Question about potty training

Martha - posted on 07/15/2009

Last night I attended a class called "Toilet Training Children With Autism." I have the handout with me. If you are interested send me an email at martha.robles@robertsandcrow.com and I will scan it in and forward it to you.

LaVonne - posted on 07/15/2009

Heather,

Do you mean you were not able to send him to public school? How is that possible? What about ADA? My son is in an ABA program and they worked very hard with him to become potty trained and that meant changing a more than a few wet Pull Ups!

Is Heather's son's case typical, or did I luck out with our school system?

 

Quoting Heather:

Hi Jen
My son was very difficult to potty train as well. Unable to go to school as a result. He has Aspergers. All I can say is putting pressure on Emma and on yourselves only makes it more difficult. Try to relax and let her go at her own pace. My experience is that your child will train when they are ready and not when others think they shoud be. Mine did! He is all grown up now, no diapers in sight!

 

LaVonne - posted on 07/15/2009

All I can say is, don't give up. My son is seven and he has only been potty trained for a few months. Why it took so long for him to "get it" is anyone's guess but he finally did.

Carrie - posted on 07/15/2009

It takes ALOT of time. and you have to be consistant. Our IBI provider encouraged us to go straight to underware for therapy hours. We decided that he would wear pull ups to go to bed and changed to underware upon waking. If she is resistant to sitting on the toilet, find a seat that goes on top with an appealing character. Resist going to a "potty" as that is just one more transition to deal with later. No punishment or negative reaction to accidents, netural tone to direct to get cleaned up and always sit on the toilet after an accident. Social stories help, and use the same phrases with all caregivers. If she witholds BM for when she is in a pullup, you can allow her to put one on but sit on the toilet to void, then cut a small hole in the seat area to allow the BM to pass to the toilet. Systematically cut the hole larger each week untill only the waist band remains. Take the time to collect data to develop a time schedule that will offer success. Once you know when she usually goes take her 15-20 mins before that "time" . Loads of patience and she will get there.



Pair

Brenda - posted on 07/15/2009

Hi Jenifer

Its definitly a comfort issue, my son was 8 before he was completely potty trained. I wish I could give you the answer. She will do it when you stop stressing. I kept my son in Pull-ups. He was 5 or 6 when he finally got comfortable to do #1, but the #2 wasn't until just before he turned 8. I knew at that point he comprehended he wasn't supposed to do it in the pull ups but was just being stubborn. I don't condone violence, but I was at my wits end, rewards were not working, so I told him I was going to smack his leg every time I had to clean him up from a #2. I had to do this 3x and he finally realized he didn't like this and started going on the toilet. Only you know your child and what she is capable of. I find that they can be taught thru repetition, but don't always understand why they have to do something. I think you will find she will come around once you back off and give her some space. In a month or so maybe encourage her to come in the bathroom with you again while you are going, keep showing her that this is normal. She may also have a fear about what is happening to her pee and poo. All you can do is keep reassuring her that nothing will happen to them. Find a reward that she can't do without, maybe that will work too. It has to be here and now tangible, like training a puppy to sit, you hold out a treat, say sit, and push his back down, After so many repetitions he will start sitting on his. Same concept with your daughter. Good Luck and God Bless you with the patience:)

Heather - posted on 07/15/2009

Hi Jen

My son was very difficult to potty train as well. Unable to go to school as a result. He has Aspergers. All I can say is putting pressure on Emma and on yourselves only makes it more difficult. Try to relax and let her go at her own pace. My experience is that your child will train when they are ready and not when others think they shoud be. Mine did! He is all grown up now, no diapers in sight!