Hey, does anyone out there have advice for potty training an autistic 3 yr old boy?? Help!!?

Question

My son is 3 and is potty trained at school but as soon as we get home, he refuses to go on the potty...I have tried rewards, threats, any and everything, he is too stubborn!! Any advice?

Answer 1

Okay, if he is not generalizing a skill from school to home then you are well within your right to request in-home training from the school.  This is where an Autism specialist comes to your home and works with your son to help him generalize skills he has at school to the home environment. Call an ARD (also called IEP meetings in different states) and ask for this service.

If you do not want to do this, one thing a lot of schools use is to start recording the times when the child normally has a bowel movement or pees. Once you have a general idea of his natural clock, place him on the toilet at this time for several minutes.  Doesn't matter if he uses it or not- Eventually this will become part of his routine and nature will do its course and he will potty.

Build this restroom time into his visual schedule of his day.

Just a suggestion.

Answer 2

Autistic? Hes doing good!!! Usually an autistic boy trains around 5 with alot of of reassurance! It is difficult!!! At the age of 3 he should be eligible for state education. Like Pre school for him. The district supplies the transportation as well. He needs it. BUT YOU AS A PARENT need to listen and work with the folks helping him. Otherwise nothing will happen to help him. EVEN IF ITS STUPID TO YOU!!!! Communicate with everyone with him, as a teacher, you will get more response from them IF you are involved. I have a child like that and I am so involved that I need to tell the educator to calm down. YOU ARE THE PARENT!!! Learn your rights and fight for your child as it seems necessary! They tend to allow too much, due to CYA!!! YOU have the right to cal ANYTHING and EVERYTHING for your child's education ASWELL as your family therapy!!! Learn it Live it... If you dont... YOU will know that  you didnt do everything you could do to help him survive as well as your family!!!! Good luck!!!!!!

Answer 3

Is it really that important if he uses the potty or not at home? Most children with autism have huge problems with making sense of the world around them and the less demands you place on your son the easier it will be. As long as he is ok at school I think you should relax and take the pressure off him at home. The more pressure you put on him to use the potty at home the more resistant to the idea he will be. You should just leave the potty where he can get to it easily and just gently suggest he could use it every once in a while. Autistic children do respond to encouragement and a positive attitude much quicker than demands. I have a 10 year old with autism who is dry all day but still demands diaper at night. If I don't put a diaper on her she will not go to bed so it is easier to just go along with it and avoid any major tantrums. Good luck and don't worry about it too much he will probably decide when he is ready.

Answer 4

You need to find something that he REALLY wants as a reward and for us it was on the expensive side ($70 at the time)For us it was the Thomas the Tank engine roundhouse. I made a calender (a whole month) taped it to the bathroom wall. After a month with no accidents he got the roundhouse.



Each day with no accidents he got a sticker for the day (It actually took 5 weeks because of an accident). He wanted the toy more that just being stubborn and he could visually see his progress.

Answer 5

I finall trained my son,using the Night trainer alarm system.This is what they used at school.He would go potty at school,but not at home.I ordered my own,with extra pads.My son hates the alarm sound that goes off when it gets wet,so the first day,he would hold it all day,until he couldn`t stand it anymore.By the 2nd day he was going in the potty.It took a little longer to night train him,I have found that giving vitamin and mineral supps strengthen the bladder musscles,so they have more control.

Answer 6

put cheerios or fruit loops in the toilet and have him try to pee on them. I know it sounds gross, but it works!!

Answer 7

My son is turning four and he does not like using potty at school, only he's at home. What you try is put brief underwear instead of diaper. Children with autism dont like to get wet.  your son would eventually go to potty.