Claire McCarthy, M.D., is a senior medical editor for Harvard Health Publications. She is an instructor in pediatrics at Harvard Medical School, an attending physician at Children's Hospital of Boston, and co-director of the pediatrics department at Martha Eliot Health Center, a neighborhood health service of Children's Hospital. The author of two books, "Learning How the Heart Beats" and "Everyone's Children", Dr. McCarthy was a regular columnist for "Sesame Street Parents Magazine" from 1995 to 1998 and is currently a contributing editor for "Parenting Magazine".
Question:
My 4-year-old son is constipated and has not been able to have a bowel movement in over a week. I started MiraLax® yesterday and gave him Pedialax® but so far, no results. What else should I do?
Answer:
If your child hasn't had a bowel movement in over a week, the first thing you should do is call your child's doctor. It's not uncommon, and not necessarily dangerous, but your doctor knows your child best and can therefore give the best advice.
You and your doctor can decided the best way to help your son have a bowel movement soon. After that, it will be important to get him on a regimen to help prevent this from happening again. Polyethylene glycol, the ingredient in Miralax and its generic equivalents, can be very helpful, but it can take a few days to work. It's most useful if given regularly.
The key to managing constipation is to make the remedy — polyethylene glycol, a fiber supplement or another medication — part of your normal routine for weeks or even months.
Diet is key for managing constipation, too. Make sure your son drinks plenty of water and eats five servings of fruits and vegetables every day. That's not only good for preventing constipation — it's good for your child's overall health.
Keep in close touch with your doctor, so that if there's a little problem you can fix it before it becomes a big one!