Learn about natural laxatives for kids’ constipation to give them quick relief, without the use of Miralax as a stool softener.
Constipation has been an issue in my house for the last 3.5 years. It is a huge thorn in my side and frustrates me often. As an occupational therapist that specializes in feeding, I knew well about constipation and the effects it can have on a child’s eating habits. I know more than the basics to help with constipation, which I will share here, but in my case, it wasn’t enough.
My son’s constipation was chronic and unceasing. I had to dig deeper so that he could get off his dependence of Miralax that started before he was 2 years old.
In my son’s case, his constipation began after transitioning to cow’s milk from breast milk as a young toddler. At it’s worst, he had sharp referral pain in his back, which was frightening. At that time, we put him on Polyethylene Glycol (PEG for short, or Miralax as you likely know it) an over-the-counter stool softener.
He was on it daily until about 6 months ago when I started to realize he wasn’t growing out of this, which had been several years at this point. I wasn’t sure I wanted to keep him on it indefinitely and couldn’t believe that much time had passed with daily use.
Although the doctors assured me that it was totally safe, after more than 2 years, I decided to do some of my own research. I was shocked to learn that although no major incidents or side effects have been reported, it has never been approved by the FDA for use in kids or for use on a long-term basis.
Miralax, and many other stool softeners, are not absorbed into the body, but keep water with the bowel as it is being digested, thus freeing a child of constipation.
Please know that my intent here is not to attack Miralax, for some kids, it is necessary and at times, it has been a miracle for us. BUT – I couldn’t help wondering, aren’t there other solutions, especially when this is a long term problem?
What natural laxatives for kid’s constipation were available? You can find out here…
UPDATE: As our journey has continued, we’ve added even more quick relief for kids’ constipation in this follow up post: Chronic Constipation in Kids
Causes of Constipation in Kids
First, we have to talk about the causes of constipation, as an OT, I’m always thinking about what the underlying cause is of any challenge a child faces. Constipation is no different. Here are some of the most common causes of constipation in kids:
1. Genetics – Unfortunately, for some kids, it is in the genes, but that doesn’t mean that there isn’t potential for them to grow out of it.
2. Diet – Processed foods, low fiber foods, mostly white bread products, and frequent consumption of the foods on the list to avoid below.
3. Intolerance to dairy or wheat or both – An intolerance is different than an allergy and some kids may have difficulty digesting wheat or dairy, which slows down their elimination. Dairy is more likely and often moderating it and eliminating cow’s milk is a winning combination.
4. Holding it in – Some kids actually hold it in because they don’t like how the poop feels coming out or they had a previously painful movement. This can snowball quickly and the longer that they hold it in, the worse it becomes. I’ll talk about this more in the next section.
5. Poor Chewing – If your child doesn’t chew their food well or has difficulty chewing and swallows large pieces of food, it could contribute to constipation because the food isn’t broken down enough when it enters and then exits the stomach into the intestines.
6. Picky Eating – With a diet limited in fruits and veggies, constipation is a likely outcome. But, constipation can also cause picky eating. If a child is backed up, then there isn’t a lot of room to get more food into their stomach so they will often refuse to eat.
If you feel your child isn’t getting enough variety and may be a picky eater, I’d recommend starting with my free picky eating workshop! You’ll learn 3 keys you can start utilizing today to tackle picky eating.
7. Poor Water Intake – A low amount of water makes it difficult to move the poop through the intestines. Kids need to drink half their body weight in ounces of water daily. A 50lb kid, needs 25 ounces baseline. If they exercise, sweat, or it’s hot outside, they’ll need more. A major factor in a recent trip to the emergency room because of my son’s severe constipation on the 4th of July was not drinking enough water in the heat.
8. Low Muscle Tone – Kids’ muscle tone can actually affect their ability to push poop out and if this is the cause, too much fiber can make it more difficult for them to poop. Read more about low tone here.
22 Natural Laxatives for Kids’ Constipation
Natural laxatives for kids’ constipation can come in the way of foods, natural supplements, or even some techniques as you’ll learn about below.
First and foremost, start with food because your child is eating anyways. Some of these foods may be difficult to get into your child if they’re a picky eater. If that is the case, don’t try to lay down the law, slowly start to introduce these foods in fun and playful ways to get your kids interested. Keep serving them as you consider some of the natural supplements in the mean time.
Foods that are Natural Laxatives for Kids:
- Pears
- Avocados
- Prune juice
- Pear juice
- Psyllium husk powder – mix in a teaspoon or tablespoon into your child’s hot cereal or make a bread or pizza crust with it. This is a strong natural laxative!
- Peas
- Broccoli
- Barley
- Lentils
- Beans, especially black beans – add to burgers, rice, or soup
- Oatmeal
- High Fiber Bread
- Flax Seed Meal – add a tablespoon to yogurt, hot cereal, or breads
Many of these food are naturally high in fiber, for more ideas, head over to Tasty High Fiber Foods for Kids. In general, anytime your child is having a carb swap in a whole wheat version because it usually works as a natural laxative. Whole wheat pasta, cereals, and breads are often readily available.
However, you can’t always assume that because something is whole grain, whole wheat, or brown rice that there is fiber. Also, there are a lot of high fiber products that don’t necessarily fit into those categories either, so it is really important to read the label.
I’d try to avoid buying foods that have anything less than 2 grams of fiber.
That may sound overwhelming, but there are so many options now when it comes to breads, pretzels, crackers, etc. You will also want to try and maximize the fiber, don’t just stop at 2 grams. Keep flipping over boxes and bags until you find the highest number. Of course, the natural sources of fiber are superior because many of the high fiber products add processed fiber.
Supplements that are Natural Laxatives for Kids
14. Fiber Advance Gummies For Kids – When we started to back off of Miralax, I was happy to have found an all natural fiber gummy that I give to my kids. There are very few ingredients and no sugar. My kids love them.
15. Fletcher’s Gentle Laxative Kids – Several readers have found this to be a helpful natural laxative for quick relief.
– A Facebook fan recommended this, and we tried it with some success. Before using this with your child, I’d check with your doctor for dosage.
20. Water – As I mentioned above, get the water in! Have a cup ready to go at the start of your day and readily available all day long. Give gentle reminders as needed. Also, take water with you everywhere so they can drink in the car or running errands.
21. Tummy Rub for Constipation – Having your child lie on their back and with a little lotion, rubbung their intestines in a circular motion can stimulate the bowels to get moving. Get full directions for a “poop massage”, these stomach rubs can take just a few minutes and be highly effective.
