Waking up: what is normal in recovery and the days after

Where your child wakes up

After the procedure your child goes to the recovery room, where nurses watch them closely as the anaesthetic wears off. The Royal Children’s Hospital says the nurses call parents a little while after the child arrives, so you can be there as they wake. The Australian Society of Anaesthetists says children leave recovery once staff are satisfied they are ready, which may take an hour or two.

Your child may still have a drip in, and stickers or a small clip that let the nurses keep track of breathing and heart rate. The nurses take them off when they are no longer needed.

Waking up upset: emergence delirium

Some children wake up confused, crying, kicking or thrashing, and may not seem to know who you are. This is called emergence delirium. From the Royal Children’s Hospital fact sheet:

• it is most common between the ages of two and ten; babies and teenagers are generally not affected
• it is caused by some anaesthetic medicines
• it usually passes on its own after a few minutes
• your child will typically not remember it, though you may
• it does not happen every time, even if it has happened before.

ANZCA describes it the same way: not serious, it stops relatively quickly and the child does not usually remember it.

What you can do: stay calm, speak quietly, and help the nurse stop your child pulling at the drip or hurting themselves until it passes. Don’t try to reason with your child; they cannot take it in yet. A familiar toy can help younger children, ANZCA notes. If it goes on for a long time, the team may give a sedative medicine through the drip to help your child settle.

Seeing your child like this is upsetting, but ANZCA calls it not serious. The nurses will still check whether pain is part of the distress.

Feeling sick and vomiting

Nausea and vomiting are among the commoner effects. healthdirect says the risk is higher in older children, in girls and after some procedures, and that medicines can reduce it. If your child vomits once or twice at home, The Royal Children’s Hospital says not to worry: stop food for about an hour, then try again with something light. If vomiting keeps going, phone the contact number you were given.

A sore throat or croaky voice

During the anaesthetic your child’s breathing may be supported with a tube or another airway device. The Royal Children’s Hospital says some children have a sore throat or croaky voice for a few hours after the breathing tube is removed. A sore throat after an operation on the throat itself, such as removing tonsils, is different and lasts much longer.

Other things you might notice

The Australian Society of Anaesthetists and healthdirect list these among the minor effects:

• shivering after the procedure
• dizziness or light-headedness
• itching
• skin bruising
• damage to teeth, usually the front teeth or crowns, which is one reason the anaesthetist asks about loose teeth.

The Royal Children’s Hospital adds that children may be unsteady on their feet for four to six hours after an anaesthetic, and need an adult to support them when they walk, even to the toilet. How soon sport, bikes and school can resume depends on the procedure. After general day surgery, for example, it advises two days’ rest at home with an adult caring for the child, no contact sport or bike riding for one to two weeks, and no driving for 24 hours for teenagers who drive.

The first days at home

Recovery is more than the wound and the pain. In 2025 ANZCA reported on a new recovery questionnaire for parents, developed by Australian and US doctors, that tracks a child’s sleep, appetite, energy, mood and anxiety in the days after surgery. These are worth keeping an eye on yourself.

healthdirect notes that some children are unsettled for a while after an anaesthetic, with anxiety, night-time crying, bed-wetting or temper tantrums. Keep to normal routines where you can, offer extra comfort, and let your child talk or play about the hospital. See your GP if the changes last or concern you.

When to get help

Phone the hospital or the number on the discharge papers if your child keeps vomiting, if pain is not controlled by the recommended pain relief, or if anything on the warning list in your discharge papers appears. Each operation has its own list. After a tonsil operation, for example, The Royal Children’s Hospital lists fresh bleeding from the nose or mouth or in vomit, frequent swallowing, vomiting more than four times in the first 24 hours, being unable to drink, and a temperature of 38 °C or more, and says bleeding needs the nearest emergency department.

If you are not sure, the healthdirect helpline (NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria) gives health advice by phone at any hour on 1800 022 222.

In an emergency, call 000. This information is general and does not replace advice from your treating practitioner. Your child's anaesthetist, surgeon, dentist or hospital knows your child, and their instructions come first.