700 Children's® – A Blog by Pediatric Experts

How to Talk to Kids About Anesthesia

Jan 08, 2026

A graphic with a blue and orange diagonal background featuring a smartphone in the center. On the phone screen is a blue butterfly icon above the text “How to Talk to Kids About Anesthesia” At the top of the image, white text reads “Nationwide Children’s Hospital YouTube Short.”

Are you wondering how to explain anesthesia to your child? Dr. Ashley Smith, an anesthesiologist who works at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, explains:

One of the questions that I get asked all the time by parents is, how do I explain anesthesia to my kid?

I get to tell them: “Don’t worry about it!” We will meet with your child and you in the pre-operative holding area before heading back for anesthesia. I will tell them that they will be completely asleep for their surgery and that they get to go off to sleep with a mask. We add a flavor to the mask to make sure that they like it. A lot of times people pick bubblegum, but my favorite is fruit punch! Once they fall off to sleep with the mask with some really special, cool science, then they get to have their surgery completed, and wake up to be reunited with you!

We love to answer questions, but if your child is still feeling anxious, we can always ask our Child Life Specialist to step in and help out a little bit.

MyChart

Callista Dammann

Marketing and Public Relations

Callista Dammann is the social community manager at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. She has the unique opportunity of navigating the hospital as both a staff member and a parent after delivering her twin girls, Cami and Madi, at just 25 weeks gestation. Her daughter Madi is a guardian angel for sister Cami, and baby brothers Maddox and Cayson.

Jody Ganschinietz

Marketing and Public Relations

Jody Ganschinietz joined Nationwide Children’s Hospital in 2018 and serves as a strategist with the Marketing and Public Relations team. Jody produces content for population health efforts and works in partnership with service lines whose work impacts the health of the community. Jody also produces high-performing Tik Tok videos like the “Urgent Care vs. Emergency Room” series.

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Pediatric News You Can Use From America’s Largest Pediatric Hospital and Research Center

700 Children’s® features the most current pediatric health care information and research from our pediatric experts – physicians and specialists who have seen it all. Many of them are parents and bring a special understanding to what our patients and families experience. If you have a child – or care for a child – 700 Children’s was created especially for you.

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