“WHAT’S THE PASSWORD!?!?!?” I peek around the corner and find my son shouting at the toilet, apparently miffed by its inability to suck giant swaths of paper into the vortex under our house. Of course I grabbed the plunger and voila! No big deal.
If only all potty struggles were that easily solved, right?
Unfortunately, issues like constipation can be quite the challenge with small children. I’ve written about several research-backed natural constipation remedies before, but recently my friend Robyn shared a tip for supporting healthy bowel function that I thought was genius.
Before we dive in, though, I want to mention that none of these statements have been evaluated by the FDA, this article is not medical advice, and it is not meant to diagnose or treat any condition.
Please talk with your healthcare provider about any natural remedies you are considering. Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s dive in.
What Causes Constipation?
Constipation can occur for a variety of reasons, including holding a bowel movement because you’re feeling shy in a public restroom, a change in diet, stress, dehydration and other reasons, but there’s a difference between occasional constipation and chronic constipation.
Research suggests that chronic constipation may indicate a more serious underlying issue such as gut flora imbalance, inadequate levels of trace minerals, allergies, or hypothyroidism, and it should always be evaluated by a healthcare practitioner. (source1, source 2, source 3)
Why Not Miralax?
Good question. According to pediatrician Dr. Scott Cohen, Miralax is often prescribed to children for months, sometimes years. “We literally give it like water,” he told the New York Times.
This is shocking to me for two reasons:
1. Miralax is not even approved for children.
2. It’s only supposed to be used in adults for a maximum of seven days.
Even more concerning is that fact that a growing number of parents have reported psychiatric and behavioral side effects – including tremors, tics and obsessive compulsive disorder – after their children took Miralax. In 2011, the FDA listed “neuropsychiatric events” as a possible side effect and asked researchers to take another look at safety. Initially they said no action was required, but recently they requested additional research.
At issue is whether the active ingredient in Miralax, PEG 3350, is absorbed differently in “children who are constipated, have underlying intestinal disease, or are very young.” (source)
The safety of PEG 3350 hinges on whether or not it is absorbed systemically in children – something we simply don’t know due to a lack of research.
“Every pediatric GI physician, I would guarantee you, has told a family this is a safe product,” Dr. Kent C. Williams, a gastroenterologist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital told the New York Times. Now, he says, “it may not be true.”
For me, the bottom line is that parents have reported serious adverse effects from this drug, and no research has been done that proves it is safe for children. I love my children’s doctor and have found him to be very willing to answer questions and concerns when they come up. If we ever ran into a situation that moved beyond occasional constipation I would certainly seek guidance, but based on what I’ve read I would work with my doctor to find alternatives.
Getting Things Moving With Constipation Candy
Fortunately for the occasional bout of constipation there are ways to encourage normal bowel function. My friend Robyn shared this recipe with me after finding it helpful for her son.
Since coconut oil contains medium-chain fatty acids, which pass through cell membranes more easily than long-chain fatty acids, the body can digest these fats more quickly and stimulates the rate of the digestive process.
“Just two ‘constipation candies’ and then anywhere between 8 to 18 hours later, total relief without tears,” says Robyn, adding that “For kids I’d stick with 2 pieces and wait a day before increasing how much they can have. For adults I’d start with 4 and try adding an extra each day to see what your body likes the most.”
Constipation Candy Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup organic extra virgin coconut oil, melted
- 1/4 to 1/3 cup of lemon juice (mix and taste as you go along)*
- 2 tablespoons honey, maple syrup, sucanat or coconut sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon pink Himalayan salt
* Mommypotamus note: I also made up a batch with pureed fruit that was pretty good. Just make sure that if you’re using fruit from your freezer that you allow it to fully thaw before mixing it with the coconut oil.
Equipment
1-2 Silicone molds (You can use the same mold and make two batches, or use two molds and make one batch. I used this one)
Food processor or immersion blender
Instructions
Combine all ingredients in a food processor or with a handheld mixer and pour into the candy molds. Taste as you go along and make it as sweet or sour as you like. Everything has to be very well mixed into the oil, so make sure as you’re pouring the last bit in that it’s not sugar or honey-heavy.
Tip: My first batch separated, so the second time I made them I put my silicone mold in the freezer for about 10 minutes prior to pouring. When it was time, I let the mixture whir in my food processor for sixty full seconds before pouring it into the molds, then set it in the freezer for an hour.
Store in the fridge and enjoy as needed. No one in my house is constipated but we ate a few anyway – so good!
Other Things That May Help
In addition to the remedies I suggest here, you might also consider aloe vera juice and slippery elm bark powder. It’s slightly sweet so kids usually enjoy taking it.
Also, though it might seem a little odd, you might also consider getting a squatty potty if your child is old enough to use it. Dr. Bernard Jensen once wrote that “one of the bowel’s greatest enemies in civilized society is the ergonomic nightmare known as the toilet.
The stool allows for a more ergonomic approach – putting the body into a natural squatting position over the toilet. When positioned correctly, their body may be able to eliminate more quickly and completely. Squatty Potty stools come in two sizes: 7″ for standard toilets and 9″ for higher toilets.
Do you have a tried-and-true remedy for constipation? Please share it below!
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This article was medically reviewed by Dr. Sheila Kilbane, MD, a board-certified pediatrician, trained in integrative medicine. As always, this is not personal medical advice and we recommend that you talk with your doctor.
These are awesome! Do you think they would work for pregnant women? It’s like I got pregnant and all of a sudden going to bathroom became difficult.
Oh, YAY! I didn’t know if you’d gone public yet – so happy for you Loriel! 🙂
From what I’ve read many women have found coconut helpful for supporting normal bowel function during pregnancy. I would totally take it, especially since it is high in lauric acid, which I consider important during pregnancy.
Thank you Heather! Not public yet. 🙂
Can a metal molding pan be used intead of a plastic?
I dont have silicone mold so i put mix in ice cube tray but even after 10 hours it is not hard still liquid what to do? Please suggest🤔
All good advice, as a nurse I would also add hydration. One of the functions of the large intestine is to remove water from the stool to recycle it into the body. If the intake for adults or children is not sufficient then constipation can be the result.
I have seen people add in Chocolate…but have read that Chocolate can cause constipation. What are your thoughts?
I have strawberry Jam, could that be used?
I remember as a child my sister would invite us over the weekend, for treats. But what we always forgot was she accompanied the treat with dose of castor oil. Its particular texture is fixed in my memory. Yet now i realise that it was and is a great constipation and deworming remedy. Castor oil is safe. Follow instructions. Not more tha a spoonful a week. 🙂
I have a question, are you same Heather, the one who runs mind switch
Not familiar with mind switch, so no 🙂
Juice + vitamin chews have helped my child with constipation along with other issues.
Is this helpful with colitis
Would you be able to put peppermint essential oil in this recipe to cut the coconut taste ?
You should never ingest EOs
I ingest EO’s everyday! Who says you should never ingest? I use lemon oil and grapefruit oil in my yeti cup full of water all day long. My toothpaste is full of EO’s. I make EO’s vegetable capsules for various ailments.
I ingest EO’s too. Frankincense, Myrrh, Lemongrass, Copaiba, Tea Tree – three drops of each in a gel capsule each morning. So good.
This is for Joy. The oils that You take every morning what do You take them for? Thanks for info.
PS: I wasn’t able to find a place to ask Her directly. If You know of another way let Me know ☺
Yep me too! Some people are afraid to ingest them.
Please research. EO’s are toxic. Even ones that state that are food grade.
From what i have learned with essential oils; there are some EO’s that can be ingested and others that shouldn’t be. Most of what I have learned is that you have to be careful and diluting is the safest!
You can get Peppermint or many other flavored oils (not essential oils, but actual oils ment for flavoring candy and foods) in cake decorating/candy making stores. The local mom and pop stores in my area have closed, so I would actually look online. I believe I saw them at Hobby Lobby, Michaels and JOanne Fabrics in the Wisconsin area.
I had to take prune juice when I was pregnant. The only time I was constipated was pregnant or after surgery
Olive oil is what I used when pregnant – used by millions and millions the past 5,000 years, allegedly. Safe for babies and pregnant moms and nursing moms, and menopausal moms etc. Dad’s too, regardless of their reproductive status… can take or internally, or with children, can rub it around their abdomen or lower back or both. If I was really “plugged up”, I would pour out less than a thimbleful (okay, like 1/4 tsp or as needed), dip a clean fingertip in or use a silicon type finger cot or medical exam type gloves, and apply the liquid oil just inside anus, as if I was using a suppository. I suppose there may be DIY blank suppository things to fill up with olive oil but I don’t need this every day if I am eating correctly. So, sounds gross but desperation sometimes creates an incentive to do something that one wouldn’t ordinarily do. And of course, please sure and wash your hands afterwards.
Do you drink the olive oil and that does it? Just wondering do this way works too or if it is only the suppository way?
Did you read her post? Wrong end!
Is there a recipe without honey? I need something for my baby who is under 1 year.
Putting it in and around the anus just prevents tearing if going is painful. My mom use to put some kind of oil (not sure what, I’m 68 now) and ane would pour warm water over my low back and diwn to help. She also cooked prunes and I ate prunes ad well as drank the juice
You make take it orally (more pleasant), or use it to massage perineum.
For some reason I don’t see where to create my own original comment so I’m commenting here. I used firm coconut oil instead of melted and used an immersion blender to blend it with the other ingredients until it formed a mayonnaise-like consistency. That way separation is not a problem. All my other batches separated.
I’m going to try this recipe our way. It seems to me that whipping the coconut oil instead of melting it .might be easier too. the recipe doesn’t specify what a serving or piece should be by size. Have you worked this out? Thanks
I make a wonderful desert that when combined ingrediantsmixed it relieves contstitpation within a couple of hrs more or less! So you use a good size pan at least e-4 qt size ! Add a stick of real butter, melt! Don’t burn, add 2 cups of peanut butter mix with the butter, then add a bag of butterscotch morsels( regular size 12 oz)! Melt ,then add Rice Krispies! Put into a buttered 12×9 rectangle pan, refrigerate untill firm eat and enjoy!!
