Autism and potty training!!

Sasha - posted on 02/26/2009

If she seems interested give it a go. 2 birds and one stone and all that. It might even help your son to see his sister doing the same thing

Jennifer - posted on 02/26/2009

If she is ready and wants it -- go for it! My typical daughter potty trained at 2.

Joni - posted on 02/26/2009

I want to thanks all the parents out there again for the advice about potty training. It has been hard but I know that we will get through it. I have another question to ask about this subject. With my son potty training, my youngest daughter is really picking up the potty idea herself. Would it be wise to potty train her too at the same time with my son? Please let me know! Joni

Pamela - posted on 02/26/2009

I have tried the timer.... It got to the point my daughter would get up, get the timer and chuck it at the wall screaming " No POTTY "... It did work at the begining but as we extended the time from 1/2 hr to 45mins then to an hr. She get fustrated and in a split second her whole world is coming to and end. Good luck Jennifer, sounds like your guy will pick up on it real quick. I also believe its not working for us cause I believe she is in that phase "I don't have TIME to STOP and GO PEE", or she is just stubborn like me... :) hehe

Jennifer - posted on 02/26/2009

My son is 3 1/2 and we just potty trained 2 weeks ago. I am so excited!! I am a huge advocate of the timer. Start with 30 minutes and work up to an hour. Eventually, you won't need the timer, but I still use it if I really think he needs to go but he is saying he doesn't. There is something about that timer -- whenever it goes off, he gets up walks into the bathroom and pees every time.

Dee - posted on 02/26/2009

Toileting is STILL an issue for us and my son is almost 9!!! He has ADHD & Aspergers and the only thing that works is putting him on a computer ban (all electronic games) for 7 days when he has an "accident". This has only been a recent discovery so I am still experimenting with the "punishment" for want of a better term because of his age.

When he is on a computer ban, he does not soil and has no toilet problems - and can earn days back by using the toilet properly, so it is worth good behaviour to him. This proves to HIM that he can do it and it will hopefully now be a case of just learning the new routine and new behaviour and knowing that each time he soils himself, he loses his precious computer time!

Find what motivates your child - and use it to your advantage! 

Pamela - posted on 02/25/2009

Sasha I so agree with you on the parents with normal kids..... And thank you for the adivce.. Much appreciated... :) I just have to stay postivie, it will happen... I hope ..lol

Sasha - posted on 02/25/2009

There is one ption I know that fixes it for a while if it gets very bad as an occasional thing. It's called djinn'ntoneek (say it out loud). Shame it doesn't help the kids, but somtimes it helps the mummys lol
AS kids do have higher IQ's (on average) than most kids. Sometimes they even have usefull gifts. Sounds like Diya is perfecting the art of being headstrong!!!
I would prescribe a nice long walk out into the middle of no-where, so that you have a good scream. Funny as it is to read about, it must be hell living through it. The most positive thing I can promise you is that THIS problem will not last forever. Isn't it amazing that parents of 'normal' kids think THEY have it tough!! They should walk a mile in our shoes!!

Pamela - posted on 02/25/2009

Right now my daughter is in her IBI session. They have also been trying the potty trianing. We have tried the timer. Worked for about 1/2 a month to a month, then everytime she heard that timer go off. Diya would run as if she was being attacked by the timer?potty and she was running and screaming " NO POTTY " . Like I said Diya is one strong cookie. Hvae also tried if she goes to the potty she get to play this one game her "IT's" would bring called Balloon Lagoon... that didnt work cause she would go to the potty, sit there for a sec do one lil drop of either 1 or 2 and come running to us saying she did it she gets to play the game. Then I noiticed that after 15 mins of playing the game and i would be putting it away in its hiding spot. By the time I would return Diya would finish her 1 or 2 in her pants. Also tired the getting a lil treat if she goes. I have tried everything. I have even goine to my mother and said to her that she has potty trained three girls train Diya. I have asked for majic powder anything. lol I know there is know such thing, but it would be nice if there were... :)

Sasha - posted on 02/25/2009

That is so funny!! Nothing in the world like a kid that knows there own mind! It does sound like she knows when she needs to go, just that she doesn't like how it feels. Have you tried a bidet?

That is going to be running through my head all day, NO POTTY!! that is one in a million you have there :)

Lisa - posted on 02/25/2009

My son is 4 & has asperger's & potty training was definitely our biggest issue.  Reason being, we wanted him to start pre~k last fall, though of course the school will not accept a child who is not fully potty~trained.

We tried everything, and in the end, hired a behavioral therapist that came into our home. Within 2 months with his help, my son became fully potty~trained.

I would be happy to share some of his methods with you:

First of all, setting a timer is a perfect idea....it becomes a game....one that the whole family can join in on. You set it for every 30 to 45 mins, and when it goes off, everyone jumps up & starts singing "time for pee~pee potty" or if you think it may be time for the other...then you get how it goes *wink*

Next we used a "box" system. (I had purchased one of those plastic storage containers that had 3 seperate drawers) we labeled these boxes with a very big colorful A, B, & C.

When your child chooses to sit on the potty, he can pick something from the C box to keep him entertained....the drawer on the bottom, because the idea is to work your way up.

In this C box, you put a couple different choices of activities to engage him, making sitting there more comfortable, and a more enjoyable experience.

In my son't case, he loves games, and books, so his favorite was a colors & shapes bingo, that we would sit & play together for a few minutes.  Never make your child sit there longer than they are comfortable, and of course praise them for trying.

Every other day I would change what was in the C drawer so that he never got bored, but only have maybe 1 or 2 choices.

Moving on the B....we had little surprises in there for his compliance if you will. lol These were things like stickers, or little starbursts. He would get to pick one if he did pee~pee in the potty.

