Colonoscopy Bowel Prep — 21–30 kg
46–66 lb
← Other weight bands
📄 Download printable PDF
Procedure Location
St. Vincent Hospital — Pediatric Preop, Door #1
Arrive 90 minutes before your scheduled procedure
📖 About the Colonoscopy and the Bowel Prep
A colonoscopy is a short procedure done under anesthesia. A pediatric gastroenterologist passes a thin, flexible camera through the bottom to look at the large intestine. Small biopsies are usually taken. The procedure itself takes about 20–45 minutes, but plan to be at the facility for several hours total. The colon must be clean for the doctor to see well — the medicines below empty the colon the day before.
✅ Plan Ahead (buy at least 2 days before)
Buy these items at least 2 days before the procedure. Check the active ingredient on the label — brand-name shortcuts can lead to the wrong product.
| Active ingredient / Item | What to get |
|---|
Bisacodyl 5 mg tablets (Dulcolax or store-brand generic)
⚠️ NOT Dulcolax liquid or soft-chews |
2 Dulcolax 5 mg tablets (10 mg total) |
Polyethylene glycol 3350 (MiraLAX, Costco ClearLax, Equate, or any store brand)
⚠️ NOT MiraLAX chewables |
At least 7 capfuls (~120 g) of powder |
| Gatorade or Powerade (any color except red or purple) — for mixing with the MiraLAX powder |
At least 28 oz (~850 mL) |
| Skin protection — protective ointment (Desitin or Vaseline) for anal-area comfort |
1 tube |
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.
⚠️ Was your child prescribed a pre-cleanout for constipation?
If your doctor told you to start a pre-cleanout, give your child MiraLAX daily — 2–3 capfuls (32–45 g) mixed into 16–24 oz of juice, water, or Gatorade — for 3–5 days before starting the regular prep timeline below. If you are not sure whether your child needs a pre-cleanout, message us through the patient portal or call the office.
📅 3 Days Before — Low-Residue Diet
| AVOID |
OK to eat |
| Whole grains, nuts, seeds |
White rice, pasta, potatoes (no skin) |
| Raw fruits and vegetables |
Bananas, melons, cooked veggies |
| Corn, beans, popcorn |
Eggs, chicken, fish, yogurt, pudding |
📅 2 Days Before the Procedure
At bedtime
Give Dulcolax tablets — 1 tablet (5 mg) — with a sip of water.
Evening — prep only
Prepare only — do NOT drink yet. Mix MiraLAX (7 capfuls / 120 g) into Gatorade (28 oz). Shake, refrigerate overnight. Your child will drink this tomorrow.
If you forget the Dulcolax, you can give it the day of bowel prep, with or just before the MiraLAX.
📅 1 Day Before — Low-Residue Through Lunch
After 2:00 PM — clear liquids only.
| AVOID |
OK to eat / drink |
| RED or PURPLE drinks or foods |
Water, apple juice, white grape juice |
| Dairy (milk, yogurt, ice cream); juices with pulp |
Lemonade, clear soda, clear broth |
| Any solid food |
Popsicles, plain Jell-O, tea/coffee without milk |
💊 Prep medicine (afternoon / evening)
Best to start right after school — don't delay too long, or your child may not finish before bedtime.
3:00 PM
Give Dulcolax tablets — 1 tablet (5 mg) — with a sip of water,
then start the MiraLAX solution — 7 capfuls (~120 g) of MiraLAX in 28 oz (~850 mL) of Gatorade — from the fridge.
Have your child drink 5 oz (~150 mL) every 30 minutes until finished.
Tips for drinking the MiraLAX: drink each cup fast (don't sip slowly — quick drinking helps the stomach empty and reduces nausea). Cold is easier — that's why we refrigerated it overnight. If your child can't keep up, pause 30 minutes and resume. If your child vomits, wait 30 minutes and restart at a slower rate.
- Expect diarrhea — this is normal and means the prep is working.
- Keep giving clear liquids throughout the day.
📅 Day of Procedure
- Clear liquids only after 2 PM the day before. No solid food.
- Keep your child well-hydrated — offer small sips of clear liquids every 30–60 minutes through the prep day. Each drink: no more than 5 oz (~150 mL). Frequent small drinks beat occasional large ones — better hydration, easier on the stomach.
- Stop all clear liquids 3 hours before the procedure.
- Bring comfort items for your child (toy, blanket, tablet, etc.).
⚠️ If the prep is not followed exactly, the colonoscopy may be delayed or canceled.
🏥 After & When to Call
- Your child will wake up in the recovery area. Some grogginess and gas/cramping/bloating are normal for several hours.
- A small amount of blood with the first stool after a colonoscopy can be normal, especially if biopsies were taken.
- An adult must stay with your child for 24 hours after anesthesia.
- Start with clear liquids, then advance to a regular diet as tolerated.
- No school, daycare, or sports for the rest of the day. Most children are back to normal activity the next day.
- The doctor will discuss what was seen before you go home. Biopsy results take about 1–2 weeks; we'll send them through the patient portal or call.
Call (317) 338-9450 if your child has any of the following after the procedure:
- A temperature over 101°F (38.3°C)
- Stool that is black or has more than a small streak of blood
- Severe or worsening abdominal pain, or a hard, swollen belly
- Persistent vomiting, or refusal to drink
- Difficulty breathing or chest pain — this is an emergency, call 911
Helpful Resources
🍓 Low-Residue Diet — Sample Meals
Meal ideas for the low-residue (“white”) diet. Continue this diet for the 3 days before the procedure, through lunch the day before. After 2:00 PM the day before, switch to clear liquids only — no dairy.
Breakfast (morning)
- Scrambled eggs
- White toast with butter
- Banana
- Yogurt (no seeds or berries)
- Apple juice
Lunch (~noon)
- Plain chicken sandwich on white bread (no veggies)
- Mac and cheese
- White rice with chicken
- Plain pasta
- Applesauce
- Vanilla pudding
After lunch (~2:00 PM onward)
- Clear liquids only (see allowed drinks above)
- No more dairy — milk, yogurt, ice cream, etc.
