’t see them without special tools, but they also help catch germs, especially those that enter through the nose.
How to Explain a T&A to Your Child
Why We’re Here. “The doctor is going to help your throat and nose feel better. Sometimes, your tonsils or adenoids can get swollen which makes it hard to breathe or can cause sore throats and infections. The doctor is going to fix that!”
What’s Going to Happen? “The doctor will carefully remove your tonsils and adenoids. This will help you breathe easier and stop your throat from hurting. You’ll be asleep the whole time, so you won’t feel anything!”
Will it Hurt? “Your doctor will give you special medicine to help you fall asleep, so you won’t see or feel anything during the procedure. Afterward, your throat might feel sore, but the doctor will give you medicine to help with that.”
What Happens Next? “After the surgery, you’ll rest and recover, and in a few days, you’ll start feeling better. It might hurt a little at first, but that will go away. We can ask the doctor if there is medicine to help you until you are all better.”
How to Prepare
Pack a bag to bring to the hospital with your child’s favorite blanket or stuffed animal for comfort, along with activities to help distract them while waiting for the procedure.
Stock up on plenty of soft foods like ice cream, smoothies, or popsicles for post-surgery recovery.
Manage pain by filling any prescriptions and with items recommended by your child’s doctor like a cold compress to reduce swelling.
Before Surgery
Follow directions about when your child should stop eating or drinking.
Pack a comfort item, blanket, or an electronic device so your child can watch movies while you are in the waiting or recovery room.
Kids cope best when they are supported by a loved one. Plan to stay with your child or, if not possible, reach out to a trusted adult.
Your child will wake up in a special room called a recovery room. The medical team will determine if your child can go home or needs to spend the night.
It’s normal for your child to feel some discomfort and have a sore throat after the surgery.
Expect some swelling, which should go down within a week.
Keep your child hydrated and offer soft foods to avoid irritation to the throat.
Contact your doctor if you notice anything concerning, like excessive bleeding, infection, or swelling.
Reward your child with a treat and/or tell them how proud of them you are after their T&A. Share one specific thing they did well. It’s also important to ask your child how they think it went.
Download Hope for Henry’s Official Certificate and present it to your child because they did it!
The information on Hope for Henry’s Healthcare Hub is provided for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute providing medical advice or professional services.
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