22. Wellement’s Organic Baby and Toddler Constipation Support – If you have toddler or baby, this natural relief supplement has incredible reviews and is completely all natural.
**It’s important to note that if your child is SEVERELY constipated, you should talk to their doctor. It’s critical that they get relief and will likely have to rely on Miralax or Restorolax in very large doses to clean them out and then for sometime afterwards. When my son went to the ER, after 2 enemas, he also drank some 10 capfuls of Miralax to completely clean him out.
Depending on your child’s age and weight, this amount will have to modified. Don’t follow that guideline, I only share it show how much they may need initially. If you aren’t getting the answers or support from your doctor, get a second opinion, see a pediatric gastroenterologist, and/or head to emergent care to get immediate support.
Timing Matters for Constipated Kids that Need Quick Relief
Sooooo many kids hold it when they have to go because they are somewhere they would rather not “go” or they don’t want to run in from outside or stop in the middle of playing.
Missing those cues can have a huge impact on how constipated your kid gets. If you happen to be staring at your kid at that moment, you might catch the signal and can rush them off anyways, but sometimes, they hide it well and often we miss that quick moment.
The solution is to have them sit on the toilet at the same time everyday. The best time is usually within 15 minutes after they eat. I try very hard not to turn toilet time into something negative or worse, a power struggle.
I need to give my son lots of warnings throughout the meal (“As soon as you’re done, go and pick out your book for the potty.”) and mornings usually work really well. When we are on top of this, it is very helpful.
If you’re still struggling with potty training and/or withholding, check out The Potty Training + Toileting Problems Toolkit: For Kids with Sensory Needs in the Your Kid’s Table shop, It’s full of amazing information to help tackle the constipation battle when sensory issues are a factor!
Foods to Avoid for Quick Relief of Kids’ Constipation
As a feeding therapist, I hate to tell kids there are foods they can’t or shouldn’t eat. At four years old, I did begin to explain to my son that these were foods we could only eat sometimes because they made it much harder for him to poop – can’t say I liked doing that, but he gets it. None of these things are totally off limits, but I do limit them as much as possible.
- Bananas
- Marshmallows
- Ice cream
- Cheese
- Rice Krispy treats
- Rice cakes (unless they are brown rice and have a few grams of fiber)
- Applesauce
- White rice
- White bread products/crackers/pretzels
Hope for Kids with Constipation…
Figuring out what’s causing your child’s constipation will be helpful in overcoming it. It will likely take time for your child’s intestines to shrink back to their regular size in the mean time.
If something is working in your house that I didn’t list here, PLEASE share so that it can help others! Be sure to check out more ways to ease constipation from The Constipation Gurus, a brilliant physical therapist and dietician team that are working to help kids suffering with constipation.
How to Start Tackling Picky Eating
If you believe your child is struggling with constipation even partly due to picky eating, grab our free Picky Eating Essentials printable, it includes 9 important steps to improve eating and 25+ food ideas for picky eaters.
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Alisha Grogan is a licensed occupational therapist and founder of Your Kid’s Table. She has over 18 years experience with expertise in sensory processing and feeding development in babies, toddlers, and children. Alisha also has 3 boys of her own at home. Learn more about her here.
Love this blog. Sue it helps many.
We stay, if possible, away from going to the ER. And, giving miralax.
Read and heard too many times how bad both of them can be.
We stopped giving miralax. And use other methods. More fruit, water, tummy massages, castor oil and more.
Giving an enema is also good. So many dont want to give enemas.
To us better to give them, when needed, than giving that poison miralax.
There was a link on here to Cathrine’s page about the constipated child.
I may try and find it and post it.
Thanks for sharing! Yes, finding alternatives to miralax can be really helpful. Glad you’ve found solutions that work well!
Best,
Laura
Your Kid’s Table team member
wow what an awesome article my son is almost two and really suffers with severe constipation and picky eating although he used to be a fantastic eater loved his food and fruit and veggies but along with being poorly with ear infections and tonsilities and the last back teeth coming in he now hardly eats apart from yougrts and snacks he drinks water like a fish we have had blood work done but all come back completely normal so we now think its because he thinks that if he eats its gonna hurt his tummy we are on laxido sachets and he is now going 2-3 times a day and he is so much happier and not in so much pain fingers crossed the eating comes back as well in time its gonna take time he is at least picking food up and tasting it which he wasnt before so going in the right direction i just want my greedy little monkey back and to enjoy a meal together like we used to
Hello, Siobhan, it can be so stressful when our kids are constipated. I’m so glad to hear he is making progress in that way. When they form a negative association to eating, it can take time to build back the trust and confidence to try new things. If you’re ready and feel like the constipation is handled, I’d start offering lots of variety with no pressure to try things. Check out this article, which might help give you some ideas.
Best,
Laura
Your Kid’s Table team member
My child suffered from severe constipation and she had encopresis like condition
Until I gave her Prune juice….I soak 2 prunes and make puree of it and add little sugar and i give her whenever she gets constipated… If she is less constipated i give her juice of 1 prune….By God’s Grace this works…
Hi Aisha, I’m so glad to hear you found something work for your child. It sounds like it was a journey to get there! Thanks for sharing.
Best,
Laura, Your Kid’s Table team member
Thank you so much for this article. My son is in so pain right now as I type this and search for help. He had abdominal pain for 3 wks before the Dr sent him for an X-ray to say he was constipated. Before that the dr prescribed him Pepcid and Prilosec saying it was heartburn. He goes regularly 1-2x a day but apparently that’s not enough. Have you heard kids going daily and still are constipated? I have increased his fiber intake and now he’s going 4x a day but still having bloating pain for a couple days now. I want to do the natural remedies if possible but wondering if he needs miralax to clean it out. How long should the natural remedy take to ease his pain?
Hi Mary, it is definitely not uncommon for some kids who become constipated to still pass stool around a blockage in their intestines. This is something to continue to look into if you think this may be the case, because the motility of the intestines can slow down enough that the child is still quite constipated, but loose stool works it’s way past the blockage. If that’s not what is happening, I’d refer him back for food allergies, because the bloating and pain sounds to me that it may be something more in line with that or a sensitivity. Can you start by keeping a food log and see what seems to correlate with the bloating and pain?
Best,
Laura
Your Kid’s Table team member
Aisha, bless you hon. Went through the same with one of mine. 6 yo b.
Same as you…. encopresis.
Tried many remedies.
Then was suggested by neighbor friend to try soiling solutions.