This issue is usually not a problem for our 10 year old, but I tend to be magnesium deficient especially at times when hormones are out of whack. 🙂 I use magnesium citrate in capsule or tablet form as needed and it apparently works with no side effects at all. We all like to eat dried plums (aka prunes) – they’re like big raisins but better – and we actually have to control consumption because we all like them so much (dried fruit is high in sugar and also if we have too many they have too much of a digestive effect!). We may try the candy recipe just for fun, but we do swear by the yummy prunes (dried figs are also good). We can get a huge bag of Sunsweet brand at Costco and they are the BEST.
I love magnesium for so many reasons. I can always tell when I’ve missed a few days because I don’t sleep as soundly. 🙂
What kind of magnesium is safe for a small fresh 4 yo one?
Thanks for the info, will put prunes on my list for when I go to Costco again.
We have a Squatty Potty in every bathroom and we even bring one along when we travel – they are awesome! 🙂
Yes! My woodworker son made me one and we love it
I love the Squatty Potty too! I have 2 for the house and they now have an inflatable one that comes with a pump and traveling case that I take on vacation.
What is squattypotty?
Its a stool that fits benieth the toilet bowl that your feet can rest on so that you are “squatting on the Potty!“ lol google it.
Would Celtic sea salt work in place of pink Himalayan salt?
Also, what brands of Aloe Vera juice do you recommend?
Thanks for another awesome post!
Yes, Celtic sea salt (or really any unrefined salt) will work. I actually use freshly juiced aloe vera so I’m not sure about store-bought brands, sorry! Glad you found the post helpful 🙂
Do you just run your aloe plant through the juicer?
One method is to peel and then run through a juicer, or you can just put in a blender with some water if that’s easier.
Thank you so much for this article! My poor girl was on miralax for YEARS!!! I could not wean her off of it. Everytime we tried to lower her dose, she had even worse constipation. I am so sick of Dr’s and GI specialists repeating what the drug reps tell them… like parrots. The drug reps (who want to sell their drug) say “it’s safe and effective” then the docs and the NP’s say “it’s safe and effective.” No one fact checks! I was too young and naive, and a new mommy, to know that there were other options. I finally got my girl off of miralax by making sure she drank MORE WATER! It was that simple!
Maybe I missed it, but do you have a link to the information regarding parents reporting behavioral side effects of Miralax? My son was on Miralax for a number of consecutive months in the past and has developed some behavioral issues. I would be interested in reading further into that. Thankfully, chiropractic care and slippery elm bark has pretty much cured his gastritis and IBS with constipation and he has been off all medications for nearly a year now.
There’s a Miralax yahoo group you can join that has links to all the documents like the FDA petition, what parents have reported, etc. It also has wonderful suggestions from other parents as to what they’ve tried, and what has worked, for their kids constipation.
I would recommend reading Healing Without Hurting by Jennifer Giustra-Kozek, LPC, NCC.
On Facebook try the page “Parents Against Miralax (PEG 3350) – a wonderful group who not only talk about the side effects of Miralax, but about so many natural remedies and others you can use!!
Another constipation remedy for children or the elderly, a Dixie cup filled with Pear juice. It usually works same day, or early next morning. It tastes great and has a very pleasant, smooth consistency. You can buy pear juice in grocery stores, sometimes in health food section. Delicious chilled!
Yes. I had constipation all my life until I started drinking Dandy Blend as a way to reduce my caffeine. I have literally tried every natural remedy and diet change with no or limited results. Dandy Blend has a few ingredients that are prebiotic. I think it changed my flora in a way that even probiotics didn’t.
What is Dandy Blend ingredients?
It’s a tea made with barley, rye, chicory, dandelion and beetroot. Some people have reported that it is very helpful. However, barley contains gluten so it is not suggested for individuals who are gluten sensitive. Many people who suffer from constipation remove gluten temporarily from their diet in order to see if that might be contributing to the issue.
Dandy Blend is gluten free. I’m not sure how they do it but on their website they claim that the processing removes the gluten from the barley
Thanks for your comment, Carrie! I’d never heard they claimed to be gluten-free. I just looked at the ingredients and saw barley, but because of your comment I did some further investigation. Apparently they say that their processing removes the gluten, but some customers have reported experiencing symptoms of gluten ingestion after consuming it. I guess it’s up to consumers to decide what their comfort level is.
“Dandy Blend is made of the water-soluble extracts of five ingredients; three roots and two grains (barley and rye), not from the ingredients themselves. The ingredients are roasted separately and then combined in prescribed proportions, placed into a vat, covered with hot water, and allowed to steep for a prescribed period of time. The water, with the soluble portions of all the components, is separated from the grounds and spray dried. The remaining fine brown powder left after the water is driven off is what becomes Dandy Blend. All the gluten and other water-insoluble substances are left behind in the grounds to be composted.
Hence, the gluten from Barley and Rye, according to ELISA tests, is removed from Dandy Blend. Goosefoot Acres periodically submits samples of Dandy Blend to Elisa Technologies Laboratory in Florida, one of the most respected gluten testing labs in the United States, for analysis, and so far, every test has come back gluten-free. Click to see test results letter.
It meets the FDA standards for gluten-free, registering less than 5 parts per million for both gliadin and gluten, which is far below the limit of 20 parts per million allowed for gluten-free classification.
A few people have reported experiencing symptoms of gluten ingestion. We realize that Dandy Blend, like any other food, may not be suitable for everyone. Each of us is physiologically different. Some medicines work for some, not for others. Some people can eat certain foods and others cannot. The same is true for beverages. ” http://www.dandyblend.com/FAQ.asp#1.
Thank you so much for the time and effort you go through to bring us such valuable information!! I had never heard of “Dandy Blend” and looked it up… their website claims “It contains no gluten. Gluten, which is comprised of proteins that are not water-soluble, is left behind in the grounds to be composted during the extracting process, leaving Dandy Blend gluten-free.” … not sure what to think about this, would you give me your thoughts about it?
Gluten free means that the gluten amount must not exceed 20 ppm. If you are not gluten sensitive or you have only a mild sensitivity, this might be fine. However, if you have celiac or a severe gluten sensitivity you will react.
For instance, I know someone who cannot have gluten free oats ( cross reaction) or drink most brands of gluten free beer because they are made from barley. The only beer that is fine is one made with millet and rice. It’s not easy to find, but that’s ok, since alcoholic drinks are just very occasional treats.
My 18m has always had constipation issues and our pediatrician recently prescribed miralax. Are these ok for use in 18m toddlers?
Since this is a food and not medicine, I think that’s really up to you. However, if it would make you feel more comfortable you could talk it over with your pedi 🙂
My daughter has CF and was on Miralax a good portion of her first year until I discovered how great she did with added coconut oil. I started giving her coconut oil at 6 months and by 18 months she took quite a bit. She is 2 next month and hasn’t needed Miralax in nearly a year using coconut oil.
How much coconut oil do you give her and do you just spoon feed it or mix it in?
My daughter has been on it since 4 months old and now on 4 times a adull dose and she’s 10
If we don’t use the same mold, would you tell me the measurement you are using for each space in your mold? Thanks. Katy
It’s about 1 1/4 liquid teaspoons per piece.
What is Dandy Blend? My daughter won’t eat prunes and gets extremely hyper wit hardly any sugar including fruit! She only sleeps at night if I give her Melatonin and now sometimes that doesn’t work. She’s a very active child and has a good diet. I’m at my wits end here. Lavender oil helps with sleep Sonim switching to that because it has worked in the past. Her constipation is a serious issue though. Please help!
She’s only 4 and a half too. :-/
Dandy Blend is a coffee substitute with dandelion in it. I would suggest if she is constipated AND doesn’t sleep that she is probably magnesium deficient as most people are but maybe hers is a little more severe. There are lots of ways to supplement but the easiest I’ve found with my kids is to have them soak in epsom salt (magnesium sulfate) baths several times per week (add lavender essential oil for extra relaxation effect) and to drink Natural Calm warm just before bed or at other times if constipation is giving us a problem. We like the Lemon and the Raspberry Lemon flavors. You can also supplement with magnesium oil which can be purchased or easily made at home. Until you build up your levels, it can tingle or itch. I usually spray it on and leave it for 20 minutes to absorb and then wash it off with a damp washcloth and moisturize the areas that were sprayed with coconut or jojoba oil. Some children tolerate being sprayed on the tops of feet or back better at first. I typically spray my legs and stomach or insides of arms but that can be more tingly since it’s thinner skin. We have used mag citrate capsules and MagMind supplements with good results as well. Hope this helps relieve at least some of her symptoms.
Very good post! That recipe looks so tasty!
I would also like to add that some things should be avoided like pasteurized milk. That will slow the intestines causing more problems.
My kids don’t get truly constipated (e.g. no gas, or oozy stools), but when things are “slow” I just add some extra oranges to their diet. Most fruit will loosen you up; although, I avoid bananas because we use those when we have diarrhea! Ha.
I’ve found pineapple to work great to get things moving. My 7 year old has had issues since potty training, but I think there are food allergies involved and we’re still sorting all that out. I’m wondering if making a smoothie with pineapple and coconut oil would help out.
Oooh, thanks for the idea, pina colada constipation candy sounds heavenly! 😉 Mommypotamus noted above she used pureed fruit with success.
Since too much magnesium will give you the runs, it it follows that you could take some in the form of magnesium citrate, glycinate, or chloride, …. lets say 1/4 teaspoon in water , juice , or soup, til you get where you want to be.
one tea spoon flax seed (crushed) to soak overnight in water (water to cover the seeds, a bit above them). Drink first thing in the morning, and eat the seeds, too. Also, 2-3 prunes soaked in half a cup of water overnight. Drink first thing in the morning, and eat the prunes.
Hello Heather,
I am new around here and I absolutely LOVE your site and have referred many people here to be help them in there new food journey and be inspired just as I am. Our 5 yr old has suffered Constipation for 3 yrs now. We tried him on the GAPS diet but he is just unable to do the bone broth, he Gags when trying to eat it. Our only other option was to try Chiropractic for him. We have seen some relief from it but still it’s not 100% taken care of. He is on a Gluten and Grain Free diet. I am anxious to try these out and I know he will LOVE them. Thank you to Robyn for allowing you to share her recipe with us. I will let you know how it goes 🙂
Thanks for sharing this! My 5 year old daughter has cystic fibrosis, and PEG 3350 is really pushed by all of the CF clinics to be a part of daily routine, to prevent bowel obstructions. My daughter actually had a CF bowel obstruction at 2 years old, and so this has a been a major concern for us, but, I have always hesitated about using PEG 3350. Now, it is only our emergency back up, instead of the daily routine. I’ve become a bit of a crunchy momma, and, if there’s a more natural way of doing it, we should do it that way, because we’re much less likely to regret it. We’ve been using Flora Magnesium Liquid for daily maintenance, and for the last year, things have gone well, but, I am really happy to add this to our bag of tricks! We’ll whip some up this afternoon! Thanks again!
