Product: Pedia-Lax Quick Dissolve
Strips, $6.99 for a box of 12 strips. Sold at local
pharmacies.
Key ingredients: Senna, a common vegetable-based laxative.
The pitch: A quick dissolve strip that relieves a child’s
constipation and produces a bowel movement in six to 12 hours;
for ages 2 to 11.
How it works: The leaves and pods of the senna plant
contain compounds called anthraquinones, which are powerful
laxatives.
Pros: Senna-based laxatives are commonly prescribed by
doctors to treat childhood constipation, according to a 2005
report in the journal Pediatrics.
Cons: The Mayo Clinic and most medical groups advise that
laxatives should not be given to young children (at least up
to age 6) unless prescribed by a doctor. Laxatives can cause
damage to the bowel lining over time.
Bottom Line: Don’t use unless you talk to your
pediatrician. Often eating more fiber (fruits, vegetables,
whole-grain cereal), drinking more liquids and getting more
exercise will solve the problem.
