Colonoscopy Bowel Prep — Under 15 kg [Under 33 lb]
Lactulose option (oral)
← Other weight bands
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 lactulose prep dosed by weight. If your child cannot tolerate oral lactulose, ask the office about the MiraLAX option or the clear-liquids + saline-enema option.
✅ Medications and Supplies needed
- Lactulose oral solution (10 g per 15 mL) — prescription required; see dose table below.
- Pedialyte® or clear apple juice (for extra fluids and mixing if needed).
- 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.
⚖️ Lactulose 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 | Lactulose Dose | How to Give |
|---|---|---|
| Under 5 kg (under 11 lb) | 5 mL (one teaspoon) | Give by mouth using a syringe; may mix into a small amount of juice or Pedialyte. |
| 5–9 kg (11–20 lb) | 10 mL (two teaspoons) | Give by mouth using a syringe or medicine cup; may mix into 2–4 oz of juice or Pedialyte. |
| 10–15 kg (22–33 lb) | 15 mL (one tablespoon) | Give by mouth; may mix into 4–6 oz of juice or Pedialyte. |
Lactulose is naturally sweet. Most children accept it well plain or mixed into juice or Pedialyte.
If your child has trouble taking it all at once, offer it in small sips over 1–2 hours.
⚠️ Lactulose may cause gas and bloating — this is normal. Contact the office if symptoms are severe.
📅 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.
- Lactulose may cause more gas than MiraLAX — gentle tummy massage and bicycle legs can help.