Bowel Cleanout

We suggest that your child be cleaned of stool by choosing ONE of the following two choices:

  1. Begin after breakfast in the morning and have your child drink 10 ounces of Magnesium Citrate in the morning, and another 10 ounces of Magnesium Citrate in the afternoon after lunch.
  2. Begin after breakfast and mix a small bottle of Miralax (255 gms) in 64 ounces of a good tasting clear liquid like apple juice, Gatorade or G2 flavored water, and drink at least 8 ounces every hour until gone.

With either one of these two cleanouts, your child will begin to eliminate large pieces of stool within 2-4 hours, then smaller pieces, then watery stool with flecks of stool, then just watery stool.  A successful cleanout is when very few or no more flecks of stool are being eliminated, just watery BM’s.

Daily Bowel Management To Achieve One Very Soft BM Every Day For 6-12 Months

We suggest giving 1 capful of Miralax mixed in 8 ounces of a good tasting clear liquid daily.  If one capful does not result in your child having a very soft BM per day then increase the amount of Miralax given:

  • 1 ¼ capful are mixed in 10 ounces of clear liquid
  • 1 ½ capful are mixed in 12 ounces of clear liquid
  • 1 ¾ capful are mixed in 14 ounces of clear liquid
  • 2 capfuls are mixed in 16 ounces of clear liquid.
  • If one capful of Miralax results in diarrhea, reduce the amount of Miralax given:
  • ¾ capful is mixed in 6 ounces of clear liquid
  • ½ capful is mixed in 4 ounces of clear liquid

Reduce the amount of cow’s milk dairy products (milk, cheese, yogurt, ice cream) that your child is consuming every day to 8-12 ounces per day.  Alternative milks and milk products, such as soy/rice/almond, can be consumed in unlimited amounts.

Increase the daily fiber in your child’s diet to 25-30 grams per day.  Review the high fiber food list below.  You may also consider using Fiber Gummies or Benefiber, with each product listing how many grams of fiber are available in each serving.

You must also increase the amount of clear liquid that your child is drinking every day to a minimum of 32 ounces per day.

Encourage your child to get at least one hour or aerobic activity per day.

Have your child practice a regular daily toilet schedule by sitting on the toilet for 3-5 minutes after most meals.

High Fiber Nutrition Therapy

Fiber and fluid may relieve constipation in children.  Fiber is not digested in the body.  Instead, when it is in the colon, it absorbs water and helps form a soft stool, which is more easily passed.  The child with constipation will likely improve when adequate amounts of fiber are in the diet.

The whole family will benefit from having more fiber in the diet, and when everybody changes their eating habits together, it is more likely that your child also will eat these new foods.

Tips For Adding Fiber to your Child’s Diet

  1. Serve whole grain breads and cereals.  Read food labels and look for choices with 100% wheat, rye, oat, or bran as the first and second ingredient.
  2. Offer brown rice or wild rice instead of white rice or potatoes.
  3. Encourage your child to try a variety of grains.  Good choices include barley, oats, faro, kamut, and quinoa.
  4. Bake with whole flour.  You can use it to replace some white or all purpose flour in recipes.
  5. Serve baked beans more often.  Add dried beans and peas to casseroles or soups.
  6. Choose fresh fruits and vegetables instead of juice.
  7. Serve fruits and vegetables with peels or skins on.
  8. Compare food labels of similar foods to find higher fiber choices.  Packaged foods have the amount of fiber per serving listed on the Nutritional Facts label.
  9. Make sure your child drinks plenty of fluids.  Fluids help the body process fiber without discomfort.  An average toddler needs about 6-7 cups of fluid each day.  An average school aged child needs 8-9 cups per day.
  10. Slowly increase the amount of fiber your child eats, over the course of a few weeks.  This will reduce gas and bloating as your child gets used to the higher fiber level.