Masking and Visitation Changes: Due to high rates of respiratory illnesses in our community, we’ve made changes to our masking and visitation guidelines. Learn more.
Whether you’re coming in for one clinic appointment or several, Seattle Children’s will do everything possible to make you and your child feel included, safe and comfortable.
You and your child are essential members of the healthcare team. Please ask us questions anytime.
In this section you’ll find important information and helpful checklists about coming for a surgery or procedure.
Your child’s safety is important to us. Our infection prevention experts have set in place policies and practices to protect our patients from COVID-19 while they’re here receiving care, whether that is surgery, a clinic visit, an inpatient stay, urgent care or a visit to our emergency department. Learn more about how we’re keeping everyone safe.
If your child is coming to Seattle Children’s for a surgery, procedure, or hospital stay, you will have some things to take care of before you come.
Check with your insurance company to see if you need a second opinion for planned or elective surgery.
Once your child's surgery is scheduled, you will receive a checklist in the mail. This includes all of the important things you will need to do before your child's surgery or procedure, including instructions about medicines, food and drink, anesthesia and location.
If your child is spending the night at in the hospital, you will want to look at sleeping, transportation and food options. If you need help finding a place to stay or transportation in Seattle or Bellevue, contact Guest Services.
To get help with transportation, a place to stay, or for questions about your visit, contact Guest Services.
To learn more about hospital campus amenities, see the Hospital Campus Visitor and Family Guide.
The length and nature of your visit may make it difficult for young children to attend. If children attend, we recommend bringing another adult to supervise.
We have free playrooms for patients and their brothers and sisters ages 3 to 11 who are toilet-trained (no Pull-Ups) at our hospital campus and Bellevue locations.
Learn more about the Bellevue Playroom. Learn about hours and availability for the Clinic Playroom at the hospital campus.
Siblings are not allowed to stay overnight. You will need to make other child care arrangements.
To find out when siblings and others can visit, see our Visitor Policy.
Let us know about cultural beliefs or unique needs that may affect you child's treatment and care.
We offer free interpreters for Deaf and hard-of-hearing, and non-English languages. We should have arranged them when you scheduled.
If you need a wheelchair when you arrive, let us know at 206-987-3360.
To learn more, visit our Accessibilty and Special Needs section.
Birth or adoptive parents do not need to bring a birth certificate or any other legal papers.
If requested, ask your child's doctor(s) to send medical records, X-rays or test results to the hospital.
Ask your insurance company if you need a managed-care referral from your child's primary doctor and/or preauthorization for your child's hospital stay.
To learn more, visit our Insurance section. For questions, call Seattle Children’s Insurance Processing Department at 206-987-5757.
If you need a managed-care referral, ask your child's doctor to fax us at 206-985-3297. To find out if you need one, contact your insurance company.
Important: Make sure Seattle Children’s receives the insurance referral at least two business days before your child's admission.
To learn more, visit our Insurance section. For questions, call Seattle Children’s Insurance Processing Department at 206-987-5757.
Find out more about financial assistance.
You should receive a phone call from Seattle Children's before your child's surgery or procedure with eating and drinking instructions, location and time.
If you do not hear from us 2 business days before your child's surgery, call the Surgery Center at 206-987-7890.
If you do not hear from us 3 business days before the surgery, call the Bellevue Surgery Center Nurse Line at 206-884-9200.
If you were given the Hibiclens cleanser, follow the instructions your provider gave you. Pay special attention to the surgical site (avoiding eyes, ears and mouth).
If your child becomes ill one week before surgery, call your child's specialty clinic. The clinic’s name will be on your Before Surgery/Procedure Checklist you received in the mail.
To find out about directions, food, visiting and other hospital neighborhood services at the Seattle location, see the Hospital Campus Visitor and Family Guide.
We know that a surgery or procedure is a big event for you and your child. Talking together about your visit ahead of time may help your child feel less afraid.
Remember, your experience with hospitals may be very different from what your child will experience.
