BellaOnline Forums Family Special Needs Children Potty Training an Autistic Child

Hello,

I came across a title about potty training Autistic children, but then couldn't find the title when I went back online. Does anyone know of any books on potty training Autistic toddlers? My 4 1/2 year old knows to tell us when he has went to the bathroom, but telling us before has proven to be tricky...

Thanks for any and all help!

My autistic son is now 21, so I'm out of the potty training phase, but I do remember that every kind of routine we could install helped him. How about scheduling times for bathroom visits, roughly the amount of time after a meal or when he first gets up in the morning, etc.? He doesn't HAVE to perform, but if he does, he gets a reward. We used a bean system, where the kids got a bean or two for every positive behavior and could then use the beans to "buy" television or computer or story time, or some other treat he liked.

Travelertrish
Independent Travel Host

He really resists routine and being made to do things. It's worth a try, though, especially the scheduling. Thanks for your input!

Janet

Hi Janet,
I am new to the group...hope you do not mind me "just jumping in" ? <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
My son is 12 and my other son is 11 and neither one of them were potty trained until they were 6 and 7 yrs old.. ( IT was awful) lol
What worked for my boys (boys are very stubborn autistic or not) was being very stern, NOT treating them "special" and CONSISITANCY!
CONSTANTLY taking them "potty" wether they wanted to go or not..... <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />
and basically in all honesty......treating them like I would any other child that I was potty training. It sounds harsh..but honestly it worked!
I have told this to others and it worked for them too... MIND YOU THOUGH I AM NOT PERFECT and NOT a Professional AT ALL..I was just a frustrated mom that thought "gee I know these boys understand alot more than they let on.. maybe I should "potty train them like everyone else potty trains thier kids" and ya know what? I swear, they were both potty trained in less than 2 weeks!
Like I said, not a professional I was just a frustrated mom tired of changing VERY big diapers! LOL
Take Care and Good luck

Sincerely
Keri

Hi Janet,

I hope I'm not too late to help out in this, sorry... <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> . Chaosville here! :rolleyes:

I don't know off the top of my head any books but here are some places that I hope will help:

Potty Training Help From Other Parents Of Autistic Children...

The Challenge Of Potty Training from Autism Today

4-Potty-Training-And-Toilet-Training.com

Sorry it took me so long and I hope these help. If I come up with any more or books, I'll let you know.

Chele
Special Needs Children
specialneedschildren@bellaonline.com

Thanks, Chele!

No worries. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

It turns out that one day, out of nowhere, my son says "Go to potty" and ended up going to the bathroom about 10 times that day...with nary a hitch! Little turd. LOL It's as if he knew darn well what to do, but was playing "lazy". Now he's wanting his diaper back on, but we're trying to encourage him not to be a potty slacker! <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> Hehehe.

**Btw, this is Janet, the New Age Host. For some reason, I can't log in as NewAgeBella nor can I get into the Host board! <img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> I have no idea what's up...

Thanks for your input, Keri. Somehow, I missed your post the first time around! He throws such a fit every time we go potty. *sigh* So exhausting! We've tried the stern approach, but I suppose we got tired!

Anyway, he's having difficulties, so it looks like I may have to take a look at those links after all, Chele!

How's things going, Janet? Everyone still hanging in there?

<img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Hi Chele!

I was just thinking of you yesterday and how I needed to share an update.

From those links you posted, I gleaned a tidbit that an effective way is by rewarding potty trips with stickers.

My husband is an artist, so I bought a large fluorescent orange poster board and several packs of stickers. He made a grid with several rows of squares, and at the top, wrote POTTY TIME in block letters. (Which all 3 of us colored in with crayons.) In the middle is a picture of the toilet. (Hehehe)

We just started this a few days ago, and he already has 25 stickers on the grid! Now, he doesn't fight me to go to the potty, looks forward to getting a sticker to put on the grid, and even tells me when he has to go! He still says NO! to underwear, but I think he'll try them again soon, especially since he's now holding it, or if he starts to pee, he stops himself and says "uh oh...potty!"

My husband didn't think this would work, but it does! Another added benefit is that he counts every sticker so there's the counting reinforcement, and spells out each of the letters and then saying "Potty Time!" <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Thanks for checking in with me, and things are going very, very well, as you can see!

Hello,
I'm new to this whole idea of message boards! Aren't they great.
I have a daughter almost 6, high funtioning Autistic, a daughter 5-profoundly retarded Autistic,CP and seizures, and a son 1-CP, seizures and severe developmental delays.
Funny that this topic came up now. I was just starting to feel very depressed over the potty training thing, thinking that my daughter was never going to be trained. But one day over the Labor Day weekend I decided to just try her in panties... she went 5 times and remained dry all that day!! WOW. We have had a few days since that she didn't go on the toilet but for the most part she has done very well. Only one sucessful BM but we just keep talking.
So just keep trying, there is hope that one day it just makes since to them...LOL

Handynan