Constipation is one of those things that sounds minor until it’s your kid who’s been crying on the toilet for 20 minutes. It’s more common than most parents realize — studies suggest somewhere between 30 and 35 percent of children deal with it at some point, and toddlers and preschoolers tend to get hit hardest. If you’re here Googling “kids laxative” at 10pm, you’re in good company.
This guide walks through what’s actually going on when kids get constipated, what you can do at home, which over-the-counter options are reasonable to try, and when it’s worth picking up the phone and calling us.
Key Takeaways
- Constipation affects roughly 1 in 3 children — toddlers and preschoolers are most commonly impacted
- Hard stools, straining, and avoiding the bathroom matter more than how often your child goes
- Water, fiber, and fruit (especially prunes, pears, and apples) should always be the first step
- MiraLAX is the most commonly recommended kids laxative by pediatricians, but dosing should be confirmed with your doctor
- Over-the-counter options like Colace (stool softener) and glycerin suppositories can help depending on your child’s age and situation
- Constipation that keeps coming back often needs weeks or months of treatment — stopping too soon usually means it comes back
- Call your doctor if there’s blood in the stool, vomiting alongside constipation, or no improvement after several days of home treatment
- Never give a laxative to a child under 12 months without checking with your doctor first
First: What Does “Constipated” Actually Mean?
This trips a lot of parents up. Not every kid poops every day, and that’s okay. Constipation is less about frequency and more about what’s happening when they do go — or can’t.
Signs to watch for include: fewer than two or three bowel movements per week, stools that come out hard, dry, or in small pellet-like balls, straining or pain during a bowel movement, a firm or distended belly, blood on the toilet paper from small tears around the rectum, or a child who’s started avoiding the bathroom altogether because it hurts.
That last one matters — kids who associate going to the bathroom with pain will start holding it, which makes things considerably worse over time. If your child has started doing a little “poop dance” to avoid going, or keeps saying their tummy hurts right after meals, those are signs worth taking seriously.
Start Here: Things to Try Before Reaching for a Laxative
In a lot of cases — especially if the constipation is mild or just started — some simple changes at home can get things moving again.
Water. This is the big one. Dehydration makes stool harder and harder to pass. If your child isn’t drinking much water, start there. For babies over six months, a small amount of water daily is fine. For older kids, plain water throughout the day makes a real difference.
Fruit that actually works. Prunes are the classic recommendation, but pears, apples, and peaches also contain sorbitol — a naturally occurring sugar that draws water into the bowel and softens stool. Prune juice diluted with water works well for younger toddlers who won’t eat the whole fruit.
More fiber, less junk. A diet heavy in processed foods and low in fruits and vegetables is one of the most common reasons kids get constipated. Beans, whole grains, and vegetables are your friends here. Aim for five servings of fruits or vegetables a day if you can get there.
Cut back on dairy temporarily. Some kids are sensitive to the proteins in cow’s milk, and dairy tends to be low in fiber. If your child drinks a lot of milk and is frequently constipated, it’s worth cutting back for a week and seeing what happens.
Belly massage and movement. For infants and young toddlers especially, gently massaging the abdomen in a clockwise direction and bicycling their legs can help stimulate bowel movement. It won’t work for everyone but it’s gentle and worth trying.
Relaxed bathroom time. This sounds almost too simple, but kids need time and privacy to go. Their feet should reach the floor or a stool — dangling feet make it much harder to bear down effectively. No rushing them off the toilet. Some parents find that a small reward chart for “successful potty time” helps break the anxiety cycle with kids who’ve started holding.
When to Consider a Kids Laxative
If home remedies aren’t doing the trick after a few days, or if your child is clearly uncomfortable and backed up, an over-the-counter kids laxative may be appropriate. Here’s a rundown of the main options.
MiraLAX (Polyethylene Glycol 3350)
This is probably the most commonly recommended option among pediatricians, and for good reason. MiraLAX is an osmotic laxative, meaning it draws water into the colon to soften stool. It comes as an odorless, tasteless powder you can mix into juice, milk, or water — which is a huge practical advantage with picky kids.
