Would You Give a Child a Laxative?

[preschoolteacher]

A family asked me to mix Miralax into their child's first bottle of the day today due to constipation. Is this a typical thing to do at daycare? I've never been asked to give a laxative before.

[Unregistered]

Been doing daycare for almost 10 years and never had given any children in care or my own a laxative during that time, until this year. Now I have 2 out of my group of 5, who take it daily.

[LysesKids]

ummm.. NO. Why would I want to deal with the after effects? I don't give meds unless it's life or death or an antibiotic that is given over 3 times day

[midaycare]

I have not and I would only at the end of the day if I had didnt have to deal with it.

[TwinKristi]

I just termed a mom for slipping Miralax in her DCGs morning milk she brought her. I knew she was putting a probiotic in it because she'd had diarrhea a couple weeks before. Mom didn't tell me until later after DCG pooped 6x in 5 hrs (and in her undies which is unusual) and I texted her a little worried something was up. I have never been so mad.
I have a policy now that I have to have a drs note and meds in the original bottle/package and I have to feel comfortable with it. The idea of a big explosive poop at daycare is not my idea of comfortable.

[cheerfuldom]

they can mix and offer at home. This is a once a day thing usually and there is no reason why they cant deal with this at home. I also suggest the evenings so they can deal with the diapers for the evening/night. I would also make they know that you will send home a child whose poo cannot be contained in a diaper. So if the miralax works overtime, they need to address the dosage. If the child has never had it before, they should start on a Friday evening so they have all weekend to address any reaction or adverse effect. There is no reason for you to do any of this. I had to be so harsh but is sounds like lazy parenting....throw it all off on the daycare provider.

[SignMeUp]

Would You Give a Child a Laxative?
Sounds like an awesome book title

[Cradle2crayons]

I recommend parents give a laxative at home on a Friday afternoon. That way it's resolved by Monday. If they can't wait until Friday and they had a dr note, I wouldn't mind giving it at afternoon snack becUse it usually doesn't work for several hours and hey should be home by then.

I also explain to parents hat if hey give their child a laxative and they have more than two stools I will call for immediate pickup.

The reason WHY the child has diarrhea doesn't matter.

And personally I think it's crappy (pardon the pun) for a parent to expect a provider to deal with he fallout of laxative use.

[preschoolteacher]

And personally I think it's crappy (pardon the pun) for a parent to expect a provider to deal with he fallout of laxative use.

This is how I felt about it.

I don't think they consciously thought "hey, she's at daycare today so lets pass the diarrhea off to preschoolteacher!" I think they probably thought something more along the lines of "our poor kid can't go #2. She really should have a BM today and should probably take her laxative first thing this morning so she can go."

Still... how would you address this in the future? I now suspect laxatives are also being given at home to the older child in the family.

Two loose stools and they are sent home--regardless of the reason--seems like it might cover it.

[preschoolteacher]

Would You Give a Child a Laxative?
Sounds like an awesome book title

HAHA... oh wow... we have been reading If You Give a Mouse a Cookie lately. I guess it's a little stuck in my head!!!

[SignMeUp]

Some days all I have is dark humor

We could write the book if you like

If you give a child a laxative ....

[Cradle2crayons]

This is how I felt about it.

I don't think they consciously thought "hey, she's at daycare today so lets pass the diarrhea off to preschoolteacher!" I think they probably thought something more along the lines of "our poor kid can't go #2. She really should have a BM today and should probably take her laxative first thing this morning so she can go."

Still... how would you address this in the future? I now suspect laxatives are also being given at home to the older child in the family.

Two loose stools and they are sent home--regardless of the reason--seems like it might cover it.

I do give meds here... But I don't give laxatives. The only way I would do that is if they are on a dr prescribed bowel program due to a chronic illness and they are given a laxative every single day or every other day. I don't give PRN laxatives.

And in my illness policy it specifically excludes a child from daycare if they have more than two loose stools and they are excluded until 24 hours after symptoms have resolved. And I note that this includes loose stools from laxative use.

[playground1]

If a child needs a laxative daily, they aren't getting enough fiber. I would not give it without a doctor's note.

[Unregistered]

With the two I have it is an over the counter type laxative, but they get it with a prescription through their doctor. It is a everyday thing, with no crazy blowouts resulting. Just makes things soft enough for them to have a bowel movement hopefully daily without tears, wailing and much straining. Fiber is very much their in their diets too, difficult to up it any more as two others run closer to the loose side of things. We seem to have found a baalnce that works for all. Sounds like they need to be on it a year, as it can take that long for things to heal from the damage already done.

[craftymissbeth]

My 7 yo takes Miralax three times a day and doesn't have any issues. Then again, he has encopresis so maybe that's why.

I'd let them give it to their child before coming, but my symptom policy of two loose stools and they have to go home would still apply.


Miralax is apparently a pretty gentle laxative so unless they're going crazy with it shouldn't be like blow out crazy diarrhea bad. I would hope that they've tried other ways to get her to have a BM first, though. Add more fiber, change diet, etc. how old is this child?