Nothing by Mouth (NPO) Instructions
For your child’s safety, it is very important that these instructions are followed the night before and the day of a procedure or surgery.
The procedure or surgery may be cancelled if instructions are not followed.
Your procedure is scheduled for ____________________(date) ______________(time)
Your child’s instructions for getting liquids and food are based on when they will get to the hospital which is ____________________(time)
Last usual or full meal _____________________(time)
No milk, formula or breast milk with additives after _____________________ (time)
No breast milk after _____________________(time)
No clear liquids after _____________________ (time)
The times may need to be changed if unexpected schedule changes are needed.
**Please fill in the blanks after times are provided to you by the Pre-op Call Nurse.
Type of liquid or food allowed / Definition
Usual / full meal: Any food and all juices are fine.
Formula / milk: Cow’s milk, soy milk, infant or adult formulas; expressed breast milk with additives.
Breast milk: Breast milk, without additives.
Clear liquids: Enfalyte® / Pedialyte, apple juice, white grape juice, Jell-O, popsicles, only apple juice or white grape juice, water. No red or purple liquids
These instructions are based on the following NPO guidelines.
Type of Feeding | Number of hours to stop before hospital arrival
Usual, full meal (by mouth): 8 hours
Formula, Milk or breast milk with additives (by mouth or NG/G-tube): 6 hours
Breast Milk (by mouth or NG/G-tube): 4 hours
Clear Liquids (by mouth or NG/G-tube): 2 hours
Any J-tube Feeds: 2 hours
Special Information
- If your child has a condition like glycogen storage disease or diabetes, and can’t be without food or liquids for a long time, your doctor will talk with your child’s specialty doctor about a plan.
- If your child is in the hospital on the day of surgery or procedure, the time to stop liquids and meals may be changed.
- For your child’s comfort and safety, we would like you to offer your child liquids up until their NPO time.
- For your child’s comfort, do not eat or drink in front of your child while they are not able to eat or drink before or after surgery or procedure.