My niece has down syndrome and a problem :/

Question

She is 3 years old and she doesn't talk well at all and she signs a little. She is my world my everything but.. she doesn't go on the potty yet. Lately she has been sticking her hands down her pull up and pulling the p**p out and showing people and even eating it!!!!! oh god it's terrible! Her mother is so stupid and wont teach her how to go on the potty and I just wonder why she would do something so gross. You think she'd stop after the first time she tasted it!!!! EWWW help!

Answer 1

well either don't worry about it cuz it's not your responsibility to raise you sisters kid...

or you try teaching the little girl how to go potty...

or call a child protective service cuz eating p**p is really bad for you...

your sister needs to stop being so selfish and take care of her kid...

your only 17 and your already a better mother then her...

Answer 2

meg it is quite common for kids with down syndrome to do this...I don't know why exactly, but they do it. my son is 4 yrs old and has down syndrome and he has done it too...gross yes! nothing like having a kid show you their p**p and have it smeared all over (I should have taken stock in butt wipes...lol) he is also non verbal and does sign language.  my suggestion to you would be to teach her the sign for potty (put  your hand in a fist and twist your wrist). and your going to have to be very diligent about changing her the minute or I should say second she poops. we have been working at it this way with my son and he is getting better. I hope this helps you a little bit! =)

Answer 3

Since this is not your child to raise and potty train, it's not really your business.

Many kids of normal intelligence do the same thing. Many normal kids also are not yet potty trained at three. (Our daughter, now in grad school, was well into her threes, closer to four.)

Many kids with Down syndrome are fully able to learn what behaviors are not acceptable. However, the person to teach this is never the aunt. About all you can do is support this little girl's parents in their attempts to help their child grow into the best person she can be.

Answer 4

Down Syndrome requires special atention, if her mother dosen't may I suggest you take her in and raise her, if your up to the challenge, or if there aren't any other options she could be instatutinilized, at a children's hospital for down syndrome. And if she is eatng it, it sounds like you have more than down syndrome, she may be mentally ill, and not know what she's doing.

Answer 5

You need to talk to the parents and maybe suggest that they ask for advice from the pediatric. That can't be good! You can get very sick eating your p**p.

Answer 6

This is normal for some individuals who have down syndrome. I have been around kids and adults w/down syndrome, and some of the adults do it as well. In my experience it has been an attention getting device. You may try stopping her before she actually does it and divert her attention to something else. She is 3 years old too. My little brother used to do the same thing at 1-2 years old and he does NOT have a disability. (he never ate it though)

You really should talk to a doctor or therapist that specializes in down syndrome though. I admire you for taking on such a big role for your niece. since she isn't getting the attention from her mother, it is great that you are willing to be there for her. She will benefit from that in the future. It is challenging but in the future it will be such a reward for you as well. (emotionally) Good luck!!!

Answer 7

It can take children with Down Syndrome much longer to learn how to control their bladders.  I have worked with children as old as seven/eight that still wear pull-ups because of a lack of bladder control.  Children with Down Syndrome often suffer from low muscle tone, which means that their muscles are "floppy" or "loose".  This can lead to difficulty to control their muscle movements.  Also, she is three... with a delayed mental capacity... which means that while she may be in a three-year-old's body, she probably functions closer to a two-year-old, mentally.  For a two-year-old, this is typical bathroom behavior.  She just isn't ready for potty training at this stage yet.  Of course, you can start with simple things like sitting on the potty (to read a book), read books about going to the potty, and talk it up as if it is a fun thing to do.  You (and her mother) also want to work on things like having her pull down her own pants, and telling you with signs when she needs to go potty.  These things will lead her on the path to potty-training readiness.  Children with delayed cognitive functioning also will eat things that are non-edible... yeah, it's gross, but it takes lots of patience to get her to understand what things are okay to put in your mouth, and what isn't.   At this point, potty training to go on the potty is not a goal you are going to get to without some readiness skills.  Your neice is still young and developmentally delayed... so really, it is not developmentally appropriate at this point that she is toilet trained.  It is a skill that needs to be developed.

Does your neice have a "worker"... a person who represents her in the special education system?  This person is your sister's link to services such as special preschools who know how to teach children with delays/special needs and work on the goal of potty training.  They can create goals such as "potty readiness" skills that the teacher has to work on with the child.  However, much of the readiness skills have to be worked on at home, in the child's natural environment.  See if you can borrow some books on developmental disabilities or Down Syndrome, to help both you and the child's mother work on the skills you'd like to teach.  Teaching a child with Down Syndrome is the same as teaching a typical child... you just have to go slower, and expect results to come a little slower.  I spent a year once teaching a child to be able to drink from an open cup... these are small victories in the scheme of things, but from that child's perspective, it was everything.  Empowering children to be all that they can be takes a lot of patience- and trial and error.  Good luck!  You can email if you have more specific questions.

Answer 8

so whats the question?not being rude just dont see it :P

well generally ppl dont kno what p**p tastes like

belive me i am not saying it tastes good hahaaa no way

but a child,and she had downs then she may no have good taste buds as a disability it may have effected them

the mother is not mature,she should teach the toddler to go to the potty,if that TOO HARD then even stopping her taking the p**p would be appreciated enough i guess

maybe have a quick word with her on a good note so she understands ur point but not gets it out of proportion

good luck :)

p.s dont listen to the second answer,she says NOT TO JUDGE THE MOTHER,but she IS JUDGING YOU!!

shes just sad ..PLAINLY !!

Answer 9

Gross. I think you should talk to her mom.  

Answer 10

Well, personally I think you are posting this for angry reactions and if so, you need to get a life... but if you're serious, god i hope you're not, then you need to learn some compassion and understanding. Her mother probably has enough on her hands with a down syndrome child and doesn't need judgment from you. She needs understanding. Her daughter is, basically, handicapped and will learn slowly and not function like other kids. This isn't anyone's fault. Don't blame her mother.

Answer 11

Take her to her pediatrician and maybe he can refer you to a specialist who deals with behavioral problems in children suffering from downs. Good luck to you and God bless.