The program worked. But, have to buy the training manual (Clean Kid Manual) (not cheap) before can inter-act with Dr (think name is Collins) on his web page.
She (my neighbor friend) was dealing with same issue with her 8 yo b. She had just started it.
We talked about the program. Invited me to follow along with her.
Did sitting hours and other things suggested. It is a very long and intense program.
I feel the program did help tons.
As told, and she did, the first few days cleansing enemas given daily. Then less often. The initial clean out (enemas) was very time consuming. Fortunately, ours took them well without fighting.
Being single mom, with two other kids, this program was very time consuming. She is also divorced and has two other kids.
We helped each other. When she needed to give him enemas I watched her other two and she did the same for me watching my other two when I was giving the enema.
It does help to have another mom there to assist in preparation.
I read on the web page some deal with problem for a long time.
Blessings
Thank you for sharing, Vicky! So glad to hear you found a solution that worked for you and that you had some support while you did it.
Best,
Laura
Your Kid’s Table team member
Hi! My daughter is having a constipation…she is withholding her poop..whenever she feels to poop..she crosses her legs and tiptoed..this started after she had a hard stool and even found a blood in it…her pedia gave here already surelax…but after medication..she still.holds it..what should I do?
Hi Shie,
This is more common than you think. Most kids will slowly work through the stress of having this happen. We do have a potty training article from a sensory standpoint that may help.
Best,
Laura
Your Kid’s Table team member
I really enjoyed reading this blog post. It was informative and well-written. I learned a lot about natural remedies for constipation in kids, and I will definitely try some of them out. I especially liked the tips about increasing fiber intake and exercising regularly. I think these are two very important things that can help to prevent constipation in kids.
I also appreciated the author’s advice to consult with a doctor if constipation is severe or does not improve with home treatment. This is important because constipation can sometimes be a sign of a more serious medical condition in kids.
Overall, I thought this was a great blog post. It was informative, well-written, and helpful. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who is struggling with constipation in their kids.
We’ve started using Pottywise drops from joyspring and they are the first thing that has helped us since miralax!
My DS son has used Mg citrate powder for years, just recently switched to Calm plus sodium ascorbate powder for immune benefits.
Homeopathic nux vomica 30c has worked in a pinch, and magnesium oil rubbed on abdomen when he has gotten blocked up.
My 7year-old child is also suffering from constipation
Hi Sunshine! Sorry to hear your child struggles with constipation. Hopefully some of these tips in this article can help! Let us know if you have any questions!
Best,
Kalyn
Kondremul laxative mineral oil is another natural option that gently helps lubricate the intestines. It was recommended by our pediatric GI and also tasted good to my picky eater.
Thank you! My 3 year old has struggled her while life with constipation. Born premature and developed oral aversion causing her to get a g-tube. She still doesn’t like to drink much and I think that’s the biggest source of constipation trouble. I’m hoping that her picky eating is mostly from the chronic constipation, but I haven’t figured it all out yet.
One of my tricks is coconut water. When she’s not been drinking enough and she hasn’t pooped for a day or more I’ll give her 4 ounces of coconut water and that will usually do it for her. She doesn’t like to drink it and since we have the tube, I just put it in there. But I’m going to try to see if I can blend some fruit in it and see if she likes it that way.
Hi Melinda! So glad you found this post helpful, and sorry to hear about your daughter’s struggles with both constipation and picky eating! Those two things could definitely be related and contributing factors. Blending fruit with coconut water sounds like a great idea! For more constipation tips, check out our other post here!
Best,
Kalyn
My 5 year old doesn’t like plain coconut water either, but one tiny squirt of Mio or other water addition and she will chug it. We like the strawberry watermelon one best. They’re sugar-free and seriously takes the tiniest little squirt, a little goes a looonnnggg way!
Awesome blog. It’s impressive to read about how you are not depending upon chemical medication instead of focusing on home remedies for dealing with kid’s constipation. I read blogs on iahas.com that also provide ayurvedic remedies for preventing and treating constipation. I will add your blog to my list…
Praying all are well.
These are very trying days!
Hope not offending anyone; but, please pray that things with this covid and political situation will get better in our country (USA) and all over the world.
Always consult with your holistic provider/doctor before giving any home remedy or treatment.
I cannot say what to give or do, or not to give or do, for the constipated child.
Only speaking from my own experiences.
Just my opinion, from what I have read and been told, miralax may not be the best remedy.
Thank you so much for this article. My 2 year old is also suffering, and has been on and off for over a year. We’ve consulted multiple times with the doctor. We have a referral to a pediatric gastroenterologist. I’ve felt so alone in this. But posts like yours make me feel like there’s hope.
🙏
Hi Sara! Thanks for reaching out! So glad you found this post helpful— you are definitely not alone!
Best,
Kalyn
Bananas are actually fine. The problem is that most people don’t eat them ripe, so the starches haven’t broken down. As a general rule, most bananas are ripe when they’re yellow and spotty on the outside, and soft and sweet on the inside.
Home stay for a few weeks here.
Praying all are well. Praying also that we will soon be past this and back to a normal like.
And not stuck in the home!
Have lots of time now at home, so decided to comment about the constipation in the child.
It seems, and others feel the same way, due to diet (especially with all the junk food fed to kids today), lack of exercise, stress, parents not paying attention to the BM of the child, there are far too many constipated children today.
This is retaining toxins. Which is harmful and causes other ills. The child feels bad when constipated.
It is sad to read comments from others, mostly moms, on here where they are having difficulty with their child going and constipated and searching for help or advice.
Sad to have read the comment by Saniji. Her poor baby needs some help fast. She should take the child to a holistic provider or doctor as soon as possible. Hope by now the child has gone potty and is feeling better. And no longer in pain. Poor baby!
Yes, having lots of extra time staying at home I love to read, research and share with other moms.
Hope others do the same. We need to share and help each other.
Every mom has her own remedies to give to the constipated child. Many moms are learning of natural home remedies to give. Instead of the horrible Miralax.
Since my kids are more or less locked most of the day inside the house, ughhh. lol, I am keeping an eye on their bowel movements and diet. NO junk foods. NO sodas.
Today I noticed my oldest one, boy 8, has not gone potty. Was not feeling well. I will increase water for him. Do many of the things listed on this wonderful page.
If those things don’t bring relief for him, he may get an enema later today.
I have to wait till nap time for. the other two anyway. This is the best time to give it is when the other two are napping or off to school (no school here for awhile). This is the best time to give the enema if you have other children in the house. You can get the enema out and prepare the room. Get the pan or large bowl you use for the enema out. Towel out and such. Then once the other ones are napping you are mostly prepared to give him a enema.
