Osmotic laxatives draw water into the colon to make poop mushier and help it slide through.
• PEG 3350 powder (Miralax and generic brands): A flavourless, odourless powder sold in large bottles, PEG 3350 is easy to administer and, for most kids, highly effective. You simply mix it in water or other clear liquids. If your child prefers Miralax mixed in milk, that is fine; it will not compromise the effectiveness of the laxative, though it is harder to mix.
• Magnesium citrate (powder, tablets, or liquid) Magnesium citrate is a popular option among parents who are not comfortable with Miralax and seems to be effective for most children who use it. The powder version, such as Natural Vitality’s Natural Calm, seems to be the most popular, but magnesium citrate also is available in liquid or tablet form.
• Magnesium hydroxide (chewable tablets or Milk of Magnesia) Magnesium hydroxide can be taken as a liquid — you may know it as Milk of Magnesia — or in the form of tablets, such as Pedialax Children’s Chewable Saline Laxative Tablets.
• Lactulose Some children respond best to lactulose, a manufactured sugar that contains two naturally occurring sugars, galactose, and fructose
