I read an article that says that laxatives could be bad for kids. Why do you say that "they are always necessary" (on the back of your book)?
Children who have occasional constipation, the kind that we all experience from time to time, rarely need laxatives. Occasional constipation is relieved with natural remedies such as adding more fiber to a child's diet or encouraging exercise. In my book, I devote a whole chapter to the treatment of occasional constipation with natural remedies.
Children with functional or long-term constipation, often referred to as encopresis, almost always do need one or more laxatives as part of their overall treatment. Without laxatives, it is not possible for these children to produce sufficiently soft, large stools every day long enough to end their stool withholding and soiling. With regard to the safety of laxatives, the fact is that research and clinical experience over the past 25 years has clearly shown that, when used properly, laxatives are safe for children.
In my book, I discuss how and when to safely introduce, maintain and then remove laxatives.