Giving the enema when the others are napping means you don’t have to be concerned what the others are up to when giving an enema to one of them.
I am convinced the enema is a very good remedy for the child. I see other comments on here that feel the same way. Good!
I do not have or give Miralax anymore!!
I may hop on later to tell how things are going with him.
God bless and pray for all.
Wishing, actually praying, that everyone is well and safe.
Everyone hang in there and help each other as much as possible during these very difficult days.
Still home staying here. Trying best to keep all well.
Back to the constipation blog…
It amazes me that something (Miralax) told to be so unhealthy is given for something unhealthy (constipation).
I read, and reread, all of the remedies listed on here. Also, read other blogs, books. Spoken with holistic provider and my nurse friend.
One thing all have in common is constipation in the child is very harmful. Already mentioned causes sluggishness, headaches, prolongs illness, tummy aches, and more. Also causes lots of work, time and concern for the mother. Please do these remedies listed here and other places.
Talk with your holistic provider (best to call in these days).
Cannot say what to do or not do, but IMHO best not to give Miralax!
I gave him an enema the other day. Yes was constipated. Almost immediately after the enema he was so much better.
God bless and praying for all.
Carol A, wonderful you gave him an enema and it helped him.
I hate giving OTC stuff… especially miralax.
After reading on here (omg some withholding for days!), talking with a mother who is former nurse, reading in book prescription for nutritional healing and talking with holistic provider, I decided he was going to be given enemas. That is other remedies didn’t work like fiber, water, exercise and such.
My and his first ever enema experience went very well.
So others learn, I used the bulb syringe for giving the enema.
Gave it on a table. Had him laying on a towel.
Was no mess and not painful. I have since then given other enemas in my home.
The suggestion to give the enema when the others are napping helped.
Talk with your doctor before giving an enema!
It works!
Omg very good information given on here.
Later I will post some notes, suggestions, for giving the enema.
It is not traumatic for the child. Does not hurt and works every time.
Talk with doctor before giving enemas.
Miralax (spelling) is horrible stuff to give. I read somewhere, correct me if wrong, that it has some bad ingredients in it. I will look it up and post the article(s).
Agree, good he got better after being given an enema Carol A.
Here is a article about the constipated child.
http://valerie_cct.tripod.com/parentsg.html
Cathrine in the article tells of the possible reasons constipation is more so today than when she first started as a nurse.
The article is:
“PARENTS GUIDE TO COLON HEALTH FOR CHILDREN, Contemporary Bowel Health Among Children and Teens, By Catherine Cavanaugh, R.N.”
Best to always consult with your doctor before giving any home remedies.
Is constipation a bigger issue now days? compared to the 50s and 60s. Yes, showing my age. Catherine in the article thinks so. I agree.
The only treatment for the constipated child back in the late 50s and 60s was that horrible oil… castor oil ?? Or the child was given an enema.
I dont think miralax existed in those days.
Sure there were other remedies given. But, those two were the most used in the home.
My mom made sure we got fresh air, exercise, plenty of fresh fruits and veggies. NO sodas unless we sneaked one at the store. Or at the drug store. All drug stores had the fountain bar. Where could get milkshake, soda, and more.
May the good Lord bless all and stay happy.
I’m all for the castor oil. Line them up with a lemon or peppermint 🙂
Carol a keel doing the enemas or suppository for your oldest child
Keep doing tummy massage clockwise motion
Magnesium citrate powder mixes well in water or other things and my son with DS is kept regular with a daily dose in whole milk plain ORGANIC yogurt with maple syrup.
Remember to avoid grains/breads unless they are ORGANIC as almost all wheat barley and oats are harvested with glyphosate to bring the hybrid wheat to harvest at the same time. Glyphosate (Roundup- the reason for GMO plants) causes gut micro-perforations.
Apples and Pears are on the dirty dozen list so to include skin please also get ORGANIC
Thanks for sharing Carrie
This very helpful as well. Thanks!
Thanks Carrie.
Will pass that on.
My 4 year old great niece was recently in the hospital and was diagnosed with Kawasaki disease. She is on medication that is causing major constipation. I’m going to tell my niece to try the magnesium citrate powder. My niece is a nurse, so has been trying natural things: more water, prunes, fiber, etc. It’s been three days and her tummy is now distended. Poor little thing! Thank you for your suggestion.
Awww.. So hard to deal with! Hopefully this helps, I’m glad you found the article!
Best,
Desiree
Hi when my son was very constipated we tried everything and the best thing that helped my son to poop was enemas and suppository. His tummy was hard alot he withheld his poop so me and my ex fiancé she had to hold his legs up towards his tummy while we had to manually remove his poop after he hadn’t gone in 9 days . any single moms has this issue try a pedialax enema or suppository or a qtip w vaseline will help if that doesn’t work try tummy massage circular motion
If none of these tips work try manual remove their poop w your finger w vaseline they will go poop believe me my son still has constipation and he is 11 years old. .any single moms need help getting their toddler child or baby to go poop let me know I will help u . my ex fiancé is a pediatric nurse .
Mam my daughter is 3 yrs old she is also facing the same issue. Her poop very hard… She cries a lot…. Please help me
Hello,
Thanks for reaching out! I’d recommend the tips in the article, but we do have another article with more tips for you as well. Make sure that she is getting enough fluids throughout the day! You can read more about it HERE
Best,
Desiree
Hi! Not sure if you are seeing this, but my son is almost 3 and going on day 6 with no pooo. He is withholding, I can see it there and I’m desperate! His pediatrician suggested of course…MiraLAX! I refuse it. What else can I use? I have done massage, diet changes, magnesium, nada so far.
Hey Mari,
So sorry you are dealing with this! The diet changes can take some time! I’d continue providing massage consistently as well. You can read about some updated strategies HERE
Best,
Desiree
HELP PLEASE.. my son is almost 3 yrs old and he has been on Restoralax for over 6 months, when he started withholding. He has the urge to go everyday, several times a days infact, but he does everything in his power to not go, and then gets constipated. I just dont want to keep giving him Restoralax. How do i break this cycle? Please help? I have tried warm baths, tummy massage, Natural Calm(magnesium citrate), Manna Fig, prune juice. I feel nothing seems to work……
Hey Rajni,
We know how hard this can be! So sorry you little one is having trouble. I would reach out to your pediatrician as well to see if they have any other suggestions. However, we do have another post with some updated suggestions for you! You can check it out HERE
Best,
Desiree
Yes I need help with my 3 year old greatgranddaughter that’s always have constipation problems. She was a preemie. What can I do to help her poop? I give her prune juice and sometimes I have to give her a enema
Hi Pamela,
Thanks for reaching out. Constipation can be such a problem. It is also a bit more common in kiddos who were preemies too. I’d definitely check out the newer article on constipation written by the Constipation Gurus. It’s a great resource and full of ideas.
