My toddler is constipated. Their doctor recommended Miralax (or similar). What should I do?

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May 3, 2025 – Saturday
What I have written below is in response to a question from a Lead Safe Mama community member.

I personally refused to use anti-constipation over-the-counter (or prescription) products with my kids early on —  once I learned:

1. 1. 1. that constipation is a typical outcome of Lead exposure that needs long-term, healthy, sustainable options for management. It is not something that can be fixed “temporarily” with an over-the-counter medication that may have terrible side effects and…
      2. how toxic these over-the-counter (and prescription) laxative products can be (including the fact that they can actually be contaminated with Lead and other heavy metals, given their ingredient profiles).

Instead I focused on aggressively changing my kids’ diets and creating healthier routines for them to make sure they could poop normally and without pain / discomfort  or bleeding.

While you should always talk to your doctor about these things and get their advice first (over some unknown source on the internet), I do recommend getting a second opinion from a new / different doctor if they recommend Miralax or a similar product.  My personal advice (how I handled this issue with my own children) is below (and to reiterate what I have said in many places on this website, I am not a doctor, nor healthcare provider. I share food-based intervention personal experiences that you should evaluate on their own merits in conjunction with the advice from your doctor).

• Our advice from a heavy metals perspective is that these products (that aid in elimination) should never be used (except perhaps in a medical emergency and with supervision from a doctor) and — if at all possible — parents should focus on diet / food based interventions.
• Our understanding (based on independent research and anecdotal evidence shared with us by other parents of Lead poisoned children over the past two decades) is that using these products has the potential to create a long-term dependence on them (sometimes creating a situation where children entirely miss / misunderstand natural elimination cues as a result of using these products, requiring children to use diapers and other interventions into their early teen years — and even beyond).
• Dependence on elimination aids happens often with lead-poisoned kids because these children often have life-long GI issues (GI complications are a primary symptomatic impact of Lead poisoning) — and American doctors do not generally focus on dietary changes and nutrition evaluations in looking for remedies.
• Over-the-counter (and prescription) elimination aid products also can test positive for heavy metals and using them persistently can actually  cause chronic heavy metal exposure and be a compounding factor in related health issues (specifically GI issues).
• INSTEAD TRY THESE SOLUTIONS: Consider making the following changes to your child’s diet for a week or two and see if it helps:
  1. BLUEBERRIES: Get the frozen organic blueberries from Trader Joes or similar (the tiny ones – the wild ones) and serve a cup of frozen blueberries each morning (with a little bit of cream and a tiny sprinkle of sugar if your child does not like them plain).
     • Blueberries provide great healthy fiber, are easy to chew (even for toddlers) and will get their day started off right.
     • If you add cream the cream the freezes on top and turns it into an ice cream type treat  – but make sure to use only a small amount of cream – for example for one cup of blueberries use only a tablespoon or two of cream and 1/4 to  1/2 teaspoon of sugar (or honey drizzled from very high up – which is always entertaining for toddlers) while they watch you sprinkle it so they know it is sweet (sort of a trick to convince them to eat it – vs. actually adding a substantive amount of sugar).
     • Always use fresh blueberries when in season / if your kids like them! Wash well before serving.
     • My kids preferred the frozen blueberries any time of year, plus it is easy to have them on hand (we would buy ten bags at a time when they were little!)
  2. APPLES: After the first few days of adding blueberries into their daily routine, add in the “apple a day” policy.  Make sure your child has at least one apple each day before they eat any bread or flour product / flour-based snack, or (if  an apple before is not possible) make sure they eat an apple after they eat any bread or flour-based snacks .
     • The apple should be eaten daily regardless of bread and flour product  consumption  (we generally recommend avoiding ALL bread and flour products, including things like crackers and chips – and especially for constipated kiddos).
     • Avi (my son who was acutely lead poisoned at just 7 months old and is now at 20 years old) generally eats two or three apples a day as his snack throughout the day (since they are easy to carry with him in his school bag).
     • Try different ways of serving your child’s apples! S
       • lice the apple thin
       • slice it spiral
       • slice in thick wedges…
     • As your child grows, make sure the apples you give them daily grow too (bigger kids = bigger apples!)
       • We’re lucky in Oregon that we have a wide variety of healthy, natural, organic apples available year round — and I do understand that others do not have the range of choice that we have, so do your best on this front!
