Preparing your child at home for a colonoscopy
Information for parents from the Paediatric Endoscopy Team
Why is bowel preparation important?
A clean bowel helps us see the lining of the gut clearly. If there are stools (poo) in the colon, the test may not be accurate or may need to be repeated.
7 days before your child’s procedure
Please stop the following medications 7 days before your child’s procedure.
Loperamide (Immodium)
Codeine Phosphate
Iron supplements
Fybogel
Continue any other prescribed medications and laxatives as normal. If you have questions or concerns, please speak to your medical team.
2 days before your child’s procedure
Your child can eat the food listed in the ‘Permitted foods’ column below. They must not eat food listed in the ‘Foods to avoid’ column.
| Food type | Permitted foods | Foods to avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Bread | white bread | wholemeal, granary, seeded bread |
| Rice, pasta, grains | white rice, white pasta, couscous, noodles, white flour | brown rice, whole wheat pasta and noodles |
| Breakfast cereals | none | all |
| Potatoes | boiled, mashed, or chips (without skin) | potatoes with skin |
| Meat, fish, alternatives | all lean meat and fish, eggs, tofu | Quorn |
| Fruit | none | all |
| Vegetables | potato without skin | all except potatoes without skin |
| Dairy | milk, cheese, yoghurt, ice cream, custard, rice pudding | dairy containing fruits and nuts |
| Snacks | plain biscuits and cakes, crisps, chocolate, jelly and ice lollies (not red) | snacks containing fruits and nuts, wholemeal crackers, flapjacks, oatcakes, red jelly and ice lollies |
| Soups and sauces | soup (not tomato) | vegetable soup |
| Jams and marmalade | without pips or peels | with pips and peels |
| Fats and oils | butter, margarine, oil | none |
| Sugars and sweetners | all | none |
| Beans and pulses | none | all |
| Drinks | water, fruit juice (no bits or red), hot chocolate, tea, coffee, fizzy drinks, herbal / fruit teas, sports drinks, squash (not red) | fruit juice with bits, red fruit juice, smoothies, red soft drinks |
The day before my child’s procedure
Begin the day with a light breakfast from the 'Permitted foods' list. Make sure breakfast does not include any solid food.
Drink 2 to 3 litres (approximately 4 to 6 pints) over the day. Below are examples of drinks your child can have. Make sure they do not drink any red-coloured drinks.
Water
Clear sports drinks
Clear soup (without solids)
Diluted squash
Jelly
Tea or coffee (without milk)
Clear apple juice
Boiled sweets
Ice lollies
Taking the laxative treatment the day before my child’s procedure
For children having their procedure in the morning
8am
Take Senokot liquid in a single dose with a drink. This may cause abdominal (tummy) cramping.
12pm (noon)
For children over 7 years of age, dissolve one sachet of Picolax in half a cup of water. Ask your child to sip this over 10 to 20 minutes.
For children under 7 years of age, dissolve half of the sachet of Picolax in half a cup of water. Ask your child to sip this over 10 to 20 minutes.
After your child has drunk the Picolax, ask them to drink at least one more cup of fluid within 40 minutes. Please make sure they only drink fluids from the list in the The day before my child's procedure section above.
Aim to drink 2 litres of fluid in total before 6pm. Your child can get dehydrated with the frequent bowel motion.
4pm
Repeat the Picolax dose as above. Make sure your child drinks 2 to 3 litres of fluid before bedtime.
For children having their procedure in the afternoon
10am
Take Senokot liquid in a single dose with a drink. This may cause abdominal (tummy) cramping.
2pm
For children over 7 years of age, dissolve one sachet of Picolax in half a cup of water. Ask your child to sip this over 10 to 20 minutes.
For children under 7 years of age, dissolve half of the sachet of Picolax in half a cup of water. Ask your child to sip this over 10 to 20 minutes.
After your child has drunk the Picolax, ask them to drink at least one more cup of fluid within 40 minutes. Please make sure they only drink fluids from the list in the The day before my child's procedure section above.
Aim to drink 2 litres of fluid in total before 6pm. Your child can get dehydrated with the frequent bowel motion.
6pm
Repeat the Picolax dose as above. Make sure your child drinks 2 to 3 litres of fluid before bedtime.
What should I expect once my child starts taking Picolax?
Once your child starts taking Picolax, they will have regular loose stools (poo). Make sure they are near a toilet at all times.
They may have mild abdominal (tummy) discomfort or they may vomit. Please do not worry, this is normal. However, if your child vomits and appears unwell, please go to the Paediatric Emergency Department immediately. Tell them that your child has taken Picolax, and is scheduled for a colonoscopy the next / same day.
You can give your child paracetamol, a hot water bottle, or a peppermint cordial to help with any discomfort.
To prevent soreness, apply a barrier cream to your child’s bottom. Barrier creams include Sudocrem and Vaseline.
What happens on the morning of my child's procedure?
If your child is having their procedure in the morning
Do not eat any food or drink milk, soft drinks or juice after 2.30am.
Do not drink any water after 6.30am.
If your child is having their procedure in the afternoon
Do not eat any food or drink milk, soft drinks, or juice after 7.30am.
Do not drink any water after 11.30am.
When you arrive at the hospital, go to Dolphin Ward. Your child will be reviewed by the doctors, anaesthetist, and nursing staff to prepare for the procedure. If you have any questions or concerns, please speak to a member of the team.
Why is preparing my child’s bowel so important?
If your child’s bowel is not cleared, their procedure may be postponed to a later date. The bowel must be emptied, so we can see it clearly.
Contact details
For general enquiries, please contact the Paediatric Endoscopy Co-ordinator.
Paediatric Endoscopy Coordinator
Telephone: 01277 868678
Email
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