Gain an understanding of stool softeners and how to use a stool softener for kids to treat constipation (before you resort to medication).

Learn how the diet plays a big role in preventing and treating constipation, as well as ideal foods to soften stool so you can adjust the diet to help your child poop regularly.

Lots of kids are constipated.

In fact, it’s reported that about 3-5% of pediatrician office visits are for constipation and about a third of the visits to the gastroenterologist are for complaints related to being constipated.

So, many kids suffer from constipation.

As a result, parents are looking for solutions.

A stool softener for kids can help, but often, parents are led to an over-the-counter medication to resolve constipation in children.

A Common Children’s Stool Softener

Over the years, I’ve seen many kids with constipation who are using Miralax to help them relieve constipation and move their bowels regularly.

Miralax, or polyethlylene glycol 3350, is a stimulant laxative.

It brings more water into the intestines so they are triggered to make a bowel movement.

But most parents I meet with are anxious to use a more natural approach to constipation management and avoid or get off over-the-counter medications like Miralax.

While I am not opposed to the use of laxatives or other medications to help kids with constipation, I believe we should make an attempt to improve the diet and other lifestyle behaviors first.  

This is where a stool softener for kids based in real food can help.

But before we dive into stool softener foods, you need to understand a few things about constipated kids.

Why Do Kids Get Constipated?

Kids get constipated for many reasons.

From a pediatric nutritionist’s perspective, a low fiber diet, inadequate fluids, and not enough regular exercise play a large role in this scenario.

But there are other reasons for constipation, such as Hirschprung’s disease, a condition where the nerve cells at the end of the bowel are missing, causing blockage because the stool doesn’t pass normally.

Irritable bowel syndrome, constipation type (IBS-C) is another medical condition whereby certain foods –some of which could be high fiber foods – cause constipation.

[Listen to Kate Scarlata discuss IBS with me on the podcast and read this article I wrote for U.S. News & World Report on constipation.]

Last, the fear of pooping is a driver for some kids.

Toddlers may not want to defecate because it’s painful.

Older kids may not feel comfortable going number #2 at school.

These situations where children hold their bowel movements can encourage constipation.

And they point to the need for a stool softener for kids that can be consumed regularly.

Enter real food.

Signs of Constipation in Kids

Kids demonstrate typical signs of being constipated, but sometimes they aren’t always apparent.

Here are some of the signs you may see in your child:

• Hard stools which are difficult or painful to pass
• Tummy pain
• Tummy cramping
• Gassiness
• Several days without a bowel movement
• Soiling (Also known as encopresis, this looks like small amounts of diarrhea in the underpants.)
• Low appetite
• Finicky eating
• Cranky demeanor
• Tries to go #2 but can’t
• Bed-wetting

How Do Stool Softeners Work?

Generally, stool softeners are used to relieve constipation.

They’re also referred to as emollient laxatives.

They work by pulling liquids into the gut, which gets absorbed into the stool, making it wetter and easier to pass.

An example of an emollient laxative is Colace.

It’s important to note that a stool softener is just one type of laxative.

There are several different types of laxatives that can help relieve constipation.

Laxatives: Understanding this Type of Stool Softener

Some laxatives work on the gut and some work on the stool itself.

Let’s take a quick review.

Bulk-forming Laxatives

These form a gel-like substance which will hold more water in the stool.

The stool gets larger, which stimulates the gut to contract and pass the stool.

Bulk Forming Laxative Examples: Metamucil, Citrucel, Benefiber

Lubricant Laxatives

These coat the stool with an oil (ie, mineral oil), preventing water loss.

It also helps the stool pass through the gut easier.

Example: Mineral oil

Hyperosmotic Laxatives

These also draw more water into the gut and allow stool to pass more readily.

Hyperosmotic Laxative Examples: Colace, Miralax

Saline Laxatives

Similar to the functioning of other laxatives described above, saline laxatives pull water into the gut and soften the stool.

This type of laxative can cause dehydration and electrolyte imbalances.

Saline Laxative Examples: Fleet, Milk of Magnesia

Stimulant Laxatives

This type of laxative stimulates contractions and movement in the gut.

They are fast-acting but like saline laxatives, they can cause dehydration and electrolyte imbalances.

Stimulant Laxative Examples: Ex-Lax, Senokot, Dulcolax

Is Miralax Safe for Kids?

You may worry that long-term use of a stool softener like Miralax is harmful to your child’s future health.

Some parents tell me they’re concerned their child will become dependent on Miralax.

Miralax has been studied and considered safe in children under 17 years of age, however, a comprehensive study is underway to determine side effects of chronic Miralax use, particularly with regard to neuro-psychiatric symptoms such as depression, anxiety, anger, and paranoia.

Outcomes of this study are pending.

**Never use a laxative or over-the-counter stool softener without consulting with your doctor first.

Can Food Be a Natural Stool Softener for Kids and Toddlers?

Yes! Foods and the overall diet can help soften the stool and stimulate a bowel movement.

The trick is to get on a regular meal pattern that incorporates stool softening foods.

Foods with fiber are considered good stool softeners.

Striving for a high fiber diet is critical to breaking the constipation cycle and helping your child normalize his bowel movements.

When it comes to foods that prevent constipation, you’ll want to focus on foods with insoluble fiber.

It’s the magical ingredient.

Insoluble fibers cannot dissolve in water and they stay intact as they move through your child’s intestine.

It stays undigested because our body can’t digest insoluble fiber.

