Does anybody can help me on how to potty train my daughter with autism?

Question

My daughter is 26mo. and i would like to star potty training her, i don't know if i should wait until she star walking, or what, I'm kind of confuse, i don't want to fall so behind, so i figure if i star now, by the time she walks, she would have an idea on what to do,, what do you guys think, any advice, on books or anything I'm open mind it about it, any ideas that anybody already had tried.

thanks so much.

Answer 1

well im only 12 years old and what i think its a great ideo to start early, you should sit beside her on the toilet after eating or every 3hours until she goes to the bathroom, even if it takes a half an hour for her to go, but dont let her get up until she uses the tiolet and try to keep her occupied so she doesnt get bored and impatient. repeat this cycle for a couple days then let her go by herself alone and you can sit outside the door or somewhere so she knows your still around and keep doing this until she gets used to it and comfortable enough for you to be in another room

Answer 2

I understand how intense we are as parents to have our kids toilet trained and that it completely sucks having the diaper years go on and on but I would encourage you to not rush this one (you don't want to make it a fight or have to do it twice).  The average age for most typically developing children is about 2 1/2 but for many children with autism, it's closer to 8 or 9 years old (not that it WILL be but this is important to understand).  My child is at the more severe end of the spectrum and started training at 5 (it took 6 months till she was dry at night and having no accidents, which is VERY fast!) but "toilet training" was the ONLY focus while we were working on it.  So if/when you decide to do this you really need to have lots of time or help and put everything else on the back burner.

If you do feel it is a good time (it helps if your child is showing "toilet readiness") than your best to put your child in under ware, not pull-ups (this is messy but trust me the child learns faster when they're suddenly in a pair of soaking wet blue jeans...blue jeans help minimize puddles:) and put her on the toilet every 1/2 hour or so.  After your daughter sits on the toilet (30 seconds or so, if possible) give her a tangible reward (make sure it's something she really likes and that she only gets when sitting on the toilet), if she goes pee/poo than give her TONS of praise and reward.  Possible obstacles you could encounter are a toilet phobia, fear or fixation about flushing, sensory problem with toilet paper/lights in the bathroom and the list goes on. Another thing to consider is your daughter's ability to communicate, you will need to have a way for your child to tell you when she needs to go whether it's verbal, picture card, or some other strategy.  It is also possible that "bladder control" will be an issue and that it may be a while before she is able to control or recognize when it is time to go to toilet.

As far as your concern about your daughter "falling far behind", the fact is that our children will always struggle in one area or another (ah, or many) and depending on where they fall on the spectrum, the gap between them and their peers may begin to look more like a canyon as time passes.  Please, don't put the pressure on yourself or your child to "keep up"...you'll  just frustrate your child beyond belief and burn yourself out!   Best wishes.

Answer 3

Are you receiving EARLY INTERVENTION services--children with delays are entitled to therapy---assistance with potty training can be included.

26 months is young for most children-even typically developing children--many are not ready until they are closer to 3...

what level is she at cognitivelhy--does she realize she is going (act uncomfortable?

usually we start by putting the child on the potty every 1/2 hour--if they are successful--they receive a reward....you might have to do a timed method once she is trained (every few hours) instead of relying on her to tell you

Answer 4

I taught Special Education for 25 years, the last few years solely were spent teaching autistic children.  I was fortunate enough to study at TEACCH.  TEACCH is an evidence-based service, training, and research program for individuals of all ages and skill levels with autism spectrum disorders.  Established in the early 1970s by Eric Schopler and colleagues, the TEACCH program has worked with thousands of individuals with autism spectrum disorders and their families.

This is a link to how TEACCH potty trains kids.

http://www.teacch.com/toilet.html

Answer 5

Because every child with autism is so different you are going to have to work at your daughters pace. Social stories and simple pictures are really good ways of encouraging autistic children to do simple tasks such as using the potty. Try linking pictures together of using the potty and then washing her hands etc. Never force her to do something she doesn't want to do as autistic children can become extremely stubborn and oppositional. Also you want her to see using the potty as a good experience so you must reinforce good behaviours when she does use it. Don't worry about being left behind and what other children do, I have a ten year old who is still in diapers at times. The best advice is just to be patient. Good luck.

