Tonsils and Adenoids out in 2 year old?

Brooke - posted on 08/23/2011

Both of my kids had tonsils and adenoids out by the time they were 2. My first was 1 1/2 and my second was 2 1/2. Both breezed thru better than expected. Since there is a history of your little one having anesthesia and there being no problems I wouldn't be sweating it. Kids bounce back better than their parents do!! Just do remember no red Popsicles or jello and keep their pain managed before it gets outta control. Best of luck!!

Stephanie - posted on 12/23/2008

My daughter had tubes, tonsils and adnoids when she was 2. Its going to be ok. Its a quick surgery. It was really quick just like the tube placement with my son. They gave her some kind of pain med and she was WIRED. She had no problems at all. GOOD LUCK

Marci - posted on 12/23/2008

My daughter had her tonsils and adenoids out at 2 1/2 years old. It was a one day procedure. Her recovery time was about 10 days. She would not take the medicine for the pain but I insisted on the antibotic. Make sure your son stays hydrated.

Carrie - posted on 12/22/2008

My son just had his tonsils and adenoids taken out in 2007. I can tell you for him recovery lasted about a week long. We were in the hospital for 4 days. Every kid is different though. My son had a 4+ size tonsils and adenoids and prior to that had his first set of tubes at 9 months old due to being borderline deaf. He is still borderline deaf in his left ear. His ear canal is not growing properly but we deal with it. I suggest though that you get a second or even third opinion before you do it. When we had his done this had been the second ENT that we had been to. The first one said nothing was wrong with him besides his hearing. I am glad we had it done. However, because he was so young the doctor warned us there was a chance they could grow back and even bigger. As for the anesthesia, well that comes with its own set of risks especially since you do not know if he is allergic to it or not.

Beth - posted on 12/22/2008

Enlarged tonsils can cause a condition similar to sleep apnea where they block the airway at night when breathing. This can occur in young and old alike and is actually one of the leading treatments for treating sleep apnea in adults. Adenoids will essentially not exist after age 12, their function is complete at this age and they atrophy and eventually go away so this should not be a concern for an adult.



Recover from tonsillectomy includes NO ACTIVITY for 14 days after the surgery. I am a nurse who works in surgery and the leading cause of bringing a patient back to surgery (especially children) after a tonsillectomy is for a tonsil bleed. This typically occurs around day 10 to 14 post-op because the child feels better and the parent allows increased activity. This increased activity causes the tonsil beds to bleed. Understand that if repeat surgery is necessary to cauterize a tonsil bleed, the 14 day recovery period starts over again!

Marie - posted on 12/22/2008

My little guy had his tonsils and adenoids removed at 21/2 because he had sleep apnea and was very underweight. His adenoids were so large that he couldn't breathe through his nose and his tonsils were so big that he had trouble eating and swallowing. His recovery was not too bad. Just whiny and cranky for a few days. But, when they brought us in to the recovery room after surgery it was awful. He couldn't really talk and was a mess. They kept him overnight because of his age, and I'm glad they did. It's scary when they are that young. I think it was the best thing we ever did. He gained weight immediately, and his breathing improved dramatically. Good luck to you! It will be over before you know it!

Kristyn - posted on 12/18/2008

Hi Ladies,



I was reading all your posts and I have a quick question (if you don't mind)?

I have not had my tonsils removed and was wondering, can tonsils and adnoids affect your breathing, maybe if they are too big?



This may sound crazy, but I thought..I'd ask anyways!!



Thank you in advance :)

Sharon - posted on 12/18/2008

My son, who is now five, had his tonsils and adenoids taken out plus tubes/gromits put in his ears when he was just under 2. He was continually getting tonsilitus and was on antibiotics on a monthly basis almost (well it felt like it) with extremely/dangerously high temperatures. I have never looked back. He is a different child. The afternoon after the surgery he was really sore and quite whiny, but day after that he recovered quite nicely and really touch wood, he has hardly been sick at all since then. It was the best thing we could have done for him. He really battled before he had them taken out, so much so that he ended up in hospital for three nights.If they have to go, they have to go!!! Good luck.

Bonnie - posted on 12/17/2008

by baby boy had his adenoids removed this summer at 13 months old... I don't know what I was expecting... but no one told me he have a huge swollen bloody nose when he came out - and it shocked me at first... just hope that your Dr doesn't have him stay at the hospital overnight... ours did b/c of my son's very young age.. and it was the longest 24 hours of my life! IV and monitors are such a headache esp. with a baby so currious to keep pulling at them night and day... good luck to your son! ;) ~bonnie

Michelle - posted on 12/17/2008

My 3y/o just had his out 2 weeks ago and did really well as long as I had him drink about 2ounces of water every hour and take the pain medication they prescribe around the clock for the first 2 days. The biggest challenge for us was getting him to constantly drink fluids throughout the day. We tried several different things including bribery, prizes, flavored drinks but finally had to settle on good old tough love. I can't stress enough how important it was for him to continue to drink something at regular intervals throughout the day including waking him up at night to give him his medication and drink water. Also, we read our son the book called Goodbye Tonsils (we changed the story to fit his situation) and it was awesome in preparing him for what was to come. Good luck he should be better than new by 1 1/2 - 2 weeks.

Shelly - posted on 12/17/2008

I had my tonsils out at 35, my son had his out at 15, and my niece had hers out at 29. We all had bad tonsils that included bad breath, white, hard, stinky things and chronic throat infections. The doctor and his staff and the hospital staff all said t's so much easier and recovery is so much faster to have it done when you're little. We all used a humidifier to lessen dryness and pain. My son and I drank Jello powder dissolved in warm water to help lubricate and sooth the sores. My son had post-op pain when swallowing and a little bleeding until he really started bleeding at 13 days out and needed to get emergency surgury to cauterize the bleeder. After that he healed right up with much less pain. You both will be so much happier when the source of the chronic infections is gone.

Jeanne - posted on 12/17/2008

My now 8 year old had his adenoids taken out at 2. The recovery was nothing for him. I think I took longer to recover from the stress. He had his tonsils out at 4 and I wish they would have done both at the same time. It did take longer to recover from the tonsils, around four days, but I just kept the pain meds going and plenty of ice pops on hand. Good Luck.

April - posted on 12/17/2008

My son had 3 set of tubes and then by age 5 had his tonsils and adenoids removed. He did good. Make sure you have popcicles or jello for him afterwards. Remember not anything red.(just so you know nothing is bleeding in his mouth). Later at a doctors appt. we found out that his adenoids grew back. They told me that this was normal. My son is now 12 and has no problems. If you work, I would take time off to be with him during this, but my guess is that if he did good with the tubes he will be just fine.

Carrie - posted on 12/17/2008

my older 3 have all had this done. My oldest was 9, my 2nd was about 4 1/2 and my 3rd child was 2 1/2. MY 2 1/2 year old (at the time) did really good. He had a small problem with the pain meds (we found he doesnt do codeine!) but the surgery was just like his tube surgery---just a little bit longer and we had to stay for recovery a little bit longer. But he just slept on the couch for a few days watching tv. (side note--my then 4 year old wanted to ride her bike that night---there was no keeping her down she did great---my then 9 year old, didnt drink for days and whined and whined---very bad!)