potty training with autism

Tanya - posted on 09/26/2010

Hi, Evelyn! My son is 4 and was diagnosed just this past Thursday. My son will pee in the toilet but refuses to poo in the toilet. Its been almost a year since he's started using the toilet. His childcare center helped, for which I am grateful. However, he still has accidents. A BM, on the other hand, is difficult for him. He has no problem pooing in a pull up. We hid the pull-ups and he poo'd in his pants. He's had a BM in the toilet about 3 times and we made a big deal of it but he wasn't having it. It's frustrating but now that I'm learning that this is a challenge for some autistic children, I've had to adjust my attitude. I know I'm going to need a lot of patience. When I told the specialist, she recommended that if he has a BM in a pull up or his pants, take him to the bathroom and let him see us dispose of it in the toilet. Then when he runs to get a pull up, let him poo in it but have him sit on the toilet w/ his pull up on. When he gets used to that, cut a small hole in the diaper so that some poo will drop in. Then when he's comfortable w/ that, enlarge the hole until the eventually there's no diaper touching his backside except for what's around his waist. It's early yet, but I'm anxious to know if this will work. Good luck!

Ilene - posted on 05/28/2010

My daughter is 3yrs4mo and showed us signs that she's ready for potty training. They did the work at her school (6hr/day program). They put her in underwear as soon as she arrived at school and she stayed in underwear all day (diapers/pull-ups for the bus ride home). What they did was fluid overload her, guaranteeing her bladder would fill. Then they took her to the bathroom every 30 minutes. If she had an accident, she knew it and they changed her as quickly as possible. The first morning, she had 5 accidents, but did GREAT all afternoon. The second day, there were fewer (don't remember exactly how many). The 3rd day, there were 2. By the 4th day, there were no urine accidents.

I've been told that she took to this VERY QUICKLY. The school uses a Drs. Azrin and Foxx's technique (google search will show you the details). We are now preparing to keep her in underwear at home during the long weekend.

Training BMs is much harder. We're hoping that she'll make the connection that she hates being uncomfortable in dirty underwear and it will come more naturally since we can't do anything to safely force her to "poop" like fluid loading will do for urine training.

For the record, she has a twin brother with the same diagnosis (severe autism for both) and he is NO WHERE NEAR ready to begin training. I have no idea if he will take to it as well as his sister. But this is all together different from how we trained their neurotypical brother (currently age 5).

Good luck to you!!!!

Naomi - posted on 05/01/2010

All i have to say is post some potty pictures in the bathroom right above the toilet all around! get a child standing , a child sitting, a child celebrating after . and then of course do the potty dance with him! sing dance. have the whole family do it. put some blue dye and it will change color when he urinates, or throw some cherrios so he can aim. but dnt forget to use the picture exchange. i still have in my bathroom for my sons.

Heather - posted on 04/23/2010

IT TAKES TIME HUN PROMISE ME MY DAUGHTER IS ALMOST 5 NOW AND SHES JUST UNDERSTANDING THE POTTY THING SHE STILL DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO CONTROL IT BUT SHES LEARNING THE WORST THING IS TO FORCE THEM TO DO IT........ITS JUST A MATTER OF SCHEDULING AND ROUTINE TO MAKE IT WORK MOST AUTISTIC CHILDREN THRIVE FOR ROUTINE AND SCHEDULES SO LEARN TO KNOW WHEN TO TIME IT RIGHT AFTER HE DRINKS OR EATS SOMETHING MAKE UP A POTTY SONG AS I DID AND THAT POTTY SONG HAS DONE WONDERS THE SILLIEST SONG MAKES MY DAUGHTER WANT TO PEE PEE LOL SO IT ONLY TAKES TIME AND PATIENCE GOOD LUCK TO YOU

Suzette - posted on 04/20/2010

My 7yr old son is autistic and I got him #1 trained last yr. and Barely this yr he finally got the #2 down. My biggest problem was he couldnt communitcate with me. I tried nice, and mean, sign language, crying, begging. Calmly talking to him eye to eye. But what worked the best was same times everyday, usually after meals, taking him sitting him down on the potty, consistency, and alot alot of patience. It was stressful and nerve racking, at times I swore he understood and did it on purpose, I blamed myself, I cried to myself and screamed at my self. But all in all it was a long long road. As an army wife it was one of my biggest accomplishments. Yes he still has accidents, buts its when he forgets to go or I dont watch him, its still a fight, cuz I have to still remind him sometimes. Please please please remember it takes patience and dedication. I say try it all, but keep ur patience because it will try your patience. Now that my son uses sign language and understands me a bit, just try everything, it won't hurt.

Stacey - posted on 04/19/2010

My son recently turned 3 and we feel that he is just not ready yet, I think you know when they might be ready and there is no point trying if you think they aren't ready. Most children with Autism aren't potty trained til around age 6 (from what I have heard) though some manage this earlier, but just to show you not to stress about it too much. I think www.tacanow.org has info on potty training kids with Autism and I have seen some books for toilet training kids with Autism in online book stores, www.betterworldbooks.com is excellent or ebay.

Angela - posted on 04/18/2010

My son will be 6 in July, he wasn't potty trained until he hit 4 and he still wears a pull-up at night because he has bed wetting. It was an aha moment for him and he understood. It will come sooner than latter. You just have to help him connect things for going to the bathroom. Good luck!

Michelle - posted on 05/01/2009

My daughter wasn't fully potty trained until 4 1/2. It takes time and patience. On a long weekend let him run around naked at home and cover your couches with old blankets. Get him to drink plenty of fluid and take him to the potty every 30-40 min. If he pees outside the bathroom, take him to the bathroom right away and sit him on the toilet. Tell him that this is where peepee goes. Eventually it will click. With my daughter, once she realized she could poop in the toilet instead of in her diaper (she hated pooping in her diaper) she was sold and it all clicked.

Also, show him lots of potty videos. Elmo, Bear in the Big Blue House, etc. I hope this helps.

Jana - posted on 04/29/2009

dont fret, somtimes it just takes a while. my son's school made potty training a primary objective. Here in texas they have a specialized program that has worked wonders, and his teachers are great. Hes fixin to turm six and he's still not fully potty trained yet, Take him every thirty minutes if you can, and watch to see whats hes doing when he has his accidents. My son is also a victim of leaky bowel syndrome and the best remedy we have found for him is eating at least 4 pieces of cheese. works great if you kid likes cheese. Good Luck!

Maria - posted on 04/16/2009

Don't start until you are going to have a couple of days at home without appointments. Put him in underwear have him sit on the potty every forty minutes or so and have him sit there for a couple of minutes. (we sang songs) Would the school assist you with this? My daughter's school really helped with this, but the class she was in before just never made it a priority. That being said, sometimes, they just don't get it for awhile. I tried many times without success with my daughter until recently (she is now five) Don't give up!! I wish you the best of luck!

Alvah - posted on 04/15/2009

Hi Evelyn! Children with autism usually have problems with potty training. I have know some to become potty trained at the age of 6. It depends on the individual child and how sensitive they are to being soiled. It will take a rountine and plenty of patience in helping him, such as always putting him on the potty at a particular time and after meal. He will have to learn to associate going to the bathroom with the potty. Fortunately, my son was able to be potty trained at 2 and a half years. Because of his high sensitivity, he didn't like a messy diaper. Good luck and don't get discouraged!