If your child is prescribed laxatives for constipation or potty training fear, here’s the low down on the four most important things you need to know.
1.They are safe
Macrogol laxatives are extremely safe and work by adding more water to the bowel to flush out old poo and help keep things going.
2.They can give your child a sore bottom
You can avoid this by using a barrier cream to protect the mucous membrane. You may also find that washing your child’s bottom after each poo and patting it dry with a soft, clean towel can help.
3.They absolutely have to be mixed with water
The powder binds to the water molecules and makes them bigger. This is how the medicine works, as it helps add more water into the bowel. So to work properly, they have to be mixed with water first. After that, you can add flavouring (e.g squash) to help your child accept the not-so-great-taste. If you sprinkle it on a yogurt, or add it directly to milk, it won’t be able to work properly or at all.
4.They don’t count towards your child daily fluid intake
Remember the water molecules get bigger when the water is mixed with the powder. This means they can’t pass through the bowel wall and therefore they will not be able to hydrate your child. Your child still needs their daily fluid intake to stay hydrated. This is around 1-1.5 litres of water a day. Download our fluid intake tips for ideas on how to help your child drink more.
Other macrogol laxative FAQ’s:
Can I put it into milk?
Yes, as long as you have prepared it first using water. Just bear in mind that if you add it into a larger volume of fluid, that’s OK, but your child will need to drink all that liquid to get the full dose.
What time of day is best to take macrogol laxatives?
The best time is morning, lunch and early afternoon, to help ensure your child’s digestion gets a rest overnight.
Can my child take more than 1 dose at a time?
Yes, you can take more than 1 dose at a time without any safety concerns. Larger amounts can provoke vomiting, so it’s better to space them out if you can.
Do they have to drink all the dose at once or can they sip it throughout the day?
Sipping is OK, as long as your child is taking the dose they need.
Will it make my child loose bowel control?
No. Macrogols laxatives are not the same as stimulant laxatives (such as pico sulphate, sennakot), and your child will get the sensation they need to poo but will have time to get to the toilet. If your child is taking higher doses, the poo will be runnier and this may make accidents more likely. It’s important to be empathetic with your child if this happens. See our accident management tips to help.
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Nurse Rebecca Mottram is an advocate for Baby Pottying and a potty training expert. She is the author of two books; The Baby Pottying Guide and Positively Potty, the host of the Go Potty Podcast and founder of the Little Bunny Bear shop. If you are trying to resolve a potty problem, you can explore Rebecca’s free resources, join her Facebook group or request a private consultation.