Of course comes the all powerful A box. The top of the ladder, the big kahuna.  You just put your child's favorite things in this box. In my son's case it was costumes or movies. I just drew pictures of his fav. characters mask, or placed the cover of a fav. movie & when he finally did the poo~poo, he got to choose one of these items.

Let me tell you, this system worked wonders. Really, all of the ideas were already there, it just took paying this therapist good money to get the idea of putting them all together in this one little system.

I hope this information helps & works for you & your child, it just takes patience, and the understanding that it will happen! As with most asperger's & autistic children, they like to do things in their own time. Didn't happen for us until our son turned 4.

But like the therapist told us,  we'll look back on all this, and wonder what we were ever so concerned about!! LOL

Good luck!

Pamela - posted on 02/25/2009

Sasha, My daughter can communicated very well by screaming back " NO POTTY ". And since she was a lil baby baby, she has never liked being wiped clean when every I have had to change her diaper, and when she has had accidents. Oh my she communicates with a few punches and kicks while I try to clean her. She has very long legs and she is one STRONG lil girl. So privacy i dont believe she has an issuse with. Honestly I dont know and I feel bad that I cant figure out why or how to help my lil girl..



One morning the both of us were waking up to get ready. And like every morning I say, " Good morning, go to the potty." And she responded looking at me with such a sad face saying " I'm tired of potty ". My heart jus broke, because I realized whenever we saw her, we always said " Hi Diya, did u go to the potty" Everytime we talk to her 1st thing asked of her, go to the potty, did you go to the potty, did anybody care to take or ask you to go potty etc. etc. I think i also got tired of asking her. we missed having any kinda fun this past summer cause of this potty training of hell(what I call it now). But, Thank Sasha, I am going to continue with this break and try again in a few months.

Sasha - posted on 02/24/2009

Pamela, as you have had such a long , I think taking a break with this one, I think taking a break is the best move you can make. I think you have so well for trying so hard and for so long. How is your daughters communication? My son had very bad 'privicy' issues, maybe this could be a factor?
All the very best
sasha

Pamela - posted on 02/24/2009

This is one question I have been wanting an answer to. My daughter will be 6 in May and I started potty training her when she was 3 yrs. :( 3yrs have gone by and she too will go when you take her or tell her(which leads to a tantrum) but will not tell us once she has gone in her underwear. I gave up about a month ago and put her back in pull ups. taking a break, and thing of something different. But if somebody can answer or give us BOTH adivce, it would be much appreciated, I has been a very rough and tough road this potty training a child with Autism. I would wish for to be where I am in 3 yrs...

Sasha - posted on 02/24/2009

My son didn't like the toilet flushing untill we starting making a game of it. Often once enough get 'caught' it clicks. My son used to eat his breakfast on the potty, and was doing so for months before he finaly leaked while he was there. Sometimes you get lucky and it only takes a couple of positive results for them to get the idea. After all these are on the most part very clever kids.

Meredith - posted on 02/24/2009

Hi Joni - just want to let you know I'm in the exact same boat right now. My 3 1/2 yo son is perfectly willing to sit there once you wrestle him into the bathroom, but he is also perfectly happy peeing/pooping in his pants/on the floor, and doesn't notice/care that he's wet. His teachers just tell me to stick with it and he'll get it eventually. Good luck to us both!

Jen - posted on 02/24/2009

if your child like book you can make a book on how to go to the toilet . Don't make a fuss if he wet his pants or poo them . take him to the toilet and hand over his with he poo pant get him to tip the poo in the toilet  and say poo in the toilet . But you need to guild him when he wake up and every 30 mins take him then you notice a pattern on when he goes. but it sense issue that the toliet is different or cold . I have a son who is 7 and I still have issue on wiping his bottom. I focus on wee in the toilet and then poo.  Flushing the toliet maybe put the seat down that might cut the noise .

Joni - posted on 02/23/2009

I want to Thank everyone who have been very helpful and giving advice about potty training and I know it will help some how or another. Thanks!! (With the question asked about being afraid of the toilet flushing- No)

Renee - posted on 02/23/2009

There is a book called something like Potty Training for Kids with Special Needs. I used it, it helped a little bit. My son wasn't fully potty trained till he was 4 1/2. My in-laws take him in the summer, and they just took him to the potty every 30-60mins. He's not afraid of the toilet flushing is he?

Brandie - posted on 02/22/2009

oh and a potty toy is a great reminder!!! a toy that he will realy love that he has to earn by going in the potty!! and only when he goes!! something he cant have other wise..something special just for going to the potty... (AKA bribery) lol

Brandie - posted on 02/22/2009

i would try setting a timer for every 30 minutes. as soon as it rings bring to the bathroom ask him to pee or poo.. if he dosent set timer for another 30 and go again then.. eventualy he will associate the ringing with going to the potty ( a reminder for him) sometimes kids just get to wraped up in what there doing and dont realise themselves till its to late. as for pooing... if he does it in his pants..  dump it in the toilet and just say.. poop  toilet no pants .. ( keep the instruction as simple as possible) if hes not scared of the flush have him flush it and wave bye bye... it just takes alot of patience and routine... but if he already goes when you take him, your a step ahead :).. just have a reminder for him ;)

Wendi - posted on 02/22/2009

My friend has an autistic little girl, only 2 1/2 and not potty training yet.. But, the only thing I can remotely think of would be to possibly make it a game for him... Make him want to go pee pee in the potty... Maybe put fruit loops in the toilet and let him aim... The pooping sitch... I'm not sure... Maybe a sticker board in the bathroom, so that every time he poops in the toilet he gets to put a sticker on his board... and if he goes in his pants... he doesn't..... Good Luck... I hope some of this is at least a little helpful.