Why parents generally aren’t in the room during circumcision and oral tie procedures: A GP’s perspective
As a GP with a special interest in circumcision and oral tie (tongue and lip tie) procedures, one of the most common questions I receive from parents is: “Can I be in the room with my child during the procedure?” I understand that this request comes from a place of love and concern. However, there are important clinical reasons why we ask parents to remain outside during these minor surgical procedures. This approach is designed to ensure the safest and most effective outcome for your child.
Minimising Distractions for Optimal Care
The primary reason we ask parents to wait outside is to minimise distractions for the doctor and the clinical team. Performing circumcisions or oral tie releases requires intense focus, precision, and a calm environment. Even the most well-intentioned parent can inadvertently create distractions - whether through movement, conversation, or emotional reactions - which can affect the concentration of the clinician and the efficiency of the procedure.
“Having a parent present is a distraction for the doctor, and we minimise distractions to focus totally on ‘doing a good job’.”
Supporting Your Child Before and After
Parents play a critical role before and after the procedure. For circumcision, you may be involved in applying anaesthetic cream prior to the procedure, and your presence and comfort are essential immediately afterwards for feeding and settling your baby. For oral tie procedures, immediate post-operative feeding is encouraged to help with healing and comfort. Your soothing presence is invaluable once the procedure is complete so having you ready is very important.
Reducing Stress for Your Child, yourself and the medical team
Children, especially infants, are highly sensitive to their parents’ emotions. If a parent is anxious or distressed, the child may sense this and become more unsettled. By having parents wait outside, we can often complete the procedure more quickly and with less emotional stress for the child.
Being in the procedure room with your child can be very stressful for parents because witnessing your child’s discomfort, feeling powerless, and managing your own anxiety in an unfamiliar medical environment can be emotionally overwhelming. Many parents also feel pressure to stay calm and supportive, which can add to the stress and uncertainty of the situation.
Having parents in the procedure room can be stressful for medical staff because it increases the risk of distraction, slows down procedures, and adds pressure to perform under close observation. Staff may also need to manage parental emotions and unpredictable reactions, making the situation more complex and potentially disrupting standard workflow.
So your child doesn’t associate you with the procedure
To help ensure your child doesn’t associate you with the procedure, it’s important to be aware that, especially with very young children, some temporary negative associations can occur if your child feels frightened while you are present but unable to actively comfort them. While remaining calm is usually reassuring and beneficial for your child, we also want to minimize any chance of your child feeling upset with you afterward. Being sensitive to their emotions, providing gentle comfort, and reassuring them after the procedure can help strengthen your positive connection.
Ensuring a Safe and Controlled Environment
Medical procedures require a controlled environment to reduce the risk of complications and to ensure that all infection control and safety protocols are followed. Limiting the number of people in the room helps maintain this environment and allows the clinical team to work efficiently and safely.
Space Constraints
Procedure rooms are often quite small and need to be kept clear for medical staff and equipment, to move safely and efficiently
Institutional Policy
Some clinics have policies that restrict parental presence for certain procedures.
Medical Reasons
If a parent is unwell, pregnant or if the child’s medical condition is complex, parental presence may not be allowed for safety reasons
“Ultimately the main goal is to provide the safest and most effective care for the child”
Common Questions
Can I see my child immediately afterwards?
Absolutely. Parents are reunited with their child straight after the procedure to provide comfort, feed, and settle them.
What about consent?
Both parents (if available/applicable) should provide informed consent before any non-life saving procedure like circumcision. This ensures everyone understands the risks, benefits, and alternatives before proceeding.
The Takeaway
While it’s natural to want to be by your child’s side, our policy of having parents wait outside during circumcision and oral tie procedures is based on best clinical practice. It allows us to focus fully on your child’s safety and comfort and ensures the best possible outcome.
If you have further questions about the process or your role as a parent, please don’t hesitate to ask during your consultation. Your child’s safety and comfort are always our top priorities.
Book a Consultation with Dr Carly Hupfeld
Whether you are interested in circumcision or concerned about a possible tongue tie or lip tie, Dr Carly is here to discuss with and support you in making the best choices for your family.
Dr. Carly Hupfeld specialises in circumcision and the assessment and management of oral ties at:
Medical On Robina
T3/299 Scottsdale Dr, Robina QLD 4226
(07) 5690 1290
Reference List
Kain, Z. N., Mayes, L. C., Wang, S. M., Caramico, L. A., & Hofstadter, M. B. (1998). Parental Presence during Induction of Anesthesia versus Sedative Premedication: Which Intervention Is More Effective? Anesthesiology, 89(5), 1147–1156. https://doi.org/10.1097/00000542-199811000-00009
Tume, L. N., & Carter, B. (2012). Parental presence during invasive procedures in children: A European survey. Anaesthesia, 67(10), 1157–1162.
American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Pediatric Emergency Medicine (2014). Family Presence During Pediatric Procedures. Pediatrics, 133(5), e1459–e1467. Family presence during paediatric resuscitation and invasive procedures: the parental experience: An integrative review: An integrative review - PubMed
McGraw, T., & Kendrick, A. (1998). Booked admissions for day care surgery: Parental presence during induction of anaesthesia. Paediatric Anaesthesia, 8, 405–408. Effect of parental presence on anxiety during induction of anaesthesia in children undergoing elective day case surgery | Annals of Pediatric Surgery | Full Text
Heidarzadeh, M., Atashzadeh-Shoorideh, F., Mehran, A., et al. (2016). The effect of parental presence during invasive procedures on anxiety and cooperation in children: a systematic review. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 31(4), 370–377.