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I am not a doctor or medical professional. Please speak to your pediatrician if your child is suffering from constipation. 

When I decided to have kids, I had no idea that I was going to become an expert on so many topics. When my son was 2, I knew every type of construction vehicle: dump trucks, backhoes, excavators, bulldozers, I knew them all! Before kids, I was already pretty proficient in Disney movie song lyrics, but now that I’ve watched all the movies 1.6 million times each with my children, I’m at an expert level. Quiz me – I’ve memorized them all!

Another topic I never really expected to specialize in was constipation remedies for kids. But here I am, a wealth of knowledge about how to get your little sh**s to take a sh**.

Constipated kids are tough. They don’t feel well so they don’t act well. We’ve all been constipated at some point in our lives, and we know how uncomfortable it can be. Cronic constipation in kids can cause them to associate going to the bathroom with pain, which will make them avoid going, and then they end up even MORE constipated. It’s a cruel cycle and no mom wants to watch her child suffer like that.

The first (and sometimes only) thing pediatricians will recommend for kids who are constipated is Miralax. Please, please, please do your research before giving your child this drug. A simple Google search of “Miralax Aggression” will pull up a ton of articles you can read before making a decision about giving Miralax to your child. I won’t go into detail about our family’s personal experience with this drug, because I’m not comfortable sharing some personal information about my children here on the blog for all the world to see. But know that I will never give Miralax to my kids ever again.

It’s a shame that it’s so quickly prescribed to children because there are so many other things parents can try. Here’s a list of things we have tried that have worked for our family:

Natural Constipation Remedies for Children

Things we’re currently using/doing:

Aloe Juice

My son loves aloe juice! He calls the tiny pieces of aloe “aloe jello.” He has a cup or two a day.

Pedia-Lax Probiotic Yums

Both of my kiddos take these each day. We were using another brand for a long time, but the Pedia-Lax brand seems to work better.

Dairy-free Diet

This one is tough, but I really think cutting out dairy has had the biggest effect. We not 100% dairy free – we still have ice cream every now and then, and we’ll have pizza once a month or so. But I don’t buy milk, cheese, or dairy-based yogurt anymore. My kids love the So Delicious brand coconut milk yogurt!

Flax Oil

Speaking of the coconut milk yogurt, I always mix in a tablespoon of flax oil each morning. My kids can’t taste it. We’ve also successfully mixed it in juice before.

Fruits and Vegetables

My kids are pretty good eaters, but I’ve been trying to buy more veggies that I know they’ll eat. They love baby bell peppers, so I always grab a bag of those. My son loves kale chips, so I’ll make those once a week. They also love cherry tomatoes, so I’ll grab a container or two. I try to keep fresh fruit and veggies out on the counter, especially around 4pm when I know my kids will want to start snacking.

Okra

The older generations in my family SWEAR by okra for constipation. And surprisingly, my kids will eat it! They love pickled okra and will also eat soup with sliced okra. (I buy it frozen and toss it in.)

Prunes

We buy prunes in bulk now. My kids will eat them plain, but I also love to chop them up and mix them in a store-bought muffin mix.

Prune Pouches

My kids actually fight over these! They’re perfect to throw in your bag when you’re headed out for the day.

Natura

Ground Flaxseed

I also mix in a tablespoon or two of ground flaxseed when I’m making muffins.

Coconut Oil

I cook with coconut oil as much as possible. I also toss cooked veggies with coconut oil (instead of butter). For a treat, I’ll stir a teaspoon of oil into hot chocolate. Yum!

Things we’ve tried but aren’t currently using:

Prune Juice

Unfortunately, my kids hate prune juice. Sometimes I can sneak a little into another type of juice (like grape) but most of the time they won’t drink it.

Kid’s Gotta Go #2

I found this at Sprouts and we tried it for a week or two. It has a really strong smell so it’s hard to sneak into foods or drinks.

Coconut Water

No one in our family likes coconut water, but I’ve heard it’s great for constipation.

Kombucha

Kombucha is another drink my kids don’t like, but I’ve heard good things about it.

Pedia-Lax Children’s Saline Laxative Chewable Tablets

We used these a few times when things got really bad. They work fairly quickly.

Pedia-Lax Liquid Glycerin Suppositories Laxative

We’ve tried these, but I won’t lie – it wasn’t a pleasant experience for anyone. I’d try the Saline Laxative Chewable Tablets before these.

L’il Critters Fiber Gummy Bears

Be careful with fiber – too much without enough liquids can make things worse.

Natural Calm Magnesium Diet Supplement

Another option to try for constipation is a magnesium supplement. We tried Natural Calm a few times, but don’t currently use it. I try to cook magnesium-rich foods as much as possible too.

 

Do you have any other natural remedies for constipation in kids that have worked for your family?