Moderate Sedation in Children
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on May 4, 2025.
What do I need to know about moderate sedation?
Moderate sedation is medicine given during a procedure or treatment to help your child feel relaxed and calm. It may also be given to help decrease your child's movement during a procedure or treatment. Your child will be awake and able to follow directions. Moderate sedation can be used for procedures such as wound repair, fracture reduction, or a lumbar puncture. The medicine may be given as a pill, shot, inhaled solution, or injection through an IV.
How do I prepare my child for moderate sedation?
- Your child's healthcare provider will tell you how to prepare your child. The provider may tell you not to give your child anything to eat or drink for 8 hours before moderate sedation. You can breastfeed your baby up until 4 hours before moderate sedation. You can give your older child clear liquids up until 2 hours before moderate sedation.
- Tell the provider if your child has any allergies, breathing problems, or heart problems.
- Tell your child's provider about all your child's current medicines. The provider will tell you if your child needs to stop any medicine for the sedation and when to stop. The provider will tell you which medicines to give or not give on the day of the sedation.
- Arrange to have another adult with you on the ride home to watch your child for problems after sedation. A second adult can ride with your child in the backseat while you drive.
What will happen during moderate sedation?
A healthcare provider may place an IV in your child's arm or hand. Your child's healthcare provider will give your child enough medicine to keep him or her relaxed and calm. Your child's heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing with be closely monitored.
What should I expect after moderate sedation?
- Healthcare providers will monitor your child until he or she is awake. Your child may need extra oxygen if his or her blood oxygen level is lower than it should be.
- As your child wakes up, he or she may cry or have trouble getting comfortable. This is common after moderate sedation. Speak in a quiet, calm voice to help your child relax. Your child may be able to go home after he or she is alert, can sit up, and talk appropriately for his or her age. This may take 1 to 2 hours.
- Your child may need more rest than usual for the first 24 hours after he or she goes home. Your child may be restless until the medicine is completely out of his or her system.
- Your child may have a headache or nausea. Your child's skin may itch or his or her eyes may water. You may notice that your child has problems with short-term memory. Your child may feel weak or have trouble with his or her balance. These symptoms should go away within 24 hours.
What are the risks of moderate sedation?
- Your child may not get enough sedation, or it may wear off quickly. Your child may feel restless during the procedure or as he or she wakes up.
- Too much medicine can cause deep sedation. The provider may have trouble waking your child and he or she may need medicine to help wake up. Your child's breathing may not be regular, or it may stop. Your child may need a ventilator to help him or her breathe. Your child's risk for problems with sedation is higher if he or she has a heart or lung problem, a head injury, or a problem with development.
Call your local emergency number (911 in the US) if:
- Your child has trouble breathing.
- Your child cannot be woken.
- Your child has a seizure.
- Your child cannot talk, move, or see normally within a few hours of the procedure.
When should I seek immediate care?
- Your child has a severe headache or dizziness, or cries constantly.
- Your child's heart is beating faster than usual.
When should I call my child's doctor?
- Your child has a fever or chills.
- Your child has nausea or is vomiting for longer than 8 hours after procedure.
- Your child's skin is itchy, swollen, or he or she has a rash.
- You have questions or concerns about your child's condition or care.
Care Agreement
You have the right to help plan your child's care. Learn about your child's health condition and how it may be treated. Discuss treatment options with your child's healthcare providers to decide what care you want for your child. The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.© Copyright Merative 2025 Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.
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