Hey, fun recipe! If I make a batch and store them in the freezer until my kids need one, how long can I keep them there?
The primary ingredient – coconut oil – is very shelf stable so I think they’d last a really, really long time. However, they can be eaten in moderation anytime and they’re delicious, so I’m pretty sure they won’t last all that long.
I bought Organic Coconut Oil by Crisco and it was put in the refrigerator by mistake? When I realized it, I left it for a few days and then decided to take it out as it was solid. It has sat on the back counter ever since. Is it safe to use since it has a “Best until October 2017? I probably bought it 10 aor 11 months ago?
I thought about using it in my thinning hair?
I cannot even tell you how timely this post is. Thank you! But – can you think of a way to give this to a 9 month old? (Minus the honey, of course). Or another remedy?
Here’s the deal. My 9-month old son (kiddo #2) is breastfed (no formula, ever) and has chronic constipation issues. It has really been all his life, but the introduction of solids didn’t help. (I make all my own purees for him and everything is awesome & organic.) At his 9 month check up, I mentioned the problem to his pediatrician, and she recommended he see a GI just to make sure nothing was really wrong.
Let me back up for a minute. From newborn to 6 months old, he would often go 10 days without pooping. I kept hearing this was normal, so I didn’t fret too much. When I introduced solids, multiple days between poops continued and he seemed to having difficulty passing stools, and when he did, they were very hard and dense. I gave him prunes and pears to try to ease things out, but it never seemed to make a difference.
Ok, so I went to the GI and he took a comprehensive history and did a rectal exam. Nothing wrong, just good ol’ fashioned constipation. He recommended – you guessed it! – Miralax. I ran out of that office so fast and never turned back. I would never give that to a child, so that was the end of that conversation.
As of now, my course of action is pureed prunes (with water added) daily for breakfast, and flax seed oil added to a veggie puree for lunch. I just bought a liquid probiotic yesterday, so I’m hoping that will work things out – literally.
Any other advice is so much appreciated. Thank you!
Hi Shannon, if it were me I’d consider whether my child’s gut flora was in need of some help.
Each of us inherits gut flora from birth (https://mommypotamus.com/bacteria-birth-is-everything-youve-been-told-wrong/), and there are several things that can cause things to develop in a less than ideal way.
For example, a mom may have compromised gut flora due to overuse of antibiotics as a child. Or, like in my case with my firstborn, a mom may consent to a vaginal wash during the birth process, which is used to hopefully counteract things like Strep B (which I wrote about here: https://mommypotamus.com/group-b-strep/) but also affects good bacteria as well. Or mom or baby may have antibiotics for some reason.
All of those things (and many others) may cause an imbalance in gut flora, and doctors like Natasha Campbell-McBride – who authored Gut & Psychology Syndrome – say that can be some of the cause behind constipation. (I really recommend her book, BTW)
If it were me I’d consider supplementing with a high-quality probiotic – I give my son GUTPro Baby.
Another thing some moms have found helpful is to remove dairy, gluten, and other likely culprits from their diet to see if that helps.
I so appreciate the advice – thank you! I started him on a liquid probiotic today, so I’m hopeful that will help. With my regimen of prunes and flax seed oil, I’ve gotten a poop 8 days in a row out of him. 🙂 Still hard and formed, but at least it is coming out.
Your comments about gut flora formation are so interesting. I haven’t used antibiotics in 15+ years, and he has never had any. I’m a vegan, so no dairy to cut out, and I don’t eat any soy products. I only eat sprouted grains and don’t eat ANY junk food or (and hardly any processed food), so I just don’t know what else I could possibly eliminate from my diet. It’s just so odd that he has this problem. I keep trying to make sense of it, but I just can’t.
I will definitely check in to the book too. I just have so little time to read with 2 small kids. 🙂 Thank you again!
Along with probiotics give a good fish oil. I use Carlson’s brand. My kids and I like the bubble gum flavor.
My baby boy was lactose intolerant, had acid problems, and pooping issues. By using diff baby formula (cuz my boobs didn’t work grrr), the fish oil, and probiotics he slowly got better and gained weight. Doctors were so unhelpful, I figured it out on my own what was wrong. Finally found a great pediatrician though!!
He’s 8 now and I still give him the oil. He’s also in vit d3.
I have been looking into magnesium for a while now since I am lactose intolerant and have had digestive issues my whole life.
My daughter has the same issues but has constipation. She drinks a lot. But we are looking into elimination of foods now. She already cannot have bananas.
She takes fish oil and probiotics along with vit D3 as well.
The amount of water her and I need a day is hard to do sometimes and doctors don’t always listen.
I hope u find a great doctor.
Chronic life-long constipation could be Hirschprung’s disease -a birth defect due to absence of nerves in part of the intestine. It can’t be diagnosed by a rectal exam. My son was diagnosed at age 1 by motility studies and barium enema. It took 10 Drs to find one who knew what was going on. No amount of laxatives, fibre or fluids helped him until the real issue was found.
Was he a c section and did your milk come in late? Give Align. Its bifudus infantis. Just open the capsule and put in apple sauce, ads a capsules worth of colostrom and do this for several weeks….
Will have to try these out… Even just for maintenance’s sake… Do you ever add probiotic powder to the recipe?
We’ve had great success with a magnesium citrate product called Natural Calm. Great for insomnia too!
We were told by several specialists and pediatricians that Miralax can be used life long without side effects or problems. I didn’t take their word for it and preferred to pursue natural remedies regardless. We ended up finding the Natural Calm brand magnesium supplement works wonderfully (I’m sure other brands are fine too but that’s the one that we use) and magnesium is so important for so many reasons there are lots of other health benefits as well. Whenever miralax comes up in conversation I always share how wonderfully Natural Calm has worked for us instead.
How much Natural Calm do you give your child? Thanks!
do you use the Natural Cal for kids? how much do you give?
Any suggestions for an 8 month old baby? We started solids and it seems as though everything causes constipation… I’ve tried adding about 4 ounces of diluted prune juice a day and it doesn’t seem to help much :/
A good baby probioticd like Solor Ray, in refrigerated area of health food store, start with a VERY SMALL amount and build up to the amount suggested, may cause bubbly tummy.
Give Carlson’s brand fish oil in bubble gum flavor. Amount suggested by doc.
Look into getting vitamin levels checked. My kids were deficient in D3, severely. I am too.
Look into the magnesium stuff too. From what I have read it’s hard to test the right levels. I will be getting some for my kids. We already do Epsom salt baths when they are sick it helps wonders.
Best wishes to you. I hope you find an good pediatrician like mine that listens and offers natural remedies first, pharma only when absolutely needed.
i have found that pear juice and pear sauce is very quick in getting my kids to have a bowel movement when their system gets backed up.
I struggled with this issue for years, especially as a child. I thought it was completely normal to be chronically constipated. As soon as I stopped eating gluten, my digestion issues went away!
My little one is gtube dependent nothing by mouth. Any suggestions?
My daughter also has a g-tube and can’t eat these. Would some liquid form of coconut have the same effect? Something I could put through the g-tube? Coconut cream maybe?
Coconut oil might clog up the tube. It’s liquid at warm room temperature, though, so if the tube and the room were warm, it might work.
Try coconut water, it works pretty well.
Heather, I find this pretty incredible and timely although I am not talking about a child. In January our (former) veterinarian severely injured our cat and on of the side effects is that he can’t poop on his own due to the pain. One of the emergency vet doctors we have had to see prescribed miralax. Interestingly, he has developed tremors and tics that no one can explain an he’s never had them before! I know I cannot use the recipes for him being a cat but I can definitely cut out the Miralax and see if that makes the tremors go away! Thank you very much!
I’m so sorry about what happened to your cat, Donna. I have four kitties that I haven’t tried this personally with – though they do eat a raw diet and are well cared for – but from what I hear cats may benefit from coconut oil as well. Here’s an article from my friend Katie that you may find interesting http://wellnessmama.com/13700/benefits-coconut-oil-pets/
Just an aside, I rub a bit of warmed coconut oil onto my cats paws and front legs when they have hairball issues, they lick it off and it totally helps with that. I’m sure it’s awesome in many other ways as well…
Cats can have coconut water so I would him a bit every day to see how it works.
The only thing that worked for my kid was eating Juice Plus chews every day. This was after years of chronic constipation. Mineral oil, Benefiber, hiding veggies in her food, suppositories, laxatives, warm baths, exercise, none of that worked. They make it in a capsule for that can be opened for those that cannot have anything by mouth.
What does the Juice Plus chew have in it that helps with constipation? Where did you get yours at? We are in Alaska and I can’t find them at our natural foods store. Would have to order on Amazon, but they are quite expensive. Just want to get a bit more info from someone who uses it daily before I invest in another product.
Heather, what exactly does the salt do in this recipe? Also, do you think it might work to throw in a few capsules of magnesium (citrate or glycinate) for added effect? I’m not sure about the texture and taste but imagining the pureed fruit would be able to do it.
According to Dr. Myhill, trace mineral deficiencies may sometimes contribute to constipation. I believe Robyn included the salt to provide a healthy dose of trace minerals.
We gave our 18 mo daughter Miralax for about a month at the advice of her pediatrician. She had become traumatized about pooping, and we tried the Miralax to prevent the immediate trauma of a painful BM. We did not want it to be a long term solution and were concerned about it’s safety. The pediatrician attributed the constipation to withholding (potty training resistance) because my daughter’s diet is very good, lots of fruit, vegetables, beans, oatmeal, etc. But the constipation slowly came back even with increasing the dose of Miralax. My husband suggested cutting out cow’s milk entirely (which she was drinking a lot of) and now she is going regularly, at least every other day instead of up to 5 days at a time with no BM. She seems to tolerate yogurt and cheese in small amounts just fine, but not milk.
How long did it take for you to see results after cutting out cows milk?