Best,
Andrea
Pamela, sorry to read of her difficulties!
Possibly take her to holistic doctor or pediatrician.
Her problem may be caused by many other factors. Including diet or withholding.
Read on Soiling Solutions about withholding.
The enema should help. But best to find out the cause of her issues.
I give enemas when needed to my two.
One of mine is like her.
One of the remedies that works best for him is getting an enema or series of enemas sometimes.
The mild soapy water enema works best on him. Given with the rubber bulb syringe on a table.
Read on optimalhealthnetwork.com
For buying Made For Enema Soap bar and other ideas from Kristina there.
Did you find out the cause?
My daughter went 14 days without pooping.. it was beyond horrifying so yes suppository it was. Before that was 12 days. I brought her to the doctor and all he said was keep trying restorlax each day and keep increasing the amount. I am still having this problem 😭
Hey Kay,
So sorry your little one is having difficulties with going to the bathroom, we do see this happen a lot with kids. Not sure if you’ve seen in the article but trying a daily probiotic can be really helpful as well. We do also have another constipation article you can take a look at for more tips!
Hope that helps!
Best,
Desiree
Kay, possibly find another doctor?
Holistic doctor?
Constipated child seems to be more prevalent than when I grew up in the 50s.
My mom and aunt gave either the castor oil or a enema when one of us was sluggish, moody, fighting, constipated!
Hi I’d just like to point out that from your description, your son likely has a protein allergy to dairy so simply “going off cows milk” is not going to help. If you try eliminating ALL dairy from his diet for 30 days you may find he has no need for Miramax again. No dairy doesn’t just mean no butter, milk, cheese, sour cream, cream cheese, yogurt etc. You will also find dairy in many processed foods and even seasonings. Just as a heads up. We are 100% dairy free since we found out that my daughter and I share this problem. (Also it isn’t a lactose intolerance so lactose free dairy will not help.) And no cooked dairy is not good either. Honestly there are so many delicious healthy alternatives such as coconut, almond, cashew, and macadamia nut products (to name a few) that you won’t miss dairy at all. There is dairy free yogurt and ice cream and it is all just as good with live cultures.
Do be careful for things that say “non-dairy” as well. They usually have milk derivitaves. And as a reminder ghee is just clarified butter and so it is dairy.
I’d try it for a month and if it helps it becomes an easy lifestyle. Eating out can be a challenge dairy is hidden everywhere from buttered buns on hamburgers to dairy in the eggs or sausage casings. Otherwise it is a breeze if you cook yourself.
I am Nanny to my maternal twin 4-year-old Granddaughters, so I basically have had the great joy of raising them. They were born 5 weeks premature and lost weight after they were born due to an incomplete colon. Needless to say, they both have IBS issues and one, in particular, holds it in. She has numerously ripped the delicate tissue when she does poop and it will usually be a huge round ball. (Poor baby). She has been on a regimen of Miralax for at least a year. It just isn’t working. I have limited her dairy (actually both of the girls’) but it doesn’t seem to make a difference, however since they are picky eaters and Mac and Cheese is their favorite and possibly the worst to eat, I only use organic whole wheat noodles and here is the trick, I cook carrots and blend them into a sauce (mirepoix) of whole wheat flour, lactose free milk, and real butter. I add to that a slice of Trader Joe’s cheese soy slices). Another sauce to use for Mac and Cheese is a spoonful of concentrated Cream of Chicken soup (no milk added). But still trying to figure a way out of using Miralax which has been prescribed by their doctor.
I would recommend the book “Cure Your Child with Food.” It speaks to that exact situation and about how to wean a child off Miralax.
My 6.5 year old son refuses to sit on the toilet, and he only goes in his underpants or a diaper at night. When I try to get him to sit on the toilet, he just shouts a decisive ‘no, I don’t want to!’ and there is just no way to convince him. During the day, he poops small pebbles or very liquid, but only does a real ‘movement’ if he’s wearing a diaper and in bed early morning. This is stopping him from many social activities and he is obviously distressed by his problem. I’ve tried doctors, psychologists, homeopathy, osteopathy, massage, laxatives, diet change, bribery, nothing, everything! Tomorrow we’re seeing an aromatherapist, fingers crossed he’ll be going to the toilet at some point this summer..!
I give my daughter Hemp Oil (about 1/4-1/2 tea) several times through out the day. I put it in her milk (which is almond), cereal, juice…wherever you can get it in. Make sure it’s well mixed as it’s not the best tasting. If I notice her poops are hard, I up the dose a little. If poops are soft, I cut back a bit.
It takes about 4 days to start working.
My daughter is 5, has a horrible diet (doesn’t eat many fiberous foods) and has never been constipated. Poops like a champ 1-2 times a day with 0 issues.
Every person i’ve told about it has had amazing results.
Dori where can I buy hump oil? My son is 4 1/2 and can go days without doing poop! Please help
How old is your daughter ? My one year old has so much constipation I wonder if she’s too young to try
Hi Dori
Which hemp oil do you use and where do you buy it from?
Can you tell which brand you use
What brand of hemp oil do you use?
HI , How is your son doing now? My daugher sounds the same. only poops at night. it’s been a frustrating ordeal. Did you have any luck with the aromatherapist?
Thank you so much for this post. My nearly 6yo has been through most of what you described and over the years we also tried most of what was adviced here, incl removing milk and gluten from his diet etc etc, and yet got desperate enough to very reluctantly reach for prescribtion cosmocol (our uk equivalent sachets). I applied some of the various good advice shared here, but for us amazingly, what seems like possibly a long term solution, was found in something as simple as watching the youtube video called ‚The Poo in You’, together with our son. In fact, he watched it several times, understood why the soiling/overflow occurs, with the help of a couple of paediatric cosmocol cleared the worst out of the way, and then began to make a conscious effort to try and use the toilet after every meal, to prevent build up, sitting correctly etc. He now knows that withholding is not his friend, and that each day missed makes matters worse. We had one or two hickups, but other than that, he has been to toilet every single day for the past three months and says it is no longer difficult or painful as before at all. He now uses the toilet without even calling me too. I think this is our definite breakthrough, and he went back to enjoying milk (mostly the real raw milk though) and bread/other gluten, and still no issues this far. I do intend to get all my children regular probiotics. Wishing other parents success too. There definitely is a hope.
