Colonoscopy Bowel Prep — Under 15 kg [Under 33 lb]
MiraLAX option
← Other weight bands
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Procedure Location
St. Vincent Hospital — Pediatric Preop, Door #1
Pediatric Preop phone: (317) 338-5851
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.
✅ Medications and Supplies needed
- 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
Prepare a list of medications.
Stop iron, anti-diarrhea medicine 7 days before.
You can verify what medications need to be stopped at meds.giready.com.
⚖️ MiraLAX Pre-Cleanout — One Dose Per Day, 3 and 2 Days Before the Procedure
Normal diet on these days. Give one dose per day:
| 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) | 1 capful (about 17 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.
📅 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.