Potty Training my Special Needs Child

Alison - posted on 11/22/2008

My son Aidan w/ CP didn't start until he was 2 and it took a year to get him to controll his bladder. He's now 5 and still has trouble wiping due to his physical delay. But, the biggest factor in deciding when to start potty training was his bladder issues. He has a distended bladder and took a while to percieve the 'have to go' feeling and then make his bladder contract. We worked a long time just on that.

User - posted on 11/22/2008

When my third baby was on the way, I just decided that it was time for my son to be potty trained. It took us almost 2 years to have him "mostly" trained and we had a lot of help from therapists everyday. We used a "potty box". We helped him decorate a little box and had him pick out a bunch of things at the dollar store. Then we put a selection of the things in the box and everytime he had a success on the toilet, we would make a huge deal out of it and then let him pick something out of the box. It worked with peeing. Eventually we ended up giving him a dilly bar everytime he pooped in the toilet. (Crazy, but it worked!). We finally have him trained at night too, but that took a bit longer after being trained during the day. Good luck with everything!

Jennifer - posted on 11/21/2008

Thanks for your responses.. i guess he will let me know when he is ready.. He does talk a little bit - however is about 12 mo. behind both speech and gross motor.. he also has some obvious learning/motor planning issues.. but he is the sweetest most loving little boy.. he can make the grumpiest of men - smile.. Erin - how about your little one.. is he delayed or has he been diagnosed w/ approxia spell?? or anything?

Kat - posted on 11/21/2008

my daughter will be 4 in jan, we started toilet training about 18 months ago now and she still hasnt grasped the whole idea of it, she only now is using the toilet more because at childcare they put her into nickers and take her every 30 mins, which she is starting to get used to but she doesnt understand or know when she needs to do anything yet, we are just being persistance and she hopefully will eventually start showing interest.

Erin - posted on 11/20/2008

My son just turned 3 and is non-verbal. I keep thinking, how will he be able to tell me he has to go to the bathroom, this will never work. Well lately, I see him pulling on his diaper, like he is trying to take it off and I will ask him if he needs to go potty. He tried to repeat me and say potty or shake his head yes. Even though he doesn't have to go most of the time, I take him anyway just to reinforce the meaning of it. So I guess my best advice for you, being that I am kind of going through the same thing, is to let him tell you. I would like to know more about your little boy. Good luck, hope that helps.

Heather - posted on 11/20/2008

My son wasn't out of diapers until he was 4. The best advise, is that I bought all of the things he needed: a potty seat, big boy underwear, etc. I noticed that when I mentioned it, things got worse. They want to be in control, they need to be in control at times. As long as they keep soiling, they have the control. When he finally picked up the big boy underwear one day, I started an incentive program. Something VERY visual, and automatic results. I wish you all the luck in the world.