Most people shouldn’t be consuming dairy, especially the highly processed stuff on the market. It’s so sad that doctors say “Here, give your child this synthetic, man made, by-product of the petroleum industry instead of changing their diet.” Smh…
Please try pegalax or Jaslax ofcourse with doctors consultation. My kid was 4 years old and I was begging everyone to help me ,just could not see my kid in so much pain and struggling everyday pain.
found pegalax, started daily basis as recommended and then within few months (as my kid was in this state for a quite few months by then) , I needed no medicine , no worries no dependency on any thing..normal routine..
but I still watch that I give proper water and fiber in diet.
Hi, it was informative to read your piece. Hope your son has grown out of it now. I have a 4.5 year old who started bouts of constipation from the age of 16 months. We tried miralax which worked and then for a year she’s fine. It started back again from this Fall and I am now going on fiber and prune juice. She wouldn’t eat any of those fruits except for pears occasionally. Everytime she gets severe cold she gets constipated and refuses to go after 30 hours. She’s regular otherwise. Without one eating and drinking as required it is totally out of hands. I’m clueless
Thank you, my son is doing great! Over a year ago we started using juice plus (it’s a fruit and veggie gummy). I now distribute it, you can find it at alishagrogan.juiceplus.com if you’re interested.
Yogurt is an everyday accessible nutritious food at every home. But, can it be given during the cold winter months considering yogurt is considered a ‘cold’ food in itself.
https://www.parentcircle.com/article/is-it-safe-to-give-yogurt-to-toddlers-during-winters/
Very good blog. Great information on here.
Constipation is unhealthy and can cause other ills. The child feels bad when constipated and with holding. Causes tummy aches, head aches. A constipated child who does not have regular daily BM s will be sicker and recover from illness slower.
Not a doctor or medical person here. Strictly my opinion only. No giving medical advice. Consult with your pedi or naturopathic doctor before giving any remedies.
As stated above there seems to be more children constipated and having tummy aches than years ago. I do not know why this is. Possibly some one can state the reason for this.
I hate giving miralax to mine. Prefer natural home remedies. Do not like giving meds, chemicals, harsh laxatives and such.
My 5 yo with holds. It is a constant struggle to monitor him and have him go. Not with hold. Which causes so many problems.
I do, or tried, many of the things listed on here to have him go.
A older mom, who is a older retired nurse, told me he would benefit from being given enemas. I did research on Soiling Solutions. Enemas are part of the program. As well as “sitting”. “power hour” etc.
I could not afford the book from the program by Dr Collins? (think that is the doctor). Another mom is dong the program with hers. She let me read the book. We discussed enemas.
He is given enemas. They have helped. Actually better than miralax. Horrible stuff that is.
The first ever enema may be difficult. But later enemas are easy to give.
I will post more later.
Blessings.
My 13 year old has been on miralax since 5 . It has caused my child all kinds of neurological problems including temporary loss of the use of her legs and arms . Her body overheats and we have to keep her cool at all times. Miralax isn’t approved for kids even though our doctor put her on this , so please think twice before giving this to your child over a long period of time. It has some of the same ingredients as antifreeze and you know what that does to animals. The FDA has over 25000 complaints for this hurting kids and killing over 100 of them!
Donna, sorry to hear about your child.
I no longer give Miralax to mine. Will never again.
Isn’t it shocking to learn what is in that junk?
Blessings
I am starting to think that palm oil and palm fat is a cause of tummy upset especially in small children because there seems to be a large increase in the amount of children that suffer from tummy trouble in recent years and if you think back to before it was in virtually all food it was quite a small number of children that had tummy troubles and I think that avoiding it is the best solution but obviously a healthy diet is the most important part. I found a lot of things here that have been very helpful thanks for your help
Hmm that’s interesting Rebekah, I haven’t considered that. Thank you!
Some time Constipation in Kids can make your kids unhealthy and may result in bad growth. But thankfully this blog post is giving some useful information regarding protection and other information. Thanks for sharing this post.
Dorothy, cannot agree more with you! In the last year or so I have learned so much about the constipated child. You are right! Constipation can cause many ills. Make the child feel bad. Have headaches, tummy aches, not eat, be sluggish, have dark area under the eye lids and so much more.
A friend of mine (she used to be a nurse) introduced to me the the enema for the child when she gave a enema to her boy. No the enema is not a cure all. But giving one is far better than giving that junk Miralax.
This is a very good blog. With lots of useful information on it and good open comments.
Being stuck at home for a few more days..or weeks…I will read more and write more on here.
Blessings
Carol A, Carol here too!
Hey, very good your nurse friend introduced you to giving the home enema.
I have given many remedies in the past for the constipated child. Since learning the enema I feel the home enema is the quickest and easiest way to help the child.
Once he knows it makes him feel better and does not hurt, giving him an enema is easy!
I also learned this very good remedy when was staying with a friend for a few weeks.
While there she told me she was going to give an enema to her 5 yo boy. I about died hearing that! But wanted to learn.
She told me it was good I learned how to prepare and give one. Later on I learned she was right when I had to give my first ever enema to one of my kids. I was glad I knew how.
Since I had seen the red enema bulb syringe sitting out in her bathroom I was curious about it.
I have given many home enemas since she taught me.
Always talk with your doctor before giving enemas.
I am glad to see I wasn’t the only one to question Miralax everyday recommendation from my daughter’s doctor. She is almost 11 now and we have solved the potty problem with Apple Prune juice. She enjoys the taste and we only have to use it once or twice a month.
That’s perfect! Research has actually been starting to come out with long term miralax side effects!
