How can I potty train my seven year old Autistic son?

Question

Does anyone have an autistic child? Are you having trouble getting him/her potty trained? My seven year old son can go tee tee on the potty, but he will not have a BM on the toilet... He will only do that in his underware. I know that what works on some will not work on all but if anyone has any suggestions please help!

Answer 1

Does he stay dry all night?I used this thing called night trainer.You have pads that you put in the underware and it is hooked to an alarm.If the pad gets wet,the alarm goes off.Sometimes when you have a BM,you have to pee a little.I used the thing all day,and I finally got my son potty trained at age 11.He is low functioning,and I thought he would never be potty trained.Sometimes the stoll is liquidy,that would set off the alarm.Most autisic kids are sound sensitive.My son hated the noise,so this is how I got him trained.Designed for kids that wet the bed at night,but excellent for potty training autisic kids in the daytime as well.

Answer 2

My son has autism and I would suggest tracking the times he is going #2 to see if you can establish a pattern or time of when he is going.  Then make a game out of it for him to get him to go and put him on the potty at those times.  Try a chart where he will get stickers for going in the potty.  When he gets so many stickers per week then he gets a treat or reward.  Give LOTS and LOTS of praise and claps for his successes.  Don't make such a big deal out of the misses.

A lot of children with autism have digestive issues and can be constipated.  Make sure he is eating well and drinking lots of water so that he doesn't have that problem.  Some children with autism also have sensory issues and actually like the feeling they get when they go in their pants (sorry to be so graphic) so be patient.  It may take some time but your son will eventually get it!

Answer 3

Try reading the book "Everybody Goes p**p" to your child.  It worked for me . . . It's illustrated with animals and humans actually going p**p on the potty and is geared toward children with toilet training issues.

Answer 4

I would use a task analysis with a goog behavior plan.  Otherwise make it a pattern that is charted, with lots of praise

Answer 5

By 7 he may have a BM schedule. Do you notice he goes at certain times or in certain places (i.e bedroom, corner of living room etc.)?

I would try to catch him at those times and tell him it's potty time, then try using a picture schedule to reiterate what it is you expect of him. Talk him through it. Praise him for trying but give him a wanted rewarded (i.e, sticker or candy) if he accomplishes it.

Does he have a behavioral specialist or TSS that works with him? They could help you with this.

BTW; Congrats on getting him potty trained to pee on the toilet, that can also be a long struggle!

Answer 6

Make a picture schedule for him- then make a schedule for yourself. Start out at half hour intervals, just having him sit on the toilet and take notes for yourself (like data) write down the time you took him and whether or not he used the bathroom-this way you can modify the bathroom schedule based on when he goes.

Also, find something he REALLY likes and ONLY give that to him while he's on the toilet- this way he will want to sit there.

Good Luck!

Answer 7

You are just going to have to be really patient with him. Some autistic children are never potty trained, some see the bathroom as a place where they could lose part of themselves. If you really can't get him to go to the toilet nappies could be your only option. You are going to really have to praise him and tell him that everyone else uses the toilet. Perhaps getting him a book of social stories you could read to him would be a good idea, it worked with my child, although you do have to read the stories several hundred times! Try to be very patient with him and consistent, he will still have accidents. Good luck.