In Part I of "Poop - A Barometer of Your Child's Health," we talked about the color of poop. Shape and consistency are also very important in evaluating your child's overall health.

What's ideal? In terms of color, healthy poop resembles plain cardboard. It should be almost odorless. You do not want stool to be super thin (like a pencil), round (like little pellets), extremely hard or loose. Poop that is very soft and smelly may indicate excess fat in your child's stool.

Ideally, in terms of shape, your child's poop should be formed like his or her colon, like a banana or an S-shape. It should be 1 to 2 inches in diameter and, ideally, one long stool rather than pieces.

The consistency of stool should be soft, like peanut butter or toothpaste, and pass easily.

Stool can be categorized into seven types:

• Type 1: Separate hard lumps, like nuts (hard to pass)
• Type 2: Sausage-shaped, but lumpy
• Type 3: Like a sausage but with cracks on its surface
• Type 4: Like a sausage or snake, smooth and soft
• Type 5: Soft blobs with clear cut edges (passed easily)
• Type 6: Fluffy pieces with ragged edges, a mushy stool
• Type 7: Entirely liquid

Types 1 and 2 may indicate constipation, while Types 5-7 are forms of diarrhea. If your child experiences constipation, my philosophy is to intervene quickly and then work to fix it with diet and exercise. Pedia-Lax kid-friendly laxatives like Quick Dissolve Strips and Chewable Tablets offer relief within hours.

Fiber also plays an important part in promoting regularity because it creates softer, bulkier stools that are easy to pass by absorbing many times their weight in water. Fiber's bulk promotes contractions that keep food moving through the intestine. Fiber-rich foods include whole grains, fruits and vegetables. And, if your child needs an extra fiber boost, new Pedia-Lax Fiber Gummies are a tasty way to bridge the gap. Just three gummies add 4.5 grams of fiber, equivalent to a cup of corn.

It's most important to be proactive. Teach your children what's normal in terms of their stools, so they can let you know if they are experiencing painful or unusual stools. And, you and your child can use the Pedia-Lax Poop Journal to make sure your child gets back on track. By making this an ongoing discussion, you and your child will be well-informed about this very important indicator of health. Remember, if you have any concerns about the shape or consistency of your child's stool, it's important to talk to your pediatrician.

More Advice from Dr. B. >>