Hi everyone,
My daughter in 5.5 years old. She has had constipation problems since birth. For the first 3 years I was constantly talking to the doctor about her pooping. Her norm since birth was once a week at best. At first the doctors just told me this was her normal. By 3 I was having to do the miralax daily and then she was having constant accidents and had a long “potty training”. I finally had enough and demanded for a GI consult. It was the best thing we could have ever done. They did a ton of testing for dairy intolerance and other food intolerances. Once everything was ruled out we started PT. Yes……PT to teach her how to poop. My daughter was born at 30 weeks and the GI Doctor said it can be common with premie babies but can also be genetic, where their sphincter muscles just doesn’t know how to work. Anyway, after a few months of PT my daughter has been off miralax for 1.5 years!!!!!! Now, don’t get me wrong we still have our moments of her “holding it in” but I am so relived to have her off the medication. Just want to give that info out because like everyone else I did not want my daughter to be on that medication long term and it seemed to be what the pediatrician had planned. Hope this helps another family
You can be certain it will Lauren! This is so helpful and is another valuable perspective in helping the rest of us piece together the constipation puzzle! Thank you!!!
thanks for sharing~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Oh man – I wish I would have seen this a year ago! My guy is about to turn 4 and we are still using miralax several times a week and still having potty training problems. We did figure out the dairy component about six months ago, and that made a huge difference for us. We have also found popcorn to be a great source of fiber that both my boys love! Thank you so much for sharing your story – at least it is so nice to know we are not alone, and it’s great to have a few more ideas to try!
Oh man – I wish I would have seen this a year ago! My guy is about to turn 4 and we are still using miralax several times a week and still having potty training problems. We did figure out the dairy component about six months ago, and that made a huge difference for us. We have also found popcorn to be a great source of fiber that both my boys love! Thank you so much for sharing your story – at least it is so nice to know we are not alone, and it’s great to have a few more ideas to try!
thanks!!!!
You might need a stool softener, not a laxative. I had oral surgery and was prescribed amoxicillin (antibiotic) and endocet (pain reliever containing acetaminophen and oxycodone). In the patient prescription information for endocet it lists constipation as a possible side effect, and goes on to say “To prevent constipation, eat a diet adequate in fiber, drink plenty of water, and exercise.” I had not had side effects from medication before that I can remember, and unfortunately, I did not read all of this prior to using this medication. After the surgery I became severely constipated.
I had not eaten anything for several days, so when my bowl movements stopped I did not notice. Rarely in my life have I been constipated. Once I started eating again, I became uncomfortable within a few days and realized that I was constipated. I tried prune juice, laxatives such as Ex-Lax, Phillips Milk of Magnesia, SenokotXtra, and a self-administered rectal suppository. Nothing worked. Days were going by and I was becoming extremely uncomfortable and was very close to going to the emergency room for a rectal water enema. I decided to call my doctor (general practitioner) first to ask his advice, but he was on vacation so I spoke to another doctor in the office. I related the story above. Although I was seeking advice on what over the counter medication I should take, I was advised instead to go to the emergency room and have an x-ray because I might have a tumor. Of course, I thought that was ridiculous. I did not suddenly develop a tumor. Although I had not read it, it seemed to me my problem was the result of taking pills for several days while not eating much of anything. Then I called a pharmacist, who then recommended medications that I had already taken. No new ideas there either. Finally I called the oral surgeon who operated on me. This seemed at the time to be an odd question for him, but I was getting desperate.
He immediately said I needed a stool softener and recommended Colace. He said such problems were common in hospitals and this is what patients were often given. I bought it, took it, went for a long walk around the neighborhood and periodically walked around the perimeter of the backyard for 15 minutes at a time, and in 12-18 hours began to have relief. The stool came out in hard compact clay-like nuggets. It was difficult and a bit painful to pass and I squatted in the shower to do it, but once the process started I experienced relief in increments over the next 12 hours.
My goodness. What an ordeal. Glad you were able to find advice that worked and will look into stool softener for my child.
Baby constipation is not uncommon. However, parents who have it happen to their little one usually want the situation to ease as fast as possible. There are several foods that really help with constipation in both adults and babies.
http://jtrader.hubpages.com/hub/Best-Fruit-Juice-Combinations-for-Baby-Constipation-Toddler-Recipes
My son too has constipation problems and I have been using Miralax to help him out too. Be careful using that stuff it is poison. I will NOT use miralax anymore. I appreciate your blog..it has given me new ideas to try for my son.
http://www.gutsense.org/gutsense/the-role-of-miralax-laxative-in-autism-dementia-alzheimer.html
poison how?
Thanks so much everyone for all the amazing tips and advice you are sharing. That is exactly what I was hoping for! I can tell you that the more my kids drink a lot of water the better off they are!
We have had the same issue from 6 months and after being told by a pediatrician to use actalax/lactolose whih is also not intended for long term use-our chiropractor recommended Metagenics fibroplex for kids. We are in Australia not sure about worldwide but it is a magnesium powder for kids. I’m my gosh worked from day one-AMAZING. Our boy at 1 1/2 has gone from pooing every 4-7 days to every day if not every 2 days. Magnesium is apparently to drug that doctors will not prescribe as it does every thing from lowering blood pressure to depression to helping autistic kids and constipation as it relaxes the muscles. Please try it it is natural and we are in the process of increasing our sons intake of magnesium rich foods. We are so thankful to our chiropractor as our son would still be being dosed up with artificial stuff to make him poo wen he went to school
My daughter has struggled with this since she was just over a year old. she would have tears everyone she had a bowel movement from the pain. she still eats dairy products, but I switched her to almond milk. There is also a great juice called “plum smart”that works wonders! It is good tasting prune juice that she willing asks for. Might be something others want to look into as well!
My third child is a holder and it upsets the entire family because she night wakes in pain 🙁 She is almost 2 and is still nursing. If we give her a “pooper” (enema) she can hold it still until the next day. Sometimes she even vomits when she tries to poop. It’s really awful. She doesn’t get much dairy except yobaby (with probotics). I would really like to be done nursing so I plan to switch to the Silk until we get this figured out. She doesn’t seem to be allergic to anything and she’s overall pretty happy. I just think she hates to poop. We tried miralax and she started throwing up.
Things we have done that DO help:
She does great with adding mineral oil to her yogurt.. She also seems better with some fiber bars and lots of water. I saw a stool suggested on Amazon…
http://www.amazon.com/Squatty-Potty-Toilet-Stool-Elimination-Aid/dp/B008G9B11E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1410217667&sr=8-1&keywords=constipation+stool
and Magnesium lotion:
http://www.amazon.com/Ancient-Minerals-Magnesium-Lotion-Bottle/dp/B0079QHN0S/ref=sr_1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1410217756&sr=1-1&keywords=magnesium+lotion
I hope this helps!! Poor Babies!!
My 6 year old has chronic constipation (since at least age 2). She struggled with daytime wetting (and had daily BMs – but her insides were full of stool pushing on her bladder). I wanted to add that too much fiber can also be constipating when not balanced with liquid.
Daily fiber should be the child’s age + 5g with minimum fluid being total fiber x 3oz. (For example my 6 year old needs 11g of fiber at at least 33oz fluid daily.) If she eats more fiber than that she needs to drink more water, etc. this info is from our GI clinic. All the best you all the moms & kiddos dealing with this!