Vitamin C keeps all of our pipes clear! (My kids tolerate it in a bit of juice — I’ve gotten used to the flavor; I take a spoonful in water first thing in the morning.)
We just had our little one at the Dr 2 weeks ago for well-child, and we discussed constipation issues. He also recommended Vitamin C and magnesium. He said our 3 year old can have up to 1000 mg of Vit C on a daily basis, but the trick is to deliver it We can get the mag in him, mixing it into his bedtime milk, but we can’t fool him into taking the Vit C. I ordered a powder, so we just need to get 1/4 tsp in him – sigh. No luck. The Dr. said that Vit C is a slight irritant to the colon and that is why it works well.
My 4 year old takes a chewable form of vitamin C, orange flavored. She loves them and doesn’t miss a day!
I have found that rubbing the stomach clockwise before getting out of bed in the morning or soon after is wonderful! I got the tip from http://www.earthclinic.com. Also I make a tea with @T lemon juice and honey(to taste) and drink first thing before food. It also works! I drink warm water and lemon juice but she likes the taste with tea better. I use cinnamon tea but you could use any flavor. My daughter is now very regular with these 2 tips. Good Luck!!
Clockwise from the vantage point of looking down at ones own abdomen or from the vantage point of looking straight at ones abdomen from across the room?
Yes, starting at the top above your belly button and going to the left. My daughter and I do this and it helps a lot.
A bit of butter would solve the separation issue by emulsifying the honey. Honey does not like to mix with plain oil. Of course I’m not sure if butter would change the intended effect, and definitely wouldn’t work for people with dairy sensitivities or if dairy were causing their constipation.
I make a similar “fat bomb” recipe with 1/3c coconut oil, 1/3c butter, 1/3c coconut butter, plus cinnamon, honey and vanilla to taste. It was the perfect food to have during my last birth – energy without having to chew anything!
Hi Heather, I know the recipe calls for organic extra virgin coconut oil, I have Spectrum expeller pressed organic coconut oil in my pantry, can that be used in place of the ev coconut oil?
There are some good ideas here that I’ll have to try. My youngest daughter has celiac disease (among other things — autism, lupus, vitiligo). Until she was around six, she alternated with diarrhea and constipation, but since then it’s been chronic constipation. I had tried a lot of different remedies, including some mentioned here, but nothing really worked. A couple of years ago we both started taking diatomaceous earth, and her constipation stopped. Now we take that, and coconut oil, almost every day, and she doesn’t have a constipation problem anymore (she’s 35 today). She also no longer needs the two prescription medications she’d been taking, an anti-depressant for the autism, and plaquenil for the lupus. And she’s so much more pleasant to live with!
Hi Kathleen, how do you take your Diamotaceous Earth? I have only just discovered this supplement and started it about a month ago in Pear Juice.
We were JUST in the doctor’s office last night with my 5 year old boy for constipation issues. He hasn’t gone in 8 days and his tummy is distended and he is in pain. He has always had constipation issues and has been on an adult dose of miralax for over 3 years. We eat a whole food diet and have tried natural remedies, but he still has issues when in the bathroom. Last night the pediatrician again upped the dose of miralax and added in milk of magnesia. Thankfully the MoM has started to clear him out, but I am anxious about all of this. From the moment his pediatrician told us that miralax was the best option I have had questions. I took him to another pediatrician for a second opinion. They agreed. So I thought that was our go-to for this issue. Over the years I have continued to question his doctors as we have moved around and seen different physicians. They have all said the same thing, and I figured they all couldn’t be recommending something that would have adverse effects.
I came across this after breakfast, right after I had given him his dose of MoM and miralax. I immediately went out to buy some fun new candy molds and we are making our first batch. I hope that this works!!!
I’ve read in these comments that some say dairy and gluten are culprits. How quickly did you all notice a change after eliminating the dairy and/or gluten? We are again in a transition of moving from Alaska back to the lower 48 and we are able to make small changes to our diet, but I will fully commit to a dairy/gluten free diet when we get to our new home!
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
I was sort of following up to your post on trying the constipation candy for your son. Did you feel it worked? My daughter (2yrs old) has chronic constipation. She’s on Miralax but after reading this website, I want to wean her off.
Thank you for your time
i was wondering if there were ways to change this up? Could you use grape, Apple, or other fruit juices? What about cacao powder and water? My son currently takes 1 to 1/2 cap of miralax a day. If we started using this it might take a while to get normal so don’t want to get burnt out on our lemonade bites
I believe that citrus is key because it is known to cause diarrhea at times. It does this by pulling water into the bowel. It is irritating, like Vitamin C, (may even be the Vitamin C in the citrus causing the effect, I’m not certain off hand).
My adult daughter came to me about constipation. I suggested she drink apple juice. Worked wonderfully. She still uses it whenever she has a problem. BTW, she has chronic back pain from a car accident in 2000. The pain meds causes constipation as well as dry mouth. I have fibromyalgia and have the same issues with medication. When I am constipated I eat frosted shredded wheat which works for me usually. If all else fails I use Miralax for a day or so which cleans me out rapidly.
I’ve never commented to your site before but your blog has helped me and my family in a HUGE way, Mommypotamus!! My 5 month old son had sudden constipation and after our pediatrician was baffled we were referred to a leading gastroenterologist. She prescribed Miralax. I researched it and found much of the same side effects you have listed here. I did NOT want to use it but finally caved after pressure from various well meaning people. All the fruits, juices, and flaxseed oil etc were giving him cramps. The Miralax did help some while I feverishly researched other options. I found that hemp seed oil does not give cramps and is safe, even nutritious. His pediatrician approved it and while it did not solve his whole problem it moved things along (I meant that to be a pun:) until I decided to try that GAPS diet that Mommypotamus was always referring to.
Oops my previous comments were too long:( well, the GAPS diet completely changed him! It resolved the constipation and he started sleeping much better. He’s two now and so different than the sad withdrawn little boy he was the last year And a half. I owe you bigtime, Mommypotamus!!! I’m truly indebted!!
Gulp! my 5 year old has been on Miralax as prescribed by her ped GI for almost 2 years. shes a picky eater but does eat all fruits (including 8-10 prunes daily) except bananas, limit dairy, lots of water and count all sugar/fat intake. we go through almost 4 regular size bottles of miralax a month plus a mineral oil enema ever other month or so. i finally feel like we are starting to turn a corner for her. I’m very worried when i read this and hope its not too late-however with all we’ve been through i’m reluctant to stop the miralax… i’m making these this weekend and hope for immediate results.
I have a similar story to yours, with regards to our 5 year old son. I tried making these this afternoon and he hates them 🙁 I’m so disappointed. I don’t know where to go from here. I would love to know if you find these work for her. I’m going to try and change up the recipe a bit to see if I can get him to like it. Good luck!!
I used lime instead of lemon, went light on the salt and heavy on the honey. My daughter is tolerating them…although I can only get one in her a day right now. We’ve discussed the alternatives (more medicine – she gets up to 8 capfuls at a time when we are doing a clean out plus 2 exlax a day) if she doesn’t eat them. We are also working on ways to incorporate more coconut oil into her diet. The best I can come up is making our own peanut butter and adding coconut oil to that. Its not ideal. The next batch of these I make I’ll add mango puree (her favorite fruit). Good luck!
Hi! I melt coconut oil and stir it into Greek yogurt. My boys love it!
can you use refined coconut oil? we don’t always love the strong coconut taste of the extra virgin oil.
Coconut oil has unique properties that cause it to metabolized differently than other oils. If it were me I’d stick with the coconut oil for this 🙂
i was going to use cocnut oil. just the refined kind. not the same?
I am wanting to know the same!
Magnesium is wonderful for constipation. 100 mg per 100 lbs is the general rule. Take it right before bed. It helps relax core muscles, and draw water to the intestines. And you wont have cramps, etc when you try to go.
I’ve had to use Miralax for years now. up to 5 adult doses a day and than maybe a stool once a week. I can’t stand coconut. Does the oil taste like it? Magnesium didn’t work for us. Dairy free, etc. Not sure where to go now.
Hi Ruth, it’s my understanding that the filtered/refined coconut oil does NOT have the strong coconut taste (https://www.instagram.com/p/BL2ZvoiAuKf/?tagged=dianegoestotraderjoes). Good luck!
I am interested in getting a squatty potty, but would love to hear thoughts from your readers. It has a lot of great reviews but I’m nervous to spend the money if we don’t really need it. Have people, without severe constipation problems ,used it and thought it was wonderful even if not absolutely ‘necessary’? Thanks for your thoughts.
Courtney, our family uses one and we do not have constipation issues. Modern toilets are simply not ergonomically correct, so we use the stool to correct that 🙂
How much coconut oil to you give your 2 yr old my 21mo old is 30lbs and I would love use that instead miralax
Hi, I just made these today and they turned out so delicious!!! The only change I made was to add some organic lemon zest to the recipe. I was so surprised how delicious they are. My daughter has been on Miralax for more than a year. It has been really helpful for her, but I have always been worried about her being on it. But every time I take her off, she has small traces of blood, so her pediatrician said it was ok to keep her on it. We eat a very healthy diet with lots of veggies and fiber, but it’s just not enough for her. Just felt so desperate to find a real solution. I hope this works.
This worked miracles for me!!! Although I didn’t make the candies, my 9 month old boy has had severe constipation issues from the get-go. Took him to the GI, nothing wrong… and I wasn’t willing to give him Miralax. I don’t know if it was the coconut oil mixed in to his food or the probiotic but WOW! He is on track now and so happy. 🙂 He has gone to the bathroom 12 days in a row. Before this, he never went 2 days in a row in his entire LIFE! Thank you!
How much and how did you add the coconut oil to his diet? Also, what probiotic do you use? Did you use anything else? Like Magnesium ( gentle move)
I have read recently that bedwetting can be a sign of constipation and as I have two boys who should be able to make it though the night without the use of a Pull-up, I am interested in this theory. What “dosage” would you recommend for a 7 year old and a 4 year old? I would hate to let them eat to their hearts content and then give them the runs, ya know? Hahaha.
Watermelon is our go-to for constipation. We have also used slippery elm with success and coconut oil in tea. But I love watermelon best because it’s got the fiber AND the water needed to get things moving. Awesome!