One thing worth knowing: the label on the bottle says it’s intended for adults 17 and older, and recommends checking with a doctor for younger children. That’s because MiraLAX doesn’t have an official pediatric FDA approval. However, most pediatricians and family doctors routinely recommend it for children, including toddlers, and the American Academy of Pediatrics acknowledges its use for pediatric constipation.
We typically do recommend talking to us before starting MiraLAX in a child, especially for ongoing or chronic use. Dosing is based on your child’s weight, and getting it right matters — too little won’t work, too much causes diarrhea. It also takes 24 to 72 hours to have an effect, so be patient and don’t double up.
Glycerin Suppositories
For younger infants and babies who are acutely backed up and uncomfortable, a pediatric glycerin suppository can provide fairly quick relief — usually within about 15 to 30 minutes. They work by lubricating and stimulating the rectum. They’re generally safe and appropriate for babies and toddlers when used occasionally, but they’re not a long-term solution and can be uncomfortable to insert. Use these sparingly.
Docusate Sodium (Colace)
Colace is a stool softener rather than a true laxative — it helps water get into the stool to make it softer and easier to pass. It doesn’t cause the bowel to contract, which makes it gentler. It’s available in pediatric drops and capsules. It tends to work better for preventing hard stools from building up than for clearing out an acute episode of constipation.
Senna (Ex-Lax, Senokot Children’s)
Senna is a stimulant laxative — it works by stimulating the bowel muscles to contract. It tends to work more strongly and quickly than MiraLAX or Colace. It can be helpful for older children with more stubborn constipation, but it’s not generally our first recommendation for young kids because it can cause cramping. Definitely worth a conversation with us before using this one regularly.
What About Mineral Oil?
Mineral oil used to be recommended pretty routinely, but it’s fallen out of favor for younger children due to a small aspiration risk. We generally don’t recommend it for children under three.
What We Don’t Recommend Without Talking to Us First
Suppositories and enemas can feel like a logical “nuclear option” when a child is very constipated, and sometimes they are appropriate — but they should really be done under guidance. Using them incorrectly can cause rectal trauma, and doing them frequently can disrupt normal bowel habits. If your child is impacted to the point where you’re thinking about an enema, call us.
Similarly, if you’re considering any laxative for a child under 12 months old, please check with us first. Infant digestive systems are different, and what’s appropriate changes a lot depending on age.
How Long Can Kids Stay on a Laxative?
This is a question we hear a lot. The short answer is: longer than most parents expect, when it’s done correctly.
For a child with chronic constipation — meaning it keeps coming back or has been going on for months — a short trial of a stool softener isn’t usually enough. We often recommend a maintenance regimen with something like MiraLAX for several months while also working on diet and bathroom habits. The goal is for the bowel to “reset” and for your child to start associating using the bathroom with something that’s no longer painful. Stopping too early often just brings the problem back.
Warning Signs: When to Call Us or Go In
Most childhood constipation is functional — meaning there’s no underlying medical problem, just diet, habits, or a brief illness causing a backup. But some situations do warrant a call or visit:
Any blood in the stool that’s not clearly from a small tear around the outside of the anus. Vomiting along with the constipation. Significant abdominal pain. A child who has been constipated for several weeks despite home treatment and OTC options. A child under 12 months with constipation. An older child who is soiling their underwear — this can actually be a sign of overflow around a large blockage, not just a behavioral issue.
If your child was never constipated and then suddenly became constipated without an obvious reason (like a diet change or illness), it’s worth checking in.
A Note From Our Practice
We know constipation isn’t exactly the most glamorous reason to schedule an appointment, but it genuinely affects kids’ quality of life and — if it goes on long enough — their willingness to use the bathroom at all. Don’t let it drag on for months hoping it resolves on its own.
If you’re not sure whether what you’re dealing with qualifies as constipation, or you want specific guidance on which kids laxative is appropriate for your child’s age and situation, give us a call. That’s exactly what we’re here for.