     • Make choosing and eating apples a fun tradition /  a fun part of your child’s routine:
       • Have your kiddo choose the apples at the market.
       • Buy examples of all of the different types of apples with them and do a taste-test comparison with them as a fun game.
       • After your taste test game, let them choose which ones they will have for their daily routine (and let them vary it). This gives them buy-in to the process, especially for the smaller kiddos!
       • Remember: your kids might like different things than you like, and that’s ok! I love Honey Crisp and Fuji apples. Avi likes the sour green Granny Smith apples (which I cannot stand!) Lol.
  3. CARROTS: Then -— once the “apple-a-day” concept is integrated into your child’s daily routine (where they are not fighting it or questioning it) —  add in a cup or more a day of baby carrots each day (they don’t have to be the store bought ones – they can be made at home so you don’t have the bleaching / washing concerns that come with packaged processed baby carrots).
     • Carrots should always be well washed and thoroughly peeled — especially for smaller children.
     • If you are making your own, make each carrot stick about the size / volume of one of the store-bought baby carrots.
     • My family has the following carrot rule: each child must consume one small carrot stick (or baby carrot) for each year of their age plus one extra – so your 4 year old would eat 5 carrots if you decide to implement this rule. It really worked for my family – to the point where my older teenagers would still follow the rule (for example, at 14 years old, eating 14+1 carrot sticks!)
     • Explain the age plus one policy with them, this helps them feel like they have some control over how much they are required to eat, and lets them know that it is always predictable.
     • We ended up using the carrot policy for a lot of other situations too.:
       • Do they want a special treat at a birthday party? They need to eat their age + 1 in carrots BEFORE they eat the treat.
       • Do they want to play a special game at home with mom? They need to eat their age + 1 in carrots BEFORE we play the game.
       • Do they want to go out on a special outing or walk? Bring their age +1 in carrots to eat on the walk / outing.
       • Do they want to leave the table before finishing dinner (or lunch)? They must eat their age  + 1 in carrots before leaving the table.
  4. CUCUMBERS: Later see if you can add in raw, washed cucumbers (small whole ones if they prefer them, or  thinly or thickly sliced with red wine vinegar if they prefer that).
     • If they like whole natural pickles you can add in one of those a day too (like Bubbies), but no more than one of those a day for toddlers.
       • NOTE: Don’t use Balsamic Vinegar as that can test positive for unsafe levels of Lead.
  5. SMOOTHIES: Then add in a smoothie each morning —or after school — too (add that in after you have the blueberry routine mastered) 
     • for the smoothie do NOT have it be juice based, blend strawberries, apples, blueberry, mango – whatever frozen and fresh fruit they like with water and ice — but NO bananas.
  6. AVOID THESE THINGS: In general avoid the following things for at least the first week until they are pooping regularly again – and then only let them have these things sparingly:
     • cereal,
     • bread,
     • crackers,
     • puffs,
     • chips.
     • cookies
     • homemade or store bought baked goods
  7. OATMEAL: Instead of any kind of boxed cereal,  give them organic oatmeal every morning.
     • If you feel that making fresh oatmeal is too much work for you  / too much for your already busy routine as a parent – cheat at first and let them help mix organic instant oatmeal packs for their own breakfast (so they have a say in that too!) Giving children opportunities for autonomy in this way —autonomy with guidance! — supports healthier eating habits long term!
       • Let your children try different brands and flavors (similar to the apple taste test!)
       • Let them choose the brand and flavor they like best, and let them vary it if they want to try other products.
       • Any kind of oatmeal is ALWAYS a better choice over boxed cereal (for constipated kids), no matter what the other concerns are.
     • After you get that oatmeal routine going (replacing any cereal with oatmeal), graduate up to non-instant, home-made oatmeal – rolled oats, not quick oats. 
• KEEP UP THE ROUTINE: Once things become a routine, they become easy to implement (and  little kiddos love routine and predictable situations) After a week of daily blueberries (and this routine above folded in over the following weeks) they should be making good poops, without straining and without blood (especially at four years old).
  • Never stop the routine.
  • Make it part of your daily life.
  • Increase the opportunities for fresh, whole raw veggies to be consumed in your kiddo’s daily life – add in things like organic…:
    • Bell Peppers (red, orange, yellow)
    • Grapes (kids prefer seedless)
    • Cherries
    • Pears
    • Apricots
    • Nectarines
    • Plums
    • Celery Sticks

Good luck! If you implement these daily routines (gradually) into your child’s diet, they should be pooping normally every day – within a week or two. There are safer choices for oats, sugar, and red wine vinegar – for the cucumbers (and other lab-tested safer foods we have discovered through the Lead Safe Mama, LLC community collaborative laboratory testing initiative) in the list below.

