From the article: Toilet Train Your Child with Autism
Toilet training can be very tough for children with autism. Often, the process can go on for years, and typical toilet training methods just don't work. But many parents and therapists have found tricks and techniques that really do work for kids on the autism spectrum. If you've found a sure-fire toilet training method for children with autism, please share it here! Share Your Toileting Tips
The Potty Song
- I have a five yr old autistic son who I HAVE BEEN HAVING STRUGGLES potty training. This past week he has started attempting to take himself or tell me. When we are in the bathroom we sing potty songs. Now when he goes to the bathroom he will sing the songs I made up and will go. I am so proud of him and love him so much.
- —Guest Amanda
respect and patience.
- My son is autistic and was in nappies ubtil 7 years old for pooing. He was very frightened of pooping and would stop himself from 'going', and as he got a bit older was able to go to the bathroom but only to poop in a pull-up. We started social stories and 'training' but stopped very quickly as it seemed to make such a drama out of something so primal. . didn't want to give him hang-ups for life about going to the toilet. SO!, occasionally (once each 3-6 months)I would talk him through what it might feel like when he did a poo on the loo, and I would suggest that when he felt ready he would be able to do this. No pressure, just respect and a positive framework. The day after he turned 7 he emerged from the bathroom smiling and said, "I've just done a poo on the loo with no nappy!". It remains one of my proudest parenting moments; he mastered the milestone in his own way and in his own time. Please don't hassle your child about going to the toilet and be patient. x
- —Saskie1
potty training
- My son was four and a half years old when he was finally potty trained. I went and saw a behavior specialist for advise. 1st we changed his diet to gluten and casein free. His stools became soiled so he could feel the urge to go. 2nd we made visual potty cards. These were six index cards that showed steps to use the potty. Card one was a doorway. Card two was picture of pants pulled down. Card three showed a boy sitting down. Card four showed pee pee coming out. Card five pulling pants up. Card six was flush. Every time he accomplished any of these tasks he received a sticker on that card. We also had him naked in the home for about a month during potty training, because he would not go on the floor. we are starting this process with my daughter right now, she's 2 1/2. she doesn't have the cards, just running around naked. Yesterday she went 16 times on the potty. It works for us. Good luck.
- —Guest lisa
NCTMB, CST
- Try CranioSacral Therapy, it releases fascial restrictions between the brain and the tailbone faciliating awareness and control. I have had dozens of clients toilet train and reduce nighttime bedwetting many, with just a few sessions.
- —Guest Tami Goldstein
Mom
- Our son loves puzzles. We had a puzzle in the bathroom. Each time he kept his pull up dry and peed in the toilet we let him put a puzzle piece in the puzzle. When the puzzle was full he traded it in for something he loved (which happened to be video tapes ( I found a bunch on rummage sales)). We started with a 4 piece puzzle so he could have success quickly. We progressed to a 25 piece puzzle. When he got pretty good at it we faded the puzzle out. Later we used it again for bowel movements. You could use anything that your child likes--stickers, cotton balls, marbles, animals in a jar ect. Start small and build upon it. It takes time and patience and lots of celebrating when it happens.
- —Guest Lisa
being patient
- basically I tried every trick in the book and no success.sarah did not talk or potty train until she was eight years old. It was amazing, she started talking and basically just started going to the bathroom on her own. She has an older sister that she learned alot from.
- —sarahannsmom
1hour per day
- Keep your child in the bathroom,with only a long shirt on, for 1 hour a day. Have the child drink lots of fluid before you start. Have toys your child likes, or books... Whatever will engage child for 1 hour. If child starts to urinate during time, place on the toilet. Praise for going. Maybe give a meaningful toy, or reward. You could preteach the urinating with dolls and or pictures. Working on it just 1 hour a day, then keeping child in pullups or diapers keeps parent from wearing out with the process. After being toilet trained for urine my son went almost another year before training for stool. It was a privacy, issue and texture issues arose too. Good luck.
- —Guest B in MN
