How to Give a Small Child an Enema

There are times when it is necessary to use an enema in order to clean out the bowels, even in small children. If, and only if, your doctor recommends the use of an enema, you can follow the instructions given here to make sure that the experience goes as smoothly and painlessly as possible.

Usually, enemas will be used when a small child is badly constipated, to get things moving again. You can buy prepared enema solutions that come in a bottle with a long, blunt tip. Make sure you get the children's version, since an adult one will hold entirely too much liquid for a child's bowels. The solution is usually just a saline solution, but in some cases, your doctor may recommend something else to help solve your child's particular problem.

To use the enema, you will need to lay your child on his or her left side, knees drawn up to the chest. This can be very difficult for a toddler who doesn't understand what is going on, so you will need another adult to help by holding the child in position. It is best to have a plastic sheet or even a diaper underneath the child's bottom.

Remove the cap on the enema bottle. If it is pre-lubed, you can just start, but if not, you will need to apply some lubricant. KY Jelly or Vaseline work well. The idea is to make this painless for your little one.

Use your fingers to spread the butt cheeks so you have a clear view of the anus. Gently insert the tip of the enema bottle and slide it in slowly, aiming slightly forward. If you meet any resistance, do NOT push. You can do serious damage. Simply pull back and gently try again. It is usually helpful to stabilize the child's bottom with one hand as you do this, since he might be wriggling quite a bit.

Once the tip of the enema bottle has been completely inserted, squeeze the bottle gently to send the saline solution into the intestines. You might want to move the bottle slightly to one side to allow any excess air to escape as you do this. Make sure you have read the instructions on the box, since most enemas suggest using only half the bottle for smaller children.

When the liquid has been squeezed out, carefully pull the enema bottle tip out and discard in the trash. Older children should be put on the toilet immediately, while smaller ones can be left lying on top of an open diaper. Usually, within 2-10 minutes, the child will push out some water and then will begin to defecate. Depending on how much has been backed up, this could take up to an hour to get everything out. However, your child will feel much better afterwards.

If the enema doesn't work, do not attempt another one before talking to your doctor. In rare cases, it may be necessary to do more than one enema in a short period of time, but in general, this is a bad idea. Consult your doctor before giving any enema.