To determine the effect on gastric contents of unlimited clear fluid ingestion by children up to two and a half hours and then up to two hours before elective surgery, 228 healthy children (ages two to twelve years) were prospectively studied. During Phase I of this study subjects ingested unrestricted volumes and types of clear fluids up to three hours (control group) or two and a half hours before surgery. After establishment of adequate anaesthesia, gastric fluids were aspirated via an orogastric tube. Gastric volume was measured with a syringe and gastric pH was determined. After determining that there was no adverse effect associated with reducing a clear fluid fast to two and a half hours, Phase II of the study was begun. The methods for Phase II were unchanged except that unlimited clear fluids were permitted up to three hours (control group) or two hours preoperatively. In both Phase I and II, gastric volume and gastric pH were unaffected by reducing the fast to less than three hours. It is concluded that ingestion of unlimited clear fluids up to two hours before elective surgery does not affect gastric contents of healthy children.