Is it safe to give a baby Kaopectate for constipation relief?

Kaopectate is a medication for adults targeted at relieving diarrhea and upset stomach, not constipation. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Kaopectate should not be given to babies or young children unless advised by a pediatrician because it contains bismuth subsalicylate.

The FDA states that bismuth subsalicylate is potentially harmful for babies and children under 12 years of age, because it can quickly amass in their bodies. It can also pass from a mother’s breast milk to her baby, so mothers should only use Kaopectate if advised by their doctors. Only children 12 years and older can consider taking it for diarrhea or an upset stomach without a doctor’s explicit recommendation.