Any suggestions for the sore bottom that comes along with constipation? My daughter avoids telling me she needs to be cleaned up because it hurts so bad. I let her pick what I put on her (right now we have standard zinc oxide diaper cream and lavender EO). She has been picking the lavender, but it stings and isn’t working fast enough. I also have her soak her bottom in a baking soda bath whenever we can. We are working on the constipation, but need help with this side effect too – help!! Thanks 🙂
Try some A&D ointment for her bottom.
Boudreaux’s buttpaste is the best for a raw bottom! I learned of it when I helped my sister n law take care of my husband’s elderly aunt who had a stroke & a poor hospital stay! Her bottom was so raw. My sister n law worked taking care of the elderly & had used before, worked like a charm! I use with my grandkids now, I swear by it!
Melissa, I’m so sorry your little girl is having pain. 🙁 Does she have little fissures from the constipation & pushing out hard stools or is it more of a diaper rash/chap type thing? I’m not an expert with EOs but if you aren’t diluting the lavender with a carrier oil I would guess it may be too strong and maybe that’s why it stings. Have you tried just plain old coconut oil for soothing her chapped sore skin, or if you want a thicker balm, maybe something that has coconut oil and beeswax in it, maybe something homemade? I’m sure Heather will have some great suggestions for you.
More of a rash. I will try coconut oil. My son asks for coconut oil for his skin issues so I know it works. The hard thing is staying consistent, if you aren’t paying attention for a day it can get out of control again. Very tiring situation for all involved! Thanks for responding – it helps just to know someone cares!
I know I’m replying to an old post but just had to add my suggestion too. Calendula ointment works wonders for cuts/scrapes and chaffed skin.
My Dad always use to drink about 6 ounces of Sauer Kraut Juice when he was consipated and it helped…I find it works for me too (if we have some)
For me anything apple helps me,apple juice,applesauce or fresh apples…..
Applesauce is usually constipating for most people (just a heads-up). It’s one of our “safe” foods when someone in the family has the runs. 🙂
Thanks, I had no idea and my kids eat it everyday.
Dr,.’s used to recommend the BRAT diet (bananas, rice, applesauce, toast) when anyone got sick, don’t hear of it much any more though. Of course my kids are grown now.b
My kids doc reccamends the brat diet for flu and diarrhea. 🙂 she likes to go with more natural stuff before shoving pharmicudicles down them 🙂
Great info. Just want to mention that for those of us that are diabetic, the carb count for the constipation candy may be too high.
If your Type 1 Diabetic just take a little more insulin.
If your Type 2 Diabetic use it as part of your meal.
I’m not a doctor, but it don’t seem that hard to figure out. If you are still unsure consult your doctor. Not being constipated is the best feeling in the world. The health of your intestines is the health of the rest of your body. Besides Coconut Oil has so much more benifits to offer. Read up on it!!!
I am a nurse-“just take a little more insulin” is never a correct answer. The body will become used to the higher levels and increase your resistance to insulin as you get older.
I completely agree with you, Laura. I would hope that most diabetics would know that “just add a little more insulin” is a horrible idea and could potentially be very dangerous.
I would be careful with the insulin dosing, the fat in the coconut oil will slow the absorption of the carbs that are in the candy, which will prevent a spike in BS and then a low blood sugar due to too much insulin.
I am diabetic. if you use maple syrup it’s a lot better than if you use regular sugar. you can get the lower grade which is pretty clear and has very little maple taste to it to substitute for other sugars instead of use on pancakes. maple syrup has a better glycemic index. it processes slower through your system where regular sugar goes straight into your blood. as far as I can discover it’s actually the best sweetener for diabetics
Look into xylitol for diabetics. You can order it on Amazon.
Actually, considering the coconut oil is 0 carbs, the lemon juice (15 carbs per cup and using only 1/3 cup) is 5, sea salt is 0 and honey is (17/tablespoon x 2) 34 carbs we’re at so total carbs for a batch of 30 candies. That’s only 1.3 carbs/piece. Totally doable 🙂 **all carb counts are from calorieking**.
That should be 39 carbs total, not so. Sorry:)
When my son was first ‘potty trained’ we had an issue with him holding on. I made bran muffin cookies. I used a simple recipe for muffins, changed up the oil to apple sause and put in dried cranberries. Worked great. The cookies for a lunch treat, and before bed, no issues.
my son is 5 and has many diabilities but we’ve been dealing with constipation for a really long time. He is on the ketogenic diet so he can’t have any sugar or carbs and he is tube fed. Do you have any recommendations? We’ve been doing miralax but I have always hated giving it to him.
If he is tube fed you could skip the sugar and just use coconut oil or aloe is a great alternative. Also magnesium citrate works very well as a liquid or mixed powder in liquid
check out the FB group parents against miralax.
Probiotics are great too and can be mixed in water for the g-tube
I would go over to the I love a tubie fb page and ask the other parents for a holistic alternative to MiraLAX
The best things that works for my son are:
1. Buffered vitamin c powder is gentle in the stomach and it boost immune system and gets rid of free radicals.
2. 1 tbs of olive oil at waking up
3. Fresh carrot juice, it helps release the pancreatic juices to speed up digestion of foods backed up.
4. Pure lemon juice at waking up. Or make a strong lemonade with a little bit of stevia.
5. Magnesium
6. Trace Minerals
I have tried all this with great results each at one time have worked everytime.
Without having to add any sugars.
I don’t know if this would work for your son, but since my daughter was a baby we’ve given her acidophilus for constipation. It’s natural and good for the gut flora, and always worked pretty quickly(within that day) and painlessly. Worth a shot maybe? For a baby we bought it in a tasteless powder that we’d mix with water and spoon to her, but for older kids they can usually swallow the pill form. Udo’s is one good brand, but there are a few you can find at health food or vitamin stores, or at some grocery stores in Canada carry them as well.
My son is also tube fed and on the ketogenic diet. Multiple disabilities! We just recently switched from miralax to senecot/colace tablets crushed. Not the all natural remedy I would like but we have had better results and seems less harsh than the miralax was… Might give it a try. God Bless
We spent YEARS dealing with chronic constipation which turned to encopresis with my daughter. Started at age 5 – not totally resolved until just recently at age 11. We saw multiple specialists who all told us to take Miralax and that it was behavioral…. such bad advice! She was a super holder and it was due to an anxiety disorder. What finally worked was a program called Soiling Solutions/plus Exlax and then the addition of ADHD med and finally Magnesium and a superior probiotic (both Plexus products). Good Luck!
We use Dr. Gott’s old remedy:
2 T pureed prunes (I use baby food)
2 T applesauce
2 T bran cereal (I use Raisin Bran)
Mix well. Give 1 tablespoon at a time. Store in refrigerator. Works well and quickly. They should drink plenty of water to help things along.
Hello, I bought everything to make these, right down to the candy molds. I have severe IBS. Maybe going once a month sometimes up to 2 months without going. I followed this exactly, poured it in the molds, when it set up the coconut oil separated from everything else, the hardened coconut oil came out of the molds leaving behind the syrupy goods. What can I do to make these work the right way??? HELP
That happened to me the first time I tried making them as well. You might try chilling the mold in advance and allowing the mixture to blend a little longer before pouring.
Also, I would think that if you blend it for longer you should emulsify the ingredients. Therefore, getting it all to stay together better.
I blended mine a lot longer till it emulsified like a body butter. Maybe 2-3 minutes? You’ll know because it will look like lotion! I should note, however, I started with liquid coconut oil (I keep it above the stove), lemon juice concentrate from the fridge, and a splash of vanilla extract. (I also just realized that I used WAY more lemon juice than was called for because it was *concentrate* ¡!¡!) It pretty quickly emulsified, though, and it tastes great. Maybe the coldness of the juice made it set up quickly.
Have you recommended chilling the mold in your post (not only in the comments)?
You might check out using Senna tea, the health food store carries several brands here. One is called Smooth Move tea, works great.
Try going gluten free.
You will be amazed at the results.
All of the poisons/pesticides used to produce food in America sticks to the gluten, which then affects our digestion.
Drink more water, eat fresh fruits and veggies, and cut out as much sugar and gluten as possible.
Avoid processed foods. High gluten levels.
Haven’t been constipated in a long time, but ate pizza and drank pop and was constipated for 3 days.
I have IBM and have done all that you have suggested, in stages over the yrs. It really does help. But sometimes, if you eat perfectly healthy, it gets worse for a little while before it gets better.
There is also a tea called “smooth move”. People at my gym swear by it.
Try chia seeds, guaranteed. No taste. Very healthy. To use just lightly sprinkle on anything.
If you drink Smooth Move (by Traditional Medicinals) stay home! LOL… It is serious.
I’m in my 60’s and have had a lifelong problem with
IBS -constipation type.
Recently I found that a handful of walnuts everyday
really helped.
Ok, I mixed up a batch of the “candy” and my 4 year old spit it out and said he doesn’t like it! It is kind of tart!!! Any suggestions on what I could add to it so that he’ll eat it? (I added the Slippery Elm Bark too hoping that would help as mentioned) Thanks in advance for any suggestions!
I haven’t made these, but I do know that coconut oil helps move things along from experience. Unless the lemon juice helps too, I would leave it out and flavor these with essential oils instead, like peppermint, cinnamon, and citrus flavors. then you don’t have the separation issue some people are having, and the water won’t shorten the lifespan of the final product, plus essential oils, even citrus ones, aren’t tart, so you don’t have that issue either.
That is a great idea!
Vian, how many drops of lemon essential oil would you use instead of the lemon juice?
Use caution with essential oils. especially with children. They are very concentrated and could cause harmful reactions. If used for flavoring – extracts are better.
great article
Natural Calm. It’s a magnesium supplement that is very gentle and bioavailable. I put it in my daughter’s yogurt and make her drink extra water.
Aurora, I gave my daughter (4yr) magnesium called Mag07, low dosage but she became so sleepy – a side affect of magnesium. Does this a happen with the Natural Calm? I’ve tried everything, nothing works yet – she with holds for 7days!! So happy to see more support against Miralax!!
Magnesium will make you sleepy, so it’s best to take it at bedtime. I take Natural Calm at bedtime and it really helps me to sleep better! Also calms my anxiety.
My son’s naturopathic doctor warned me strongly against giving aloe vera juice to children. Apparently it’s too astringent on the intestinal lining. If you’re giving it to children, I recommend consulting a knowledgeable ND or DO before continuing.