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Are you interested in seeing MORE safer choices?

Below is an expanding list of products (foods, supplements, cosmetics, and personal care items) that have tested “non-detect” for Lead, Mercury, Cadmium, and Arsenic with independent, third-party, community-funded laboratory testing coordinated by Lead Safe Mama, LLC (an Oregon-based small business with a unique community-collaborative business model and a focus on consumer goods safety and childhood Lead poisoning prevention). The product examples below clearly demonstrate that companies can manufacture safer choices (at least from the perspective of a concern for heavy metals contamination).
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The limits of detection (low-threshold of detection) for each of the metals tested can be found in the lab report for the specific product listed. To see the full original lab report for any of these products, type the brand name into the search bar at the top of any page on Lead Safe Mama dot com (and scroll down to the bottom of the related article). All of our published lab reports can also be found linked here, on our lab testing landing page.
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Flavors (or specific variations) tested are noted, and other flavors of the same product (or other products from the same brand) have either not been tested or have been tested but did not yield similar results. Test results only apply to the specific products linked below.

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LIST UPDATED April 28, 2025
Now at 67 products + 6 “bonus” options. Scroll down to see all 73 Lab-Tested Safer Choices:

1. Baby Food — 1 — Little Spoon Kale, Carrot + Pear BabyBlends
2. Baby Food — 2 —Little Spoon Butternut Squash + Blueberry BabyBlends
3. Baby Food — 3 — Little Spoon Sweet Potato BabyBlends
4. Baby Food — 4 — Little Spoon Sweet Potato + Carrot BabyBlends
5. Baby Food — 5 — Little Spoon Banana + Pitaya BabyBlends
6. Beverage — 1 — Honest Kids Organic Appley Ever After Apple Juice Drink: https://amzn.to/4fjGhov
7. Beverage — 2 —  Olipop Grape Tonic: https://amzn.to/4cjFYZu
8. Breakfast Item — 1 — Nature’s Path Envirokidz Organic Panda Puffs: https://amzn.to/4fo1crf
9. Breakfast Item — 2 — Nature’s Path Envirokidz Organic Corn Puffs Gorilla Munch: https://amzn.to/3FHZCDO
10. Breakfast Item — 3 — One Degree Organic, Gluten-Free, Sprouted Rolled Oats (Canada): https://amzn.to/3WIQ1BN
11. Candy — 1 — Lindt White Chocolate Bar (Made in USA, New Hampshire): https://amzn.to/3OXkyIm
12. Candy — 2 — Cavendish & Harvey Wild Berry Drops, not organic (Germany): https://amzn.to/3Z1Jxjr
13. Coffee & Tea — 1 — Chameleon Handcrafted Organic Cold Brew Concentrate: https://amzn.to/3OcrH77
14. Coffee & Tea — 2 — Tao of Tea Organic Genmaicha (Tamara’s favorite, from Japan, sold by a Portland, Oregon-based company!): https://amzn.to/3Dp8Fsd
15. Coffee & Tea — 3 — Califia Farms Almond Latte Cold Brew (XX Espresso): https://amzn.to/4gTTGoJ
16. Coffee & Tea — 4 — Death Wish Organic Espresso Roast Ground Coffee (Multi-country origin, non-USA): https://amzn.to/3yo1eiL  
17. Coffee Creamer, Plant-Based  — 1 — Laird Superfood Coconut Creamer: https://amzn.to/4fItA7A
18. Coffee Creamer, Dairy — 2 — Organic Valley Grassmilk Half and Half: https://amzn.to/4fHJIWT
19. Dairy, Cheese — 1 — Babybel Mini Original Snack Cheese: https://amzn.to/3ZY5noO
20. Fruit Snack — 1 — GoGo Squeez Organic Apple Sauce Pouch: https://amzn.to/3XhWYLe
21. Fruit Snack — 2 — Costco’s Kirkland Organic Apple Sauce Pouch: https://amzn.to/4gOYpZ9
22. Fruit Snack — 3 — Pure Organic Layered Fruit Bars in Strawberry Banana Flavor: https://amzn.to/3WQEekA
23. Fruit Snack — 4 — Once Upon A Farm Dairy Free Fruit Smoothie Pouch in Strawberry Banana Swirl Flavor: https://amzn.to/3CPMbAw
24. Fruit Snack — 5 — Pure Organic Layered Fruit Bars in Raspberry Lemonade Flavor: https://amzn.to/3XcFsIp
25. Infant Formula — 1 — Bobbie Organic Gentle Infant Formula Milk-Based Powder with Iron (pink and white can): https://amzn.to/3YYb849 
26. Infant Formula — 2 — Bobbie Organic Infant Formula Milk-Based Powder with Iron (green and white can): https://amzn.to/3VOr4Vy
27. Infant Formula — 3 — Bobbie Grass-Fed Milk-Based Powder with Iron (green can): https://amzn.to/3ZlAaeJ
28. Infant Formula — 4 — ByHeart Infant Formula (USA-made, not organic): https://amzn.to/48DJjTb
    
