Table 1.

Tonsil-Text-To-Me text messages automatically delivered to parents during the perioperative period.

Perioperative period and text delivery day relative to surgery day		Text message
Before surgery
	14 days before (morning)	Thanks for signing up for Tonsil-Text-To-Me! Your child’s surgery is coming up—time to get ready. Starting today stop giving your child aspirin.
	3 days before (evening)	You can help your child get ready for surgery. Be honest and up front about what will happen. Watch the day-surgery tour (URL).
	1 day before (evening)	Tomorrow is surgery day. Please stop giving solid foods 8 hours before, breast milk 4 hours before, and clear fluids 3 hours before surgery time. Learn more about how to manage pain after surgery (URL).
Day of surgery
	Day of (morning)	It’s surgery day. We can do this! Bring a favorite toy to help your child feel more calm. Do you have everything you need? Day surgery checklist (URL).
	Day of (evening)	Surgery is over! You made it. Comforting your child will help them relax and relieve pain. Tips on how to comfort and distract them from pain (URL).
After surgery
	1 day after (morning)	Check on your child after surgery for pain and breathing changes. Learn how to ask your child about pain (URL).
	1 day after (evening)	Eating soft foods and drinking clear fluids as soon as possible can help soothe your child’s throat. It’s okay for them to shower or bathe and brush their teeth as usual. Need soft food and clear fluid ideas (URL)?
	2 days after (morning)	Reasons to call your doctor: Bleeding in the nose or mouth Trouble breathing Your child seems dehydrated (should pee minimum 2x/day) or is refusing to drink fluids Pain that won’t go away, is getting worse, or isn’t helped with medication Fever greater than 39.0°C (102.2°F)
	2 days after (evening)	Remember, it is normal for a white coating to form on the tonsils as they are healing.
	3 days after (morning)	Have your child take it easy for the first 10 to 14 days after surgery (no sports, gym class, or roughhousing). No travel for 14 days.
	5 days after (morning)	It is normal for pain to peak around 5 to 7 days after surgery. Continue to give medication as directed to help your child get through this time.
	5 days after (evening)	Most children return to school after 7 days. When can they go back? Are they eating normally? Sleeping through the night? No longer need pain medication? If yes to all three, then school is okay.
	7 days after (morning)	Thanks for using Tonsil-Text-To-Me to help care for your child. This is your last message :)