How much mineral oil should I give a 4 year old for constipation?!
Question:
How much mineral oil should I give a 4 year old for constipation?
Additional Details
3 months ago
My son is autistic and has had problems with constipation for a long time. The meds don't work anymore thats why I wanted to try something different. His stool is very hard. It's hard to get any good foods with a lot of fiber in him because he can't chew very good and can't tolerate certain textures.
3 months ago
We did change is diet to alot of mashed up veggies and we alternate between 2% milk and soy milk. We also give him drinks that are either light or no sugar. The changes seem to have made things worse.
Answers:
Mineral oil is a stool softener, the purpose of which is to make passage of stool less painful. It is not a laxative per se. Usually one to three tablespoons are enough, but you can push the dose until you detect oil in the toilet!
The above is for occasional use only. Long term use of mineral oil interferes with vitamin A and D absorption. Also, it can cause a lipoid pneumonia if he resists taking it and chokes (aspirates) while swallowing. This would be uncommon in a four year old.
I realize how obstinate a four year old can be, but try to prevent constipation by insisting on more fiber (fruits and veggies, non-sugary cereal, etc.) It's not cruel to say hunger overcomes obstinancy; you do your child a favor in the long run.