29. Infant Formula — 5 — HiPP Bio Combiotik Infant Formula Powder, Stage 1 (imported)
30. Infant Formula — 6 — HiPP HA Stage PRE (0+ Months) Combiotic Formula  (imported)
31. Infant Formula — 7 — Holle Bio Goat Stage 2 Infant Formula (for 6-10 months, organic, European — Swiss/ German/ Austrian) is not available on Amazon, but the Stage 3 version of this product is (not yet tested, but will likely test similarly): https://amzn.to/3BVU7zI
32. Infant Formula — 8 — Kendamil Goat Infant Formula (not organic): This product may be available at Target (it is not available on Amazon)
33. Infant Formula — 9 — Kendamil Organic Follow-On Milk (European/ British Toddler Formula, for 6-12 months, Cow Milk): Not available on Amazon (report link)
34. Infant Formula — 10 — Kendamil Whole Milk Infant Formula (from Europe, pink can, not organic), available at Target
35. Infant Formula — 11 — Kendamil Organic Infant Formula (Cow Milk): Not available on Amazon but may be available at Target
36. Ingredient — 1 — (salt) — Jacobsen’s Sea Salt (Oregon, USA): https://amzn.to/4dcbk5L
37. NEW! Ingredient — 2 — (salt) — Maldon Sea Salt Flakes**: https://amzn.to/4iTzWTE
38. NEW! Ingredient — 3 — (salt) — Diamond Crystal Kosher Salt** : https://amzn.to/4cVQMiy
39. Ingredient — 4 — (baking flour) — Jovial Organic Einkorn Flour (Italy): https://amzn.to/3LIqxix 
40. Ingredient — 5 — (seeds) — Costco Kirkland Organic Hemp Seeds: https://amzn.to/4e05RP9
41. Ingredient — 6 — (seeds) — Navitas Organic, Gluten-Free Chia Seeds (Mexico): https://amzn.to/3YvE7xC
42. Ingredient — 7 — (vinegar) — Napa Valley Naturals Organic Red Wine Vinegar (California): https://amzn.to/4jWhHOg
43. Ingredient — 8 — (beans) — Jovial Organic Chickpeas, Product of Italy: https://amzn.to/4iRON1l
44. Ingredient — 9 — (sugar) — Anthony’s Organic Granulated Cane Sugar: https://amzn.to/4jf6vLv
45. NEW!  Ingredient — 10 — (sweetener) — Espure Organic Xylitol**: https://amzn.to/3GsCSrU
46. NEW!  Ingredient — 11 — (sweetener) —  Now Foods Xylitol**: https://amzn.to/4cNWDpM
47. Oil — 1 — Chosen Foods 100% Avocado Oil (not organic): https://amzn.to/3YDZSuv
48. Oil — 2 — Dr. Adorable’s Organic Perilla Seed Oil (Korea): https://amzn.to/3NDt7Yc
49. Oil — 3 — Dr. Bronner’s Regenerative Organic Coconut Oil: https://amzn.to/40xwBmv
50. Plant-Based Milk — 1 — Kiki Milk Organic Plant-Based Milk (original flavor): https://amzn.to/3AA6Qrt
51. Plant-Based Milk — 2 — West Soy Unflavored Unsweetened Organic Soy Milk: https://amzn.to/4dwev8l
52. Supplement — 1 — Baby Ddrops, Organic Vitamin D3 Supplement for Babies: https://amzn.to/49C3ktH
53. Supplement — 2 — Doctor’s Best Vitamin C with Q-C: https://amzn.to/4hlVvea
54. Supplement — 3 — Mary Ruth’s Organic Toddler Multivitamin Liquid Drops with Iron: https://amzn.to/3YPhcgx
55. Supplement — 4 — Mary Ruth’s Organic Toddler Elderberry Liquid Drops: https://amzn.to/42617TU
56. Supplement — 5  — Nordic Naturals Omega-3 Fish Oil: https://amzn.to/48q1j2V
57. Supplement — 6 — Nordic Naturals Kids Vitamin D3 Gummies (Ages 3+): https://amzn.to/4l7117a
58. Supplement — 7 — Pectasol Modified Citrus Pectin, Formulated in the USA: https://amzn.to/3QUmZfN
59. Supplement — 8 — Pendulum Metabolic Daily Dietary Supplement: https://amzn.to/4gY5wOm
60. Cosmetic — 1 — Kora Organics Noni Face Oil: https://amzn.to/43hy2XO
61. NEW!  Cosmetic— 2 — Babo Botanicals Sensitive Baby Lotion**: https://amzn.to/3YmKxy1
62. Toothpaste — 1 — Fluoride-free Orajel Kids Training Toothpaste in Natural Berry Fruity Flavor with Elmo Sesame Street Packaging: https://amzn.to/41wxtrY
63. Toothpaste — 2 — Fluoride-free Miessence Mint Toothpaste: https://amzn.to/4bJc4PO
64. Toothpaste — 3 — Dr. Brown’s Fluoride-free Baby Toothpaste in Strawberry Flavor: https://amzn.to/3DCehzZ
65. Toothpaste — 4 — Pegciz Kids Foam Toothpaste in Watermelon Flavor, Low Flouride (packaging varies, see report): https://amzn.to/3YzP68e
66. Toothpaste — 5 — Kid’s Spry Fluoride-free Tooth Gel with Xylitol in Original Flavor: https://amzn.to/41GZb4e
67. NEW! Toothpaste — 6 — Fluoride-free Essential Oxygen BR Certified Organic in Peppermint Flavor**: https://amzn.to/4lARZ2J