Answer 6

Monash University have some really good fact sheets about various autism-related topics. Here's a link for the one about toilet training but you might find some of the others useful too. Hope it helps and all the best of luck!

http://www.med.monash.edu.au/spppm/resea...

Answer 7

1. If you child is non-verbal, then use a picture of a toilet to show to your child every time she uses the toilet. Your child can show you and point to the picture of the toilet if she wants to use the toilet.  

2. If you child is non-verbal, then teach your child the American Sign Language (ALS) sign of "toilet" (bathroom) and have the child use the "toilet" (bathroom) sign every time your child goes to the toilet.

3. Use candy or Cheerios to use as a reward when your child uses the toilet.  

4. Give the child lots of liquids to drink. Your child will have to use the toilet a lot more often.

5. Be patient.

6. Be persistent with your toileting training program.

Answer 8

I think it would be best to wait until she walks.  My 2 sons on the autistic spectrum potty trained relatively early at 4 years and the other son at 32 months, however most autistic children if they do become trained is between ages 4-7.  

If she is not walking due to low muscle tone, it doesn't seem plausible that she would have bowel/bladder control to me but idk.  

I do have to say that when they are ready they get it quickly.  My middle son was recently potty trained.  We began a potty schedule by placing him on the potty every 2 hours.  We began because he consistently disrobed and peed on the floor.  

When sitting him on the potty we sing a little jingle for 30 seconds and then asked him if he is all done.  His response is eeee-aah for all done.  We would cheer at first for him just sitting on it.  Then we cheered for him when he would go.  When he missed, we didn't say anything.  Within 1 week he was bladder trained, even at night.  Number 2, he still likes to try to squat in certain places of the house but does not go in clothes.  Now he goes as needed.  Today his first day of the free developmentally delayed preschool he requested to use the potty and went successfully at school.  He is 35 months old.

Another good way to start is to talk about it with pictures.  Does she like elmo?  Because elmo has a potty book.  Also we like to sit grover on a play potty.  They did this in my older sons delayed preschool.  

Also just sitting her on a little potty with clothes on for a few seconds and cheering, this will encourage her to keep doing it to get more praise.  

If I could suggest one piece of advice, don't worry yourself about falling behind and the milestones of typical developing toddlers.  She is on a different schedule and it will be alright in the end.  It is hard not to get upset say when you have a 5 year old and they tell you that the speech is at 10 months.  

If I had listened to the prediction about my oldest, he would have been heavily medicated and sent to a residential facility before kindergarten, my middle son dx with cerebral palsey at 4 months after a brain MRI confirmed the stroke, and also dx with autistic spectrum at 9 months nobody would have believed that I would have a 3 year old with a 70 percent delay in speech yet no cognitive delays and potty trained at a typical age and has no recourse from having the stroke inutero, yes he has no symptoms of having cerebral palsey other than the brain images.

It gets easier, and the dismal dx tend to be very heavy handed in my experience.

EDIT:  Yes, all 3 of my sons have hypotonia, 2 are autistic spectrum.  I would work on developing those core muscles that she needs to be able to walk.  Have her sit on a large therapy ball and slowly rock back and forth.  You don't need to spend alot ordering through specialty catalogs.  Just get a 55 or 65cm ball from kmart, target, walmart or any of the like in the exercise section for 10 dollars.  A rocking horse is good too but only works in the front back direction, the ball is better because you can go to the sides too.  If she is not getting PT, then she should qualify through early intervention, its free.  If she is already getting it 1x a week, ask for 2x a week.  My sons walked at 15, 13, and 14.5 months.  We started therapy really early between 2 to 6 months for the younger 2 kids, the oldest (autistic spectrum) didn't start tx until 25 months.