Seattle Children’s has a variety of resources to help you talk to your child about their surgery. Call your community doctor or the Children’s specialty clinic that referred your child for surgery to get all the information you need.
From check-in to discharge, follow the colorful photo story of an outpatient day surgery here at Children's. Written by Child Life specialists, this helpful booklet can lessen worry and spark conversation.
Preschoolers preparing for day surgery can enjoy this coloring and activity book that follows a boy and his teddy bear through the surgery experience.
Here are some more tips to help your child feel safer about their upcoming visit:
A child understands things based on his age and developmental level. You probably have many ideas of your own. Here are some of ours that you might also find helpful.
Infants and toddlers need to have familiar objects around them at the hospital. Bring along your child's favorite toy, blanket or other comfort items. A family member or friend can be with your child during visiting hours if you must be away from the hospital or need a break.
As child gets older, they can be told that they are going to the hospital and what will happen there. It is important to let them express their feelings. Give them clear and simple responses.
Saying, "I'll bet you're wondering what it's going to be like at the hospital, aren't you?" rather than, "How do you feel?" will encourage them to talk.
Let them be the doctor to a doll or stuffed toy. They can "operate" on it, give it "shots" or just apply a Band-Aid. They might express their feelings more clearly while they’re playing than if you ask them directly.
Reassure your child that you'll stay with them when you can and that other people will take care of them if you can't be with them.
Many of our suggestions for younger children are helpful with this age group. However, these children understand more than younger children and will ask more questions. Explain that the hospital treats children of all ages, with many different medical problems.
It's important to explain that after the surgery doctors, nurses and other people at the hospital will do certain tests and procedures to make them feel better and make sure that they are healing from the surgery.
Teenagers are able to understand more information about their surgery, but that doesn't mean they completely understand. They may, however, be reluctant to ask questions.
Encourage your teenager to talk to their doctors and nurses about their condition. Be sure they are included in discussions and decisions about their care so that they will feel independent and more in control.
Your teen may be worried about their privacy. Reassure them that the hospital staff will treat them with respect. Even at this age, a familiar object, journal, video, or favorite tape or CD can help your teen feel calmer at the hospital.
When appropriate, encourage visits from your teen's friends for peer support.
Here are more resources and books (PDF) on how to prepare children of all ages for a surgery or hospital stay.
Having a procedure can be stressful for you and your child. Sometimes it can be hard to cope with the stress. Learning how to calm the body can help lower feelings of anxiety and manage some pain,. Mindfulness is also helpful to parents, because it can help children feel calmer and safer if their parent is calm.
It is possible to train our bodies to be calm even during stressful times by using exercises that can be learned through practice. In this section, we have compiled helpful resources to get you started on learning some of these exercises. . Start with one exercise and keep practicing once or twice a day as part of your preparation for the procedure day.
Allow 15–20 minutes for parking, badging and check-in. It is very important to arrive at the hospital on time.
Follow the instructions you were given on the phone and in the surgery/procedure checklist you were mailed. If you do not follow these instructions, your child may not be able to have the surgery or procedure.
If your child has symptoms of a cold or flu the morning of the surgery/procedure, call:
Here are some helpful questions to ask your child's doctor.
After your child’s surgery or procedure, your child’s nurse will talk to you about the care they will need at home. There will be special instructions to follow during the immediate recovery period.
It is important that you ask your nurse or other care providers for the information you need to feel comfortable in caring for your child at home. If they need special home care equipment or home nursing, your child’s nurse will help you arrange it.
Before your child goes home, plan to talk to:
You may notice changes in your child’s behavior when they return home after their surgery. These might include changes in sleep patterns or fear of being away from you.
Your child may also show behavior associated with an earlier stage of child development, such as thumb-sucking, temper tantrums or changes in toilet training. These are usually temporary.
Encourage your child to talk about their surgery/procedure and reassure them that having surgery can be upsetting. If changes in behavior continue for six weeks or more, please talk to your child’s doctor.