**Lab reports pending/ Not yet published as of 4/28/2025

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Here’s the link to our landing page featuring all of the third-party lab reports for the foods, supplements, and cosmetic products we have published to date, including those listed above: https://tamararubin.com/2024/05/food-articles/

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Stand by for more!

BONUS: Below are SIX additional products that each tested positive for trace (very low levels of) Arsenic — at levels considered safe by all standards (with the limits of detection noted in the lab report for the specific product listed).

1. Ingredient — Maseca Instant Corn Masa Flour, Product of Mexico (positive for traces of Arsenic):  https://amzn.to/4iR8qWN
2. Infant Formula — Kendamil Goat Toddler Milk, not organic (positive for traces of Arsenic): May be available at Target or through other online retailers of European infant formulas
3. Fruit Snack — That’s It Apple Cherry Bars, not organic (positive for traces of Arsenic): https://amzn.to/4fHkSWV
4. Oil — Chosen Foods 100% Pure Avocado oil, organic (postive for traces of Arsenic): https://amzn.to/3BVQYQa
5. Supplement — Now Sunflower Lecithin, not organic (positive for traces of Arsenic): https://amzn.to/3AFdHzO
6. Supplement — WishGarden Immune Boost Seasonal Rescue for Pregnancy: https://amzn.to/3Cd940N

Amazon links are affiliate links. 

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Amazon links are affiliate links. If you purchase something after clicking on a Lead Safe Mama, LLC Amazon affiliate link, Lead Safe Mama, LLC may receive a percentage of what you spend, at no extra cost to you.

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