I have Crohn’s Disease, which is an IBM. My GI, practically yelled at me for taking aloe vera juice. I would check with your doctor before using it on a regular basis.
What about herbal Senna? I have used that with my son…
Rather than buying a squatty potty, just get a “handy annie” stepstool. It folds as you pick it up, and stores beside the toilet. Much cheaper and easier to store.
The Squatty Potty is $25 at Bed, Bath, and Beyond, and you can use a coupon. It is amazing! Works so well.
Do you think regular salt could be used instead if pink? Any reason for the special salt?
Pink salt has trace minerals in it that your body needs, regular table salt does not. I believe that is the reasoning behind using it!
I use almost any juice and open 2 probiotic capsules in and blend. If my child does not go in an hour or so, I mix juice (I use whole pineapple juice) and a spoonful of chia seeds and spoonful of flax seed. If the constipation has been going more than a day, I will make this one first with 2 probiotics in it. I usually throw in a handful of baby spinach for good measure (not all 4 years old like to eat their veggies) blend it in a high powered blender. Comes out thin like juice, you do not taste the spinach. Works every time.
What kind of probiotic capsules do you use?
Christa, your advice sounds like the most sane out of all I have read.
Every child is different I find, and they all have that 1 food that makes them go. I found that chia, flax and natural juices worked the best without upsetting their stomachs, I am a vegetarian, and rarely have this problem, for kids, just throw their vegies in the blender with fruit and tell them it’s a smoothie.
Do these need to be refrigerated ? How long will they last?
Thanks!
I’m making this recipe right now, and cannot get the sucanat to dissolve. Is there a trick to this? My coconut oil was hot, and I’ve had it in the blender for several minute. Seems that the liquid sweeteners would work better.
Thank you for this recipe! We’ve been dealing with chronic constipation in our 14mo who is also a breath holder. The pain from her constipation causes her to breath hold to the point of seizures. 🙁 We’ve recently been giving her mineral oil which has worked a treat. Can you give your opinion on mineral oil in babies?
Mineral oil is a petroleum by-product. Use chia seeds in or on any food. It is tasteless and very natural. Full of good things. Google it.
My tried and true recipe works like a charm and without cramps. We can all use a little extra Magnesium….read “The Magnesium Miracle” by Carolyn Dean MD., ND. and “The Coconut Oil Miracle” by Bruce Fife CN., ND.
Kids
1 Magnesium tablet (133 mg) evening (crushed mixed in a little juice or peanut butter)
2 teaspoons extra virgin coconut oil 2x a/day
for adults it may take a little more coconut oil
and I use 400mg Magnesium Citrate Capsule
Start gradually adding the EVCO a 1/2 tsp and work your way up.
I promise you’ll never be constipated again.
what kind of tablet are you using? Brand name? I have bought several kinds and crushed them but none dissolve and my son can taste it. I have also used the powder from the capsules and they are bitter and detectable. I have heard natural calm is tart so I know my son won’t take tha. Is therer a dissolveable magnesium powder that is tasteless? thank you!
****excuse the typos
is there any way to make these without the molds?
I used ice cube trays. Worked great.
would you give a whole candy-mold size one to a 2 1/2 yr old?
Is it necessary to use the Pink salt? I have Redmonds Real Salt & Light Grey Celtic Sea Salt – don’t really want to go buy a third type of salt 🙂
Any sea salt would be fine. There are slight variations in the mineral blend and flavor but they are slight. Please avoid iodized white table salt.
What if you don’t have pink Himalayan salt. Just regular sea salt?
And I have constipation from my depression and anxiety. And I’m 22. Is it possible to have them
It’s called the Bomb. When I was going through Chemo this is what the nurses said to make for constipation. It worked GREAT!
4 OZ Prune Juice
2 tsp. Sugar
2 TBL Milk of Magnesia
Mix all together and warm in microwave then drink.
Teresa, how does it taste?
Use a quality probiotic! So beneficial for so many things! Recommended by pediatricians, nutritionists, homeopathics, naturopathics, and GI docs. Not always an immediate fix but keeps the gut in check. You may eliminate constipation altogether. Also cooking with coconut oil is always a good idea and has so many health benefits.
My 6 year old granddaughter is dealing with encopresis and has been taking Miralax until now after reading this article. I can’t believe Drs. recommend this! We’ll be trying this recipe.
Please join FaceBook Site “PARENTS AGAINST MIRALAX”. There is so much to learn and valid info all parents should share with their very UNINFORMED physicians…
My 16 year-old daughter was adopted 2 years ago, and had un-diagnosed hypothyroidism, and is anemic, so she is on synthroid and iron. She is short and will not grow taller, due to her age. The iron makes her constipated, so the doctor said to use Miralax, but I have since backed off to using the iron and Miralax on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, to be easier on her system. Does anyone have any ideas for a gentler iron or alternative to Miralax? We are constantly trying to encourage more water, veggies, fruit and exercise, and we need to be careful about adjusting things because of her thyroid issue. She is super-sensitive to pain, so it is really hard for us to know how things are really affecting her. Any advice would be very appreciated!
Amy, There are several brands that are using iron from Ferrochel ferrous bisglycinate chelate. It is a type of iron that says it is gentle on the stomach and non-constipating. The brand I am using is called Country Life and contains 25mg of this iron. I can find it in my local health stores. However, this is in capsule form so you would have to do some searching to see if it comes in a liquid. Or maybe try opening up the capsule and put it in food if your daughter has trouble with pills.
Poly vi sol is a much gentler iron option that is non constipating. And we prefer mineral oil over Miralax.
Please consider getting her tested for celiac disease and food sensitivities. They can cause these problems.
After blood loss from a hemmoraged stomach ulcer I tossed my prescription for iron and took Ferrofood(R) by Standard Process. Made from whole foods, it does not usually cause constipation. Didn’t for me. Even if some of the requirement could be offset by this, it would be easier on system. 1 capsule has 10 mg iron.
When trying to increase iron naturally don’t forget cooking in an iron skillet. It leaches iron into foods especially acidic foods.
Yes…there are many safe solutions to MIRALAX…please join FaceBook site “PARENTS AGAINST MIRALAX” where many safe alternatives are discussed daily…
My dr said that apr. 50% of population is magnesium deficient, I take magnesium glycine capsules, the brand is Pure, he said they are best, I also have pernisious anemia, I as an adult take 3 250mg capsules at night and 2 in the morning and now go like clockwork. If I moss a dose I can definitely tell! I haven’t tried above recipe but have done similar with coconut oil, stevia, pharmaceutical grade essential oils so you can ingest them, be very careful here with brand as some say are ok but aren’t, only if they are therapeutic grade, I use peppermint, and a few others from the brand of oils I use they recommend, and it works great, blend very well, chill mold first, then immediately put in freezer til firm after you full trays! Good luck, hope it works as well for you as has for me!
Could I use this for my 14 year old son???
The disclaimers about Miralax are for over the counter use. Consulting your doctor is best if you want to treat any medical condition, especially with a child. My son has been prescribed Miralax since he was a baby. He has been taking it for years under a doctors supervision. It is safe for children and it is safe if used correctly for specific medical conditions.
Can I use jar lemon juice in this recipe or does it need to b freshly squeezed lemon?
Papaya, pineapple, banana and coconut milk smoothy. Sweetened with honey for children one or older. Stevia is also another good sweetener.
My daughter has cronic constipation due to her low muscle tone aND down syndrome is this sage to give daily. She has been on Miralax for about 1.5 years and is almost up to a full adult dose every day and I really want to find something else that works. We have tried a daily probiotic with no results and ended up having to go back to the miralax
One other recommendation to add to these. Licorice with real licorice root. My daughter was had chronic constipation since she was small. A native healer recommended licorice root. For a couple of weeks I gave her 2 pieces of red licorice a day, and she started to be regular (she is 6). She has continued to be more regular since, going now on 6 months. Previously we had tried Miralax, NatraCalm, probiotic, senna, etc. Most did not work very well (although we still give her NatraCalm), but the licorice root did. I used Trader Joes or Panda red licorice, but any work as long as Licorice root is in the ingredients. There are also teas, but my daughter would not drink those. Just another option to consider.
What kind of natural clam do you give her and how much? Does she drink it or do you mix it?
Heather’s Tummy Fiber! Saved my daughters life. It is natural, organic, safe and tasteless so you can mix it in any drink! Start small and work up to a teaspoon a day.
My son still wets every night ( full diaper) at 5.5 yrs old. Brought him to specialist. They said he is full of waste. Put him on miralax. I stopped giving it to him. He had belly aches. He still wets every night praying he will grow out of it.
***EVERY*** late bed wetter I know has allergy problems. I’ve only found 2 doctors that will listen to me on this subject! One was an allergist I met briefly, one a pediatrician I crossed paths with on vacation. I have no idea if either went farther with this observation. *I* stopped with my very first allergy shot at the age of 11. I have found a handful of folks who realized in hindsight they also finally stopped once their allergies were being attended to (one guy was 18). I tell every parent I know that shares their child has serious allergies-all, without fail, look at me with shock because their child also still wets the bed. (I also share with the brave souls that share they have a bed wetter obviously.) I hope that helps you-blessings!
What kind of allergies? I have a 7.5 yr old bed wetter. Thanks
People should try to understand the root cause of constipation. These days everyone is using coconut nut oil or castor oil as laxative. I am from india , we use these oils once in a couple of months to clear the intenstinal tract as well as rectum otherwise they shouldn’t be used often as laxative. Ofcourse coconut oil can be used for daily cooking . Like i was saying before , it is due to lack of fibre in the diet that any human being is constipated . So rather than making diy stuff as laxatives etc . Try to include whole foods like fruits , beans , veggies which has abundant source of fiber and you need not ever have to make constipation candy or buy store laxatives. Include spinach in the diet works like magic . I hope it helps .
I have an 11 week old daughter and we have been dealing with severe constipation issues since she was about a month old. She is formula fed bc I wasn’t able to breast feed due to complications during my delivery. Her Dr. switched her from an organic formula to Enfamil Gentlease and prescribed her a liquid stool softener. It’s super thick and sticky, almost like Karo syrup. Do you have any suggestions for dealing with constipation in babies this young? I give her a probiotic once a day in her bottle but haven’t seen much improvement. I would prefer something natural over constantly having to give her a rx stool softener.
