Bowel Habits at Nine Months

Because your baby is eating more solid foods, his bowel movements
may change. Solid food moves more slowly through the intestines. And
stools become heavier and less frequent.

Some babies have one or two bowel movements a day. Your baby may have
one every other day. For some children that’s normal. If the bowel
movement is hard and painful, check with your doctor.

It is too early for your baby to start learning to use the toilet. This
learning must wait until two things happen. Your child must be able to
feel his body’s “need to go.” He must also be able to get to the toilet.
Usually this doesn’t happen until a child is two years old or older. Trying
to start earlier will be frustrating for you and your baby.

You can start preparing for this learning now. Talk to your baby when you
change his diaper. Say, for example, “Wow! Your diaper is so wet this
morning. Let’s change it and make you clean and dry again.” This helps
your baby learn the words wet and dry. This helps him connect being dry
to being comfortable.

This content has been provided freely by CMC. Click Healthy Start, Grow Smart—Your-Nine-Month-Old for your free download. Click GreatDad Free Ebook to download the entire Health Start, Grow Smart series.

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