Yes, modern anesthesia is generally very safe for children, and it is used to keep them asleep and free of pain during surgery or other procedures. The main concern in the sources is not short, single anesthesia, but repeated or prolonged exposure in children younger than 3 years.

The sources say a single, short exposure is unlikely to cause problems with behavior or learning. They also say the FDA warning focuses on children under 3 who have anesthesia for more than 3 hours or have repeated anesthetics. Some studies suggest possible links between repeated or long exposure and later learning, memory, or behavior issues, but the exact cause is still not fully known. The sources also stress that needed surgery should not be delayed when it is important for a child’s health.

• Short, one-time anesthesia is usually reassuring.
• Longer or repeated anesthesia is the main area of concern.
• The team weighs the risks of anesthesia against the risks of delaying surgery.

Verify the exact plan with your surgical or anesthesia team in case they want something different for you.