You could get some coconut oil into her body by using as a moisturizer. (constipation is about more than just what is being eaten.) Also a little in her mouth at a time she would be able to swallow. I use expelled pressed from tropicaltraditions.com as it has very little coconut taste and is grown and produced sustainably without added chemicals. Also low temp processing. Formula changes can be tough. Hope she improves soon.
My son is now 10 and he had a serious constipation problem! So much so that he was vomitting during the night because his system was so backed up, that since it wasn’t coming out one way, it was coming out the other while he was sleeping. He was prescribed Miralax and was probably on it for close to 2 years and I did not like it! We tried various juices but they did not work for him. One morning while Grandma was visiting and making coffee, he asked if he could have some. She made him a small cup with Simply Bliss all natural creamer. Within about 45 minutes of him finishing he was in the bathroom!!! We were in shock! We tried it a couple more mornings with the same success! We weren’t sure if we wanted him to have the caffeine (though it didn’t seem to affect him), so we tried decaf for a few days…nope, didn’t work! So we decided to stick with 3-4 ounces of regular coffee with natural creamer. He has it 4-5 mornings a week and has been for about 6 months now and it still works for him!
Our daughter was prescribed Miralax at the age of three. She has been off and on for about four years. She is about to go in for another surgery, which is what started the constipation in the first place. I am so glad that I read this so I have alternatives. Is there a way to help purge the Miralax from her body? I have noticed some changes in her behavior since we started the Miralax.
A home healthcare nurse gave my mom warm prune juice, and that worked really well. It must be warm.
As a nurse we used a cup of warm prune juice as the first intervention when a patient missed a day having a bm. That and a short walk usually had things going in less than an hour. My mom liked Fletcher’s castoria.
This is only good for occasional bouts of constipation.chronic problems need individual treatment as we are all different and even those with the same diagnosis may respond better to a different approach.
One note if you have a holder it is a bad habit and can lead to more and chronic problems. Make sure little ones stay hydrated. Missing one day is a hint of a back up.
When my son was 2yr old he had bad constipation, our PCP at the time was awful and suggestion he wasn’t “really” constipated until he hadn’t had a bowel movement for 14 days. 14 days! 14 days? and offered no solutions…it wasn’t until we brought him to the ER because he was having such a hard time that a really nice nurse suggested Karo syrup. I wasn’t sure about all that sugar but was willing to try anything. It definitely worked! We put a glob in his bottle a few times a day for a week and then once a day for a while and then as needed.
Dates are great! My little guy loves the taste and they work fast. They are very nutrient rich too.
Hi, my son has been prescribed “miralax” daily for the past 6 months. He has had constipation issues since he was 2 (now he is 3 1/2). Would these candies be something he can take daily? If we skip a day or two of the medicine he gets backed up. So as a result he still won’t go on the potty. Just curious if this can be taken daily. Would LOVE to get him off the medicine.
Wish I had read this years ago. My oldest (now 7) began having serious, chronic constipation when she began eating solids at 6 months. We went to a gastro dr after failing to get any real results with our ped and he put her Miralax twice a day. By 10 months I had gotten her down to 1 1/2 tsp once and day, which she took for the next 4 years 🙁 My second child also took it for several years. With my third I had researched more and kept her grain-free until 15 months and she has never had any real problems. Thank you for this article. We will be trying these. I still take Miralax occasionally and have with every pregnancy.
I had to giggle when I saw this on Pinterest. I love this recipe and this thread. Such wonderful ideas and helpful advice.
Heather, Thanks so much for this recipe! It works like a charm and tastes great! I just made some mango “candy” tonight for my daughter-she’s going to love it!
Please tell me, about how long will these last in the refrigerator?
Thanks so much and God bless!
I don’t have pink Himalayan salt. How necessary is it for these to be effective?
Thank you so much for this! I actually made these for me rather than any child, since it sounded so great. 🙂 I followed your directions and the freezing of the mold and and the long emulsifying time was perfect. I used stevia instead of any sugar and it tastes great! However, I ate two of the little candies and I have to say–I have a major stomachache and I’m also majorly bloated (sorry for the TMI). Did anyone else have this reaction? I know some people are sensitive to coconut and I was really hoping I wasn’t one of them. LOL I’m just wondering if anyone had the same experience and then wanted to let people know, too, that this could be a reaction for some people. But, honestly, I love this recipe! Thank you so much for sharing it.
Prune juice works for constipation. As a child I had to take liquid iron, which caused severe constipation. Prune juice is nasty, but it is very effective and just plain old prunes.
How much fruit did you put in it?
Thanks for this article! My son who is almost 10 months old has been fighting constipation for the past 4 months. I’ve discussed this issue with his pediatrician multiple times. He’s been on laxatives, prune, pear and apple juice and any foods that helps with constipation. After noticing nothing helped we took him off all foods and strickly breastfed him. I’m just worried and feel that him not having a bowel movement for 5-10 days isn’t normal. Do.you have any suggestions?
Great info ? do you send any kind of update to subsribers via email. Cindy
Thanks!
what is Himalayan salt and is it okay to use table salt?
No, aside from sodium, Himalayan salt and table salt are entirely different. Himalayan salt is mined and contains numerous minerals, notably iron, and other micronutrients. It also contains no artificial ingredients, flow agents or fillers, which table sale often does.
Do yourself and your family a favor and get rid of ALL table salt, using Himalayan salt and/or plain sea salt instead. The cost difference is negligible, and your body and your families’ bodies will thank you.
I made these for my daughters but they both spit them out. I must admit they do not taste very good at all. Please, how do I make them taste better? They really need something and I want to stay on the all natural route! Thank you!
I did the recipe with a half a cup of Virgin coconut oil, 2 Tbsp of Maple syrup ( real maple syrup is known to help this condition and taste better), 1 fresh lemon juiced, 1/4 tsp pink Hymalayan salt, it is tasting like sweet lemonade. You may want to try to add another Tbsp of maple syrup (stick with real maple syrup). //HM Jan 2016.
1-2tb of castor oil, tastes awful but works every time. tried and tested since childhood
Increase magnesium rich foods and make sure your kids are very hydrated. My granddaughter is just like me and does not thirst so she doesn’t want to drink enough. And, she like me, has a lot of leg and foot pains at night. We have found that the magnesium rich foods before bedtime help as well as lots of water during the day. Both also eliminate the constipation as well.
What size are your silicone heart molds? As in the size of one if the hearts in the mold? If I use a different type of mold that may be bigger than your heart molds I want to make sure I’m giving the dosage appropriately. Thanks!
Milk of magnesia works great. Must drink water with. Or take magnesium tablets daily. Something more tasty for a child is half a fresh lemon, squeezed into water and a sprinkling of Himalayan salt. The lemon has helped me a ton. Haven’t tried on kids though. Btw I do this in the evening.
I was wondering if I could add a little bit of of cocoa powder to the recipe in place of lemon?
We don’t get constipation (we eat plant-based so we get fiber), but I know PEARS are high in fiber and also kid-approved.
Pear juice.. From the baby aisle or the health food aisle in your grocery store… Always works with us within a few hours.
Our pediatrician recommended the same exact thing! Gerbers Pear Juice. Also, warm baths with Epson Salts.
Can you use a plastic mold instead of silicone?
I’ve had recent success with 2tsp olive oil in 5oz of orange juice (shake well), or it he’s really constipated, a smoothie:
1/3 cup organic vanilla yogurt
1 fruit cup of organic pears in pear juice (I dump in juice and all)
1/2 cup raw organic baby spinach
1/3 cup organic blueberries (frozen is best)
1 prune
1 tsp olive oil
1/2-1tsp organic ground flax seed
1 med, or 1/3 large banana
and I just fill to top with water (I use a magic bullet so its smallish)
he will sip it for the day, about 3-5 oz at a time, and will usually finish about half or 2/3rds of it… but he doesn’t need the whole thing… he’ll go usually by the next morning. Plus, so much healthy stuff!! 🙂
I tried to get him to eat these candies (they are yum, btw!) but he won’t, so I used the ingredients another way. I made him a waffle with maple syrup and a dash of the pink salt, and gave him oj with olive oil… it worked too!
I tried this recipe and I am not sure what I did wrong. They don’t taste good. I read sweeten to liking but it is still strong lemon juice. Is there a way to improve it so I can get my daughter to eat them? Her Dr wants her on Miralax and I don’t want to try it again.
See my comment below. Please try small amounts of a probiotic meant to address constipation and magnesium first! Good luck. ?
OMG I am so glad I came across your blog trying to find recipes for Elderberry syrup for my kids. I seen your constipation candy. Which I am totally going to try. My daughter will be 3 in June and started getting constipated around 2 years old and recently got bad and her doctor wanted me to give up to 3 caps full a day of miralax to help her. I wasn’t comfortable with that, so I just give her one bottle cap every few days and it helps keep her going. I was trying to find something where she won’t get dependent on it, since were still in the beginning stages and I AM PRAYING this works for her. Do you suggest 2 gummies for her as well or just one for now?
THANK YOU. I am a professional potty training expert and the author of Oh Crap! Potty Training. You would NOT believe the amount of clients and readers I hear from whose pediatricians have them on HIGH, consistent doses of miralax. My TOP recommendation for constipation is upping dietary fat, particularly in the form of coconut milk and oil. I will be sharing this article widely and OFTEN. Poop on, Mama…poop on. <3
Wow, Jamie! I was reading through these comments and noticed your book so I decided to read it just for fun. I have been working in early childhood edu. for almost 25 years, helping multitudes of parents with potty training which they find terrifying. Having potty TRAINED my own kid at 1.5 yrs effortlessly, I never understood the mystique surrounding the concept…Anyway, congratulations on writing the only book on this topic that isn’t, well…crap!! I have added your book to my school’s book list for parents! My school celebrates its 15 year birthday in a few months and I have never had a potty training book on the book list!! Thanks!
I think another thing that needs to be addressed is parasites. Humaworm has a very good protocal. Often, just as with clearing a dysbiosis, once you have cleared parasitic problems the constipation will clear too.
