Can A Child With Autism Be Potty Trained

Expect Dirty Diