International guidelines for paediatric elective preoperative fasting currently recommend a 2 hour limit for clear fluids. Recent reports on gastric emptying time, pulmonary aspiration incidence and the negative effects of fasting have led to a new consensus statement by the European Society of Paediatric Anaesthesia, recommending a 1-hour limit for clear fluids. A multicentre audit of the incidence of aspiration with the new fasting regimens is still needed.