Love this article and so glad I came across it. My son’s pediatrician also offered lots of Miralax but we were not doing it all the time. I did not know about the side effects etc so glad I found this article and the several suggestions of what to try instead. He is 8 yrs old and still struggles. One thing the pediatrician did recommend that I do believe works for us is that I have to make him go sit. Some kids (mine with mild ADD) do not like to take the time to go – so I give him things to read or do while he sits and have to make him take the time to do so. Otherwise they hold it for days until it makes the situation worse. We trust at that age they will go when they need to go but unfortunately for some it does not work that way. I have had to explain to my son the more often he goes, the better on his system and him it is and will not hurt. Thought I would add that one as I don’t think I saw this suggestion.
The Poop Button! It’s an acupressure point below the belly button. You firmly push in on your child or yourself. (I have to say I used it once on my self and it did work!!) We also use OxyPowder from Global Healing when other remedies aren’t working – it works great. http://wisdomofthemoon.blogspot.com/2008/06/poop-button.html?m=1
How much liquid goes in each of the “candies”? I don’t have this mold and was wondering the size of them for your recommended “dose”. Thank you!!
I find it interesting that people use Slippery Elm to stop constipation. We always bring it with us when we travel to stop diarrhea. It helps to solidify what’s in the bowels so you’re not running to the bathroom all the time.
Take a look at Smooth Move tea, it’s herbal, organic and is said to work in a natural and mild way. I don’t know if it’s recommended for children.
I’m 66 and all my life have suffered with constipation no matter how many veggies I eat. As a child my mother kept the enema bag permanently on the shower rod because that was the only way for me to eliminate. In my 30’s I learned about enzymes and started on them daily because of digestion issue , but it wasn’t till I read an article about magnesium that I started taking a magnesium tablet daily and WA-LA…no more constipation issues at all!!!…unless I forget to take one ( if eating breads , cheese or other binding foods I take 2 tablets ). I don’t know if ‘milk of magnesia’ is straight magnesium or if it has other ing in it , but magnesium tablets are pure vitamin’s that the body needs for a host of other issues. Can children take magnesium vitamin’s…it might be worth investigating if there is a chronic problem.
Just let me say how much of a blessing your blog is!!!!!!!!!!!!…I learn so much from you, thank you! :)))
Yes, children can definitely take magnesium in small amounts. I’ve purchased almost every type of multivitamin for children on the market and few (if any) have magnesium. The form of magnesium I prefer to use for my son is oxide (I accidentally referred to it as citrate in my question below). It is combined w/ a prebiotic in a capsule and is called “Digestive Advantage.” It has been a miracle worker!
Unlike miralax, it has never caused any cramping or diarrhea and it even seems to help with his overall well-being and sleep. He has also never had a cavity! (The latter may not be due to the magnesium, but I’m sure it doesn’t hurt.) There are also certain forms of probiotics which are also helpful for children as well and I’m personally a fan of natural forms of vitamin c (as in camu camu), as well as a diet high in fruits, veggies and natural fibers, of course. I like to slip chia and flax seed into oatmeal, breads, etc as much as possible and we also make kefir water and kombucha.
Hi Rebecca,
Can you share the link of the exact Digestive Advantage capsule you used? Can a 2 year old use them?
Thanks,
Pallavi
Update: I made these with lemon juice concentrate by accident, oops, but they turned out fabulous! Used honey, added a splash of real vanilla, and emulsified with the stick blender about 2-3 minutes till it resembled a body butter. Then into the molds and fridge. Excellent, kind of like those lemon bars made with sweetened condensed milk! I was a little backed up, TMI, and milk of mag had failed me. I never have constipation, so these came at the right time. About a half hour later, I was feeling better! Thanks again!
What did you eliminate or did you when adding fruit? If you just added fruit to original recipe how much did you add? Thank you.
‘Smooth move’ traditional medicinals Tea !!
My son was born with a milk protein allergy and it caused numerous problems for him as a newborn. The issues dissipated as he got older, but he still can’t have too much dairy and has suffered from chronic constipation since he was a toddler and began potty training. After first being advised by his doctor to use the toxic miralax I, like so many other mothers, looked for natural alternatives. Fortunately, I discovered that magnesium (in a citrate form called “digestive advantage,” which is mixed with a prebiotic) is the cure for my 7 year old son’s chronic constipation. I used to put some in his sippy cups of hemp milk or in oatmeal, etc without his noticing, but those days are over and he won’t touch anything with the slightest bit of white chalky residue. Is it possible to add the powder to this recipe or would it ruin the consistency and/or be too obvious? Thanks!
Hi,
Thank you so much for sharing. I was wondering if you tried or if anyone else has tried using Epsom salt with this recipe? I heard it is a good laxative but would not want to drink it. Hopefully just adding it to this will help.
Heather, thanks so much for the link to the molds! I had been searching and searching for molds not made in China, and now I’ve found them!! Excited to make healthy edibles for my grandkiddies 🙂
I just made these today, and I am wondering if you pop them out of the molds and put them in a container of some sort? Or do they just fall apart if you remove them from the mold?
I’m curious as to what the lemon juice and sea salt do for constipation, or are they just for flavor?
Can this be consumed on a long term basis? Like really long term? My 2 year old has been on laxatives for habitual constipation. I’m looking to wean her off those and find effective remedies. She eats a balanced diet and we include or constipation relieving foods on a regular basis.
Hi, I have a 9month old. Would I just give him 1 sweet? And how big are the moulds you are using? What size are the sweets??
You mentioned Slippery Elm, how much would you use?
I had my first baby before there was formula. When making formula from evaporated milk (1 can milk, 1 can water and the syrup) we were told to add 3 tablespoons red karo syrup to it. My baby never had a constipation problem as long as he was on the homemade formula. Oh, and we gave our babies a dropper of liquid vitamins every day in addition.
Since I have been fermenting kefir, and drinking it daily, my family and I have no regularity issues. I highly recommend.
Hi Heather, I’m so excited to make this candy. I’m in my early 30s and I have IBS-C and i definitely am going to make this candy. I’m waiting for the silicone molds to be delivered. I have two questions. I do not have a food processor or an immersion blender, would it be okay to mix all of the ingredients my hand? Also After i refrigerate my candys for an hour can i store the candy in a jar on the counter? Or does it have to be stored in the fridge?
Thank you
Hi there,
Is this recipe safe for a 12 month old? She’s been constipated the last 2 weeks and I can’t figure out why. Maybe it’s lack of water but I’m not sure how to get more water in her. Thank you. I hate our pediatrician and I’m looking to switch. Thank you for the heads up on the miralax.
Your baby needs to poop if she hasn’t already. It can be life threatening to a baby and/or child not to. I speak from experience. Please don’t wait – do something about it now, please.
I can’t eat coconut oil. Is there a different kind of oil I could use to make this?
Please help! I have an step- 8yo with encopresis and now his 6yo brother is sympathy soiling! We’re having a hard time with the doctors and getting the mom on board and the 8yo refuses to eat anything but grilled cheese or peanut butter sandwiches (with Kraft smooth pb)! Has anyone had any luck Turing these in to gummies? How will gélatine change the results?
Now monthly enemas at the hospital at starting as they go so long without pooping they’re is such abdominal pain that they miss school.
Saw your post and I certainly can empathize. My daughter suffered with this condition through the age of thirteen. We were surely in a mess.
Those grilled cheese sandwiches aren’t helping any, and I’m sure you know as well as I do that you must introduce some other foods.
That being said, I am curious as to why these kids are being subjected to monthly enemas if the problem is that they are encopretic. Are they soiling and constipated?
You say you aren’t getting much help from the doctors. I would suggest making an appointment with a dietitian. And possibly; follow that up with a trip to a psychiatrist or therapist. In my daughter’s case she had a tethered spinal cord and there were a few medical things that had to be done. But, for the most part, it was an emotional issue that had to be dealt with in therapy.
Good luck
Hi!!
These candies are working out
so well for my little one, but the lemon taste can be over powering for her at times. I tried using more honey, but didn’t seem to do the trick. I see that you can use a little sugar if you want?? Can you use cane brown sugar?? Just curious if that would help, hurt, or not a make a difference. Thank you!!
I would love to try this for my daughter but she has coconut allergies is there something else you could substitute for it.
Thanks
I just tried making these for my grandson last night. They came out perfectly, it seemed. I froze them overnight because I fell asleep. They seemed just fine when I took them out of the molds and put them in fridge. However, about an hour later it looks like the maple syrup is leaching out. I whipped the mixture for quite a while, even doing as you suggested whipping for a full 60 seconds before pouring into freezer cold molds. Any suggestions?
I’m on the keto diet; can I substitute Swerve for the sweetener you use?
Hi,
Glad to be referred to your blog!
I will have to make these smaller for my 11 month old. She has chronic constipation and my naturopath referred me to this recipe and said I would have to make them smaller for my little one. Are these chewable? What are they like when they are done?
Thanks so much.
I eat a hand full of cashews every day. They act like a “roto-rooter” and really keep you cleaned out.
I use 1- dandelion capsule. Works like a charm!
What if do to a low histamine diet you can’t have lemon juice? I also see it’s a fairly good amount of lemon juice. Is that important to get the same result or could I just do a couple drops peppermint/ginger oil to a 1/3 cup of water ?
Just use Coconut Oil capsules. Available in the vitamin section at Walmart. I had chronic constipation for two years. I tried Coconut Oil at the suggestion of a friend and had relief for the first time less than 24 hours later.
My daughter hates lemon, is it possible to do this recipe with a different fruit?
What age does a baby have to be before I can use Constipation Candy?
My baby is 4 months old
How much candy is considered a dose? I don’t want to eat too much or not enough.
Castor oil can be rubbed on the abdomen as well as taken orally for constipation according to Barbara O’Neill who is a naturalist and has a youtube chanel.
I rub it onto my eyes at night to prevent cataracts growing back. It has numerous benefits.
However, I will try the candy with some monkfruit sugar 😉
Hello! Has any of your information on constipation and your recipe for “candy” as remedy and the concerns written regarding Miralax changed since you first posted your article in 2015? My grandson was given this recently with recommendation for several months I believe. I didn’t like the idea from the get go, but after reading your article from 2015, am very concerned. Thank you!
Hi Heather, ive been making your Constipation Candy for a couple of weeks now, love it tastes great easy to make a fresh batch and is working well, but I just came across this site that says we shouldn’t be eating, cooking too much with coconut oil because it’s high in saturated fats like 12gr in a tablespoon that’s high and usually I have 3 cubes of the candy, I’m worried that it could have an effect on my heart, what do you think?