In other words, our bodies can’t break it down. It sits in the intestinal tract and absorbs fluids, making stool easy to pass.

What about soluble fiber foods?

Soluble fibers are the opposite of insoluble fibers, in that they DO dissolve in water easily, changing  into a gel-like substance in the colon.

This gel substance can block fat absorption, lower cholesterol, keep blood sugar stable, and feed healthy gut bacteria.

Both insoluble and soluble sources of fiber are important to a healthy gut and normal bowel movements.

Soluble vs Insoluble Fiber Foods for Kids Chart

Soluble Fiber Foods	***	Insoluble Fiber Foods
Beans		Beans
Peas		Whole Wheat Breads & Products
Oats		Bran Cereal & Bran Products
Barley		Green Beans
Apples		Nuts
Citrus Fruit		Potato

11 Foods That Are Stool Softeners

There are loads of foods with fiber that can help prevent constipation.

Here are 11 foods to soften stool that you can begin to work into the diet regularly to ward off having a constipated child.

Aim for two to three of these items per day.

[Read: Natural Constipation Relief for more information about constipation remedies using real food approaches]

1. Sweet potato with the skin

Many families don’t offer sweet potatoes, but I find kids do like them because they are naturally sweet.

Bake them in the oven or microwave.

And don’t worry if your child won’t eat the skin.

There’s still good fiber to be had on the inside!

2. Raw pear or Asian pear

Pears are a good source of fiber.

Have you tried an Asian pear? It’s crispy like an apple.

In fact, I often suggest trying an Asian pear with my extremely picky eaters who like apples because the characteristic of texture is similar.

Asian pears are seasonal, so keep your eyes out for them.

Slice pears or Asian pears into thin slivers for ease of eating.

3. Green peas

I know, I know. You’re going to say that your child doesn’t like peas!

Well, I say mix them into soups, pasta dishes or toss them on salads.

The trick I use is to not cook them.

I throw them into foods straight out of the freezer.

Whether it’s mixed into a pasta dish, tossed into soup, or thrown on top of a salad, I toss a handful in here and there to boost fiber.

That’s exactly how I add them to my very popular Slow Cooker Shredded Beef meal.

4. Whole Wheat English muffin or bread

If you haven’t made the switch to whole grain or whole wheat breads, English muffins and rolls, it’s time to start making the move.

This is one of the easiest ways to boost fiber in your child’s diet.

With the availability of white whole wheat bread products, it’s easier than ever to make this change.

If you feel like you need a reminder of the different types of whole grains available, read my article Whole Wheat, White Wheat, What?

[Try: Whole Wheat Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins]

5. Fresh raspberries

Have you ever looked at a fresh raspberry up close?

There are tons of little seeds.

The seeds in berries are what makes them such a good source of fiber.

You can bet on strawberries and blackberries being good fiber sources, too.

6. Baked potato with the peel

Similar to the sweet potato, a regular baker with the skin left on is a good source of fiber for your child.

If you can’t get your kiddo to eat a baked potato, try to roast cubed potatoes with the skin (try my Rosemary Roasted Potatoes) or cut it into house-cut fries (with the skin).

7. Prunes

Not just for old folks!

Prunes are an effective stool softener food for kids too.

If your child wants nothing to do with them, try the juice version mixed into a smoothie.

When one of my kids were little and transitioning to solid food, I put an ounce of prune juice into her milk and it worked like a charm.

8. Dried figs or dates

Dried fruit in general is a good source of fiber and can help to soften the stool, making it easier to pass.

Use dried figs or dates as part of a snack or include it in a homemade Gorp.

Beware of fluid intake.

Because dried fruit is dehydrated, if your child doesn’t drink enough fluids, he or she can become dehydrated too…which contributes to constipation.

9. Apple with the skin

An apple a day…keeps constipation at bay. (Couldn’t help myself!)

Lots of kids don’t want to eat the skin from the apple.

Here’s a little tip: Slice the apple with the skin on into very, very thin slices. It’s easier for young kids to chew and eat.

10. Whole wheat spaghetti

Today, it’s easy to find whole wheat pasta products.

You can even find bean and vegetable-based pastas.

All of these will help increase the fiber load in your child’s diet and help with regulating bowel movements.

If you don’t think your child will go for straight-up whole wheat pasta, mix it 50:50 with regular pasta. In other words, ease into it.

11. Raw banana or orange

Some fruits have obvious fiber in them.

If you look closely at an orange or clementine, you’ll see fibrous particles.

This is the fiber that will help prevent your child from being constipated.

You can see fiber in a banana, too.

Help your child peel an orange if needed, to make it more accessible and easier to eat.

Find ways to include these stool softener foods into your child’s diet.

Not only will you help to prevent constipation, you’ll also improve nutrient intake and overall nutrition.

Need More Help with Feeding Kids?

Last, consider a probiotic, but discuss with your child’s pediatrician first.

I’ve reviewed 5 probiotics for kids.

Read The Healthy ADHD Diet for Kids and teach your child about food and nutrition with my list of children’s books about nutrition.

Don’t forget to tune in to The Nourished Child podcast, full of free information about child nutrition and feeding kids!

I’ve got workshops, classes, and guidebooks to help you become a pro at nourishing your child, inside and out.

Head over to my parent education website, The Nourished Child, and check them out!

Should We Make Our KIDS EAT VEGETABLES? (This Might Surprise You!)

This post was originally published in November 2019 | Updated in October 2020.