Poop and more poop! Digestive help.

So my 5year old has been on Miralax on and off since he was two years old. He poops only a couple times a week and its so massive that it makes him bleed. The Miralax was working for a while but lately he won't drink it, no matter what I dissolve it in. I try giving him plenty of dark green veggies but what else can I give him food-wise to promote daily bowel movements?

Why dark green? I'd think that would bind him up since dark green veggies are an iron source.

I'd go for foods with a high fiber content like apples, pineapple, citrus, pears, figs etc.

fiber,apple sauce or juice, prune juice, raisins or grapes

Fiber One Bars! One a day should really help. It makes my irregular pooper go a ton.

Anything high in fiber. DD likes frosted mini wheats. Try those fiber one bars, like as a snack or something.

Mix it with any of his drinks? Just an ounce or two is all that is needed.

Dark green leafy foods isn't good. They are a higher source of iron which tends to bind.

Try pushing pears, watermelon, cantaloupe, apples, a lot of water.

oatmeal with raisins and apple juice!

I would be promoting prune juice before Miralax. I can't believe a doctor has allowed this for 3 years. Laxatives are addictive. His body could become dependent on them for bowel movements.


High fiber, lots of water. Apples are good

Quoting SAFFY™:" Why dark green? I'd think that would bind him up since dark green veggies are an iron source. I'd go for foods with a high fiber content like apples, pineapple, citrus, pears, figs etc."

Aw crap. I forgot about that. Someone had mentioned to me that the green veggies help them poop, and considering they make my baby poop like crazy I figured it would work. I didn't even think of the iron. Thanks!

I'll push the fruits with him! He is more of a veggie-guy than a fruit fanatic. He generally sticks to bananas (obviously a no-go), strawberries and raspberries.

Quoting Jude ♥ JGL:" Fiber One Bars! One a day should really help. It makes my irregular pooper go a ton."

He loves granola bars. I'll try that!
What is the difference between the Fiber one and a Quaker chewy? I have been getting him those with the 25% less sugar.

Quoting MunchkinWrangler:" He loves granola bars. I'll try that! What is the difference between the Fiber one and a Quaker chewy? I have been getting him those with the 25% less sugar."

The fiber content is much, much higher. Seriously, my kid struggles to poop and we give him one of those and he goes great.

Quoting Meg ღ ღ:" Mix it with any of his drinks? Just an ounce or two is all that is needed. Dark green leafy foods isn't ... [snip!] ... They are a higher source of iron which tends to bind. Try pushing pears, watermelon, cantaloupe, apples, a lot of water. "

Mix what? The miralax? That's what you do anyways... lol. He won't drink it regardless of what I put it in. He says it's "gritty and slimy." He gags. I have yet to decide if it's just a show.

Thanks for the suggestion. We will be pushing more fruits. He tends to lean towards vegetables more, which I never had a problem with... but if they're more binding I will have him back off.

Quoting MunchkinWrangler:" Mix what? The miralax? That's what you do anyways... lol. He won't drink it regardless of what I put ... [snip!] ... to lean towards vegetables more, which I never had a problem with... but if they're more binding I will have him back off."

I cannot drink Miralax either because of the texture. Have you tried putting it in with someone that already has a texture? Like orange juice with pulp? Or a milkshake?

Quoting Addi's Momma:" I would be promoting prune juice before Miralax. I can't believe a doctor has allowed this for 3 years. ... [snip!] ... are addictive. His body could become dependent on them for bowel movements. High fiber, lots of water. Apples are good"

We tried that. Clearly this is a long-standing problem. When your kid smurfs such massive poops that he is shaking, in tears and BLEEDING from his anus... you wouldn't be continuing to just push more prune juice. Miralax worked, and it worked FAST.... I'm not looking for suggestions regarding the Miralax, or for you to think you know better than my son's pediatrician who has dealt with his bowel issues since infancy. He used to have to take suppositories as an infant, numerous times a week AFTER trying juice and prunes and warm soaks in the bath.

And no, Miralax generally is NOT addictive. That's why it's widely recommended by pediatricians. If you read the OP you'd see that he was on Miralax on and off. He would do fine for weeks at a time, sometimes closer to a year without the Miralax. It's not addictive.

Quoting Jude ♥ JGL:" I cannot drink Miralax either because of the texture. Have you tried putting it in with someone that already has a texture? Like orange juice with pulp? Or a milkshake?"

He won't drink it with pulp. And I was told to only give it to him with clear fluids.
Although, she told me that years ago... so maybe things have changed? It's worth asking about. He was taking it every other day with some water before bed and doing just fine, but lately he is refusing.

I think part of the problem is that he holds it at daycare when he has to poop. I think the problem is only going to get worse as he starts school this year because I highly doubt he will poop at school. I try to encourage him to try daily at home. Today was awful... as usual he pooped and it clogged the toilet... his poor butt was bleeding. I tried talking to him saying "This is why you need to take that medicine, even if it's yucky... it will help you poop so it won't hurt anymore." But he still refused. I don't want to force it on him and make the situation worse.

I'll definitely try that Fiber One bar, though. Thanks! I know he will take that easily. And as others suggested, more fruits and less green veggies. Good to know! A few relatives/friends recommended the green veggies and I just started trying it. Didn't even look it up.