I'm a student nurse and have spent 12 weeks on a ward where we had hundreds of tonsillectomys. Tell him the truth - try to explain everything that will happen, try to find books that are about hospitals and have pictures in so he will get used to the uniforms. Bring lots of toys and games and stories because you may have a long wait and this will help keep him distracted, especially as he will definately be very hungry! Bring a special toy as most hospitals will allow a toy to stay in theatre with him. Try not to be too anxious yourself as he will pick up on that.

When he has been discharged from hospital make sure he has regular pain relief because as you can imagine it will be very painful and may stop him eating but with regular paracetamol (as the hospital tells you) will hopefully mena he is back to his normal self very quickly. Another thing if he has never had his blood pressure etc done before maybe explain about a cuff that squeezes his arm or a clip on his finger. We always say that the surgeons are in their pjs and look very silly so the kids can laugh at them instead of being scared by the anaesthetic room. hope this helps

good advice from make_me_a pira ~ when my youngest was four weeks old he had to have a hernia op & we went in the night before. I so wish I'd taken his own cot sheets for the familiar smell as he wouldn't settle in the hospital cot & when I picked him up he could smell my milk which he couldn't have before the op - so taking familiar things for a small child is a good idea. I think the parent worries more than the child! good luck - it'll be fine xxx