starting too late?

[tracysroberts]

Hi all!
My DS is almost 9 months old. I started recently taking him to the toilet when I notice him beginning to move a stool, but more recently he seems stressed by it. He will squirm and not want to be there, he does the same thing on the diaper changing table.
He seems perfectly happy to poop in his diaper.
I have caught many pees and poops and we go diaperless around the house a lot, just dont want to stress him out.
Any advice?

[HappyMonkey]

In Diaper Free she says it works best if you start by 10 months! Maybe do it over the sink so he can play in the mirror.

[sapphire_chan]

Even babies ECed from birth have times they refuse the toilet.

[hrsmom]

I agree there are optimal times to start, but I also believe that you can start at any age. Lots of moms in this forum talk about how they started at all different ages, 9 months and older. And yes, babies EC'd from birth refuse the toilet from time to time. And some seem perfectly content to go in their diapers. (I know this from personal experience!)

Just some ideas- what kind of potty are you using? I would look into a baby bjorn little potty or similar. I would also talk about how you notice it looks like he's about to poop (or whatever word you use, of course) and you want to show him that he can poop in the potty now, or whatever sounds right for the situation! I don't think the fact that they are squirming means they are stressed out, it would be stressing to insist that they stay on the potty or whatever. If you're respecting their squirming and not insisting, then you're fine. (Oh, this takes me back!!!)

[karika]

Just saw this and wanted to pass on this great resource for late starters from Laurie Boucke

http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/...training/67105

It is true that after 4-5 mo the baby has learned to go in a diaper and ignores the signals. You can still help your baby not soil himself however by using her suggestions. Happy you are trying!

[Shanny2032]

We didn't start until at least 9 months and even then it was very part time. I now have a 16 month old that is 90% toilet trained. Even now, I have to respect her when she tells me she doesn't need or want to sit. What has helped A LOT are 3 things: CONSTANT nakedness, favorite books in the bathrooms (because sometimes when I notice she is about to go I startle her, causes her to stop and then we have to wait it out in the bathroom for her to relax enough again to go!) and cheap potties (IKEA) in every room so I don't have to run with a naked, pooping baby which stresses us both out (and leads to the above mentioned stoppage). Like I said, most days she is 90% with about 1 accident a day. Today, I don't think we made it to the potty one time but that is VERY rare. She was just a little off. Saturday and Sunday were perfect days. Keep at it and when you see positive results it will carry you through the tougher days.