How do I begin potty training my ASD twins?

Sharlene - posted on 12/10/2011

This might help youhttp://www.autismepicenter.com/autism-po... .cheers

Alison - posted on 01/20/2010

As a piggyback on a couple of the previous posts, ABA will develop a task analysis program for your children that breaks down the process of using the toilet into very small chucks or steps. Using highly motivating rewards and picture symbols are always very helpful. Also using a timer to make regular potty trips is key! I have typicaly developing twin girls who are 33 months old who are just now potty trained, though one wets the bed pretty consistently. But, as a teacher of chidlren with autism for over 10 years, I have successfully potty trained many students using the above strategies...

Melissa - posted on 01/15/2010

Don't be in a hurry to potty train. I was recommended to wait until communication was better. We started Aidan on PECS to help. He is 4 and we sit on the potty and put shapes into a shape sorter to make sitting easier.. and change his pull up diaper while we are in there. It has kept him from taking his diaper off in the rest of the house and kept him from playing in his poop. I don't expect Aidan to ask for potty any time soon, but in the mean time we have scheduled toilet time for getting him used to being on the toilet and using the bathroom for all tioleting/changing. :-)

Frances - posted on 01/13/2010

My son has autism and is 4 and a half. This is now my 8th attempt to try and toilet-train him and it seems to be going well when I AM FOCUSSED. You see, the problem is not always whether the child is ready for training, but whether the parent/s are ready.



If you are adamand that your child should potty-train, try taking them to the real toilet with the potty next to it and give them one-at-a-time alone time with you at the toilet. Explain every step very simply:

1. Open the lid

2. Climb on

3. Hold on :-)

4. Pee-pee

5. Wipe

6. Hop off

7. Close the lid

8. Flush the toilet

9. Open the tap

10. Wash hands

11. Close the tap

12. Dry hands

13.All done



It also might help if your child sees you releasing yourself to understand what is expected of her.



Remember to take your child every 35 minutes to the toilet with a normal drink-day. If you want them to catch on faster, give them more to drink and take them more frequently. Important though, if the child gets distract and shows signs of tears, wait another 2, or three months and try again.



Nappies are o.k. for going to do groceries and there aren't toilets around, but rather plan ahead and go for fast shopping right after a pee-pee and be back in time for the next pee-pee, or take them for a quick walkies at the shop.



Nappies are a must at bed-time untill you have figured out what works best for you. At about 5/6 years of age in autistic and even ordinary children, you give them way less to drink before bedtime and set your alarm clock at least 2 times in the night. You wake up, pick her up, take off the nappy, put her still sleeping on the toilet, tell her to pee-pee and voila, the first step to a dry bed. Remember to put a dry nappy on again.



Always stay friendly, even if it drives you nuts.

Give a lot of compliments if they get it right- every time.

Stay in the habit of taking them to the toilet, even if they don't make a pee-pee... not too often though. Just stay in the habit. Nappies are expensive!!!



All the best!

Ilene - posted on 09/22/2009

I don't know if this will help you -- both of my twins were diagnosed with "severe autism" earlier this year -- they are currently 32 months old. I'm not training them yet, but will be getting help from their school. We've been told that they can use ABA to potty train kids as well as almost everything else. Are your twins enrolled in an ABA program or using any ABA techniques? If so, talk to the techs and they should be able to help you. If not, I'm sure you can look it up online.



Another thing that helps kids in the school my twins are currently enrolled in is a social story. Introducing every step of training (pulling down pants, underwear/pull-ups/diapers, sitting on the toilet/potty, release (with motivator), wipe, dressing). If they have a problem with a specific part, perhaps this will help you see what that is and then you can address those specific needs.



Again, I'm not there yet -- I don't know if this is even reasonable advice. But I do wish you the best!!!!



-Ilene, fellow twins with ASD mom