Thank you so much for that very helpful comment Cathryn. I haven’t heard that before but it makes a lot of sense and I will be figuring out the calculation for my kids!
I’m a PNP and I second absolutely everything you said in this post!! My recommendation usually is for a big initial clean out with miralax, then starting to do the dietary stuff along with fiber and probiotic supplements (I like florajen and culturelle) but like you said one of the most important things is to have a scheduled bathroom time. I like your idea of reading books but one thing I have found very helpful is blowing balloons!!!! Sounds crazy. But of course it forces them to valsalva without even knowing they’re doing it. Works like a charm and makes bathroom time fun. Give it a try sometime!! Thanks for sharing your tips. I often send my mommy friends to your blog. You’re one of the few mommy blogs I feel like I can trust to give evidence-based advice!
Thank you so much for the helpful comment. I will be trying the balloon!
Wow..I am a PNP as well. Have you had success with this. How old are your children? Thanks, Sheri
If any single moms still having trouble getting their child toddler or baby to go poop I know a great nurse in Pennsylvania she has helped my nephew to poop very easily. If any single moms still need help getting their baby or toddler/child to go poop please let me know i can help u help your child baby kids toddler to go poop over the phone ok . any moms need help still I can help u help your baby toddler child to go poop
Im on pintrest . any single moms need help making their baby toddler child to poop call me on my cell phone . I dont have email or Gmail anymore .
Great post, i have a two kids which of one get often constipation problems. Thanks for sharing this informative post i would be following this tips.
I have a daughter and she has had the abdominal pain off and on for about a year now. We’ve been in and out of her doctor’s clinic. The doctor ordered for an x-ray then said it’s just poop while I know for a fact that my daughter is not constipated because she regularly moves her bowel. We’ve also done ultrasound, stool test, etc. All tests came clean. But she is still in pain.
I’m sorry Brandy, that is so frustrating. Sometimes you have to keep going to different docs until someone finds a solution. It might be helpful to try a natropathic dr- they look at problems through a different lens. Good Luck!
If a child is pooping that doesn’t mean they are not constipated or blocked further up. My daughter was pooping every day, but it’s the type of poop that makes the difference (ie hard pebbles, softer stools). Also they can be impacted further up but some can get through to give a regular poop. If the dr saw poop in the xray then it is most likely there. They also should have followed it up, because impaction is very painful for kids and can cause problems. I know as my 2 have had them. My youngest has been on a stool softener for 12 months. When constipated the bowel stretches. Once going regularly, with the correct poop consistency they need to stay on the stool softener for twice the length of time they were constipated; as it takes the bowels this long to go back into shape. I know this as my childrens bowel issues are hereditary and have been extensively researched by paediatricians, gastroenterologists and other specialists. Impaction can also mimic signs of recurrent UTI’s as the bowel compresses the bladder; causing frequent urination, pain when weeing etc. I would go to another gp, get an xray and if there is still too much build up then ask them to follow it up ASAP. Good Luck.
Check for chronic appendicitis! I had abdominal pain for almos 1 year, several visits to the ER, c-scans, MRI, endoscopy/colonoscopy all my tests came back fine! Last month, the pain was intolerable called my GI doctor e told me to go to the ER, and he would meet me there he called a surgeon. They did a exploratory surgery in my abdomen, removed my appendix and I’m fine!!! Finally!!! Most doctors don’t believe in “chronic appendicitis”, you should mention that to you’re daughters Gi doctor. Good luck!
Oh no. Watching a child experiencing pain and not being able to help or fix it is just awful. As a little kid I had major issues with my digestive tract. I fear my 1yr old will develop the same issues. I know this is old but if they seen that she was full of poop on the xray then they must have seen poop. If you told the doc she goes regularly then he should have taken the time to figure out why it appeared she was backed up. Maybe she had a small blockage allowing her to still have BM. I had several xrays taken for my pain as a child with all of them saying i was “full of crap” i am curious what happened in your daughters case.
My daughter (now nearly 4) started having issues with constipation when I began introducing solids. It didn’t matter what she ate, she was constantly constipated. I don’t know if she was holding it in (at ~1 year old?) or what, but I tried everything. Asked my doctor for help, and he told us to use PEG. It just gave her a massive diaper rash and diarrhea. Finally I brought her to my chiropractor, and he found that her spine was out of alignment down where it is connected to nerves in the intestines. He also suggested aloe vera juice. There was not an immediate change, but after several visits she was pooping regularly and not long after we ditched the aloe entirely. She still goes regularly for wellness visits, but hasn’t had problems since. She can eat tons of cheese and bread and is still fine. I literally credit my chiropractor with saving her life, because otherwise I have no idea how she would have been able to eat properly.
Thanks Anje! That is a really helpful idea, that I’m going to have to consider!
Alisha, I really appreciate this post! My son is also 4.5 and he has been dealing with constipation issues since he was about 10 months old. Though we try to maintain a diet mostly of whole grains, fruits, and veggies, we often fall short and are inconsistent. He is completely dependent on Miralax once, sometimes more a day. We’ve had him tested for food sensitivities, celiac disease, Hirschprungs disease and more, of which he has none. When he turned four it finally dawned on me that he could be withholding much more that we have been aware of. We are still working with him to sit on the toilet. He gets backed up and its as if he simply can’t hold it in any longer and then it comes out, often without his control, so it seems. He has a lot of accidents and I think he gets frustrated. Sometimes he insists on wearing a diaper still. He is suppose to start Kindergarten in the fall, but I get really discouraged that he may not be able to participate for 3.5 hours a day, 5 days a week. Anyway, thanks for your post! I’m definitely going to try having him go after breakfast every morning. Thanks for the fiber supplement recommendations too. I look forward to hearing more about your journey.
Hi Brittany, thank you so much for that comment, I really appreciate it. Our stories are so similar, I just added a few more products that were recommended by other readers, you will see the bold UPDATE above, if you are interested. Sitting him on the toilet regularly was a huge success for us, although we admittedly don’t always follow through. I have ordered the tummy fiber and am really hoping for success with that- I will update that too! The accidents have been an issue here to and I think that is where the miralax doesn’t allow them to hold it anymore. Best of luck to you to, I hope some of these strategies are helpful!
Brittany ramirez my son had the same problem with constipation since he was 5 months old now he needs an enema or suppository by pedialax every 5 days
Now my son is 12 years old but still relies on a fleet enema every 5 days .