Colonoscopy Bowel Prep — Under 15 kg
Under 33 lb · MiraLAX option
← Other weight bands
📄 Download printable PDF
Procedure Location
St. Vincent Hospital — Pediatric Preop, Door #1
Arrive 90 minutes before your scheduled procedure
For infants and children under 15 kg only
This page describes the
oral MiraLAX prep dosed by weight. If your child cannot tolerate oral MiraLAX, ask the office about the clear-liquids + saline-enema option.
✅ Plan Ahead — pick up from the pharmacy
- MiraLAX® (polyethylene glycol 3350) — only a small amount needed; see dose table below.
⚠️ NOT MiraLAX chewables
- Pedialyte® or clear apple juice (for mixing the MiraLAX).
- Protective ointment (A&D, Desitin®, or Vaseline®) for the diaper area.
Medications: please prepare a list of the medicines your child is taking and ask which ones may need to be stopped. Stop iron supplements and anti-diarrhea medicines 7 days before.
⚖️ MiraLAX Dose by Weight
| Your Child's Weight |
MiraLAX Dose |
How to Give |
| Under 5 kg (under 11 lb) |
¼ capful (about 4 g) |
Mix into 2–4 oz of Pedialyte or clear apple juice |
| 5–9 kg (11–20 lb) |
½ capful (about 8.5 g) |
Mix into 4–6 oz of Pedialyte or clear apple juice |
| 10–15 kg (22–33 lb) |
¾ capful (about 13 g) |
Mix into 6–8 oz of Pedialyte or clear apple juice |
If your child has trouble drinking it all at once, offer it in small sips over 1–2 hours.
📅 3 Days and 2 Days Before the Procedure
- Continue your child's normal diet.
- Give one MiraLAX dose per day, mixed into juice or Pedialyte (see dose table above).
📅 Day Before the Procedure
Low-residue foods — until 6:00 PM
| AVOID |
OK to eat |
| Baby cereal with whole grains, oats, or added fiber |
Plain white rice or white rice cereal |
| Raw or dried fruits and vegetables |
Plain pasta (no chunky sauce) |
| Beans, peas, lentils |
White bread or crackers |
| Nuts, seeds, popcorn |
Strained baby foods (no skins, seeds, chunks) |
| Chunky table foods, meats with gristle |
Plain yogurt (no fruit pieces or granola); scrambled eggs |
Liquids — with these specific cutoffs
| AVOID |
OK to drink |
| Solid foods after 6:00 PM |
Formula (until 10:00 PM) |
| Formula after 10:00 PM |
Breast milk (until 2:00 AM day of procedure) |
| Breast milk after 2:00 AM (day of procedure) |
Pedialyte®; clear apple juice (no pulp); water |
| Anything red or purple (looks like blood) |
Clear broth (chicken or vegetable, strained); popsicles or plain gelatin (no red/purple) |
Apply protective ointment to the diaper area.
⏱ Fasting Rules — Day of Procedure
These times are counted backward from your child's scheduled procedure time:
| What | When to Stop |
|---|
| All solid and low-residue foods | 6:00 PM the day before |
| Formula | 10:00 PM the day before |
| Breast milk | 2:00 AM the day of procedure |
| Clear liquids (Pedialyte, water, clear juice) | 3 hours before procedure time |
⚠️ After the clear-liquid cutoff, no food or drink. This keeps your child safe during anesthesia.
⚠️ When to Call the Doctor
- Your child won't drink, or has dehydration signs: no tears, dry mouth, or no wet diapers for 6+ hours.
- Vomiting that prevents your child from keeping liquids down.
- Fever, bloody stools, or severe belly pain.
- You are unsure whether the prep is working.
- You have questions about your child's medications.
Call (317) 338-9450 with any of the concerns above.
💡 Tips for Success
- Offer clear liquids frequently in small amounts — a syringe, sippy cup, or bottle may help.
- Popsicles and gelatin help keep your child hydrated. Avoid red and purple — they can look like blood.
- Expect frequent watery stools — this means the prep is working.
- Keep the diaper area well protected with ointment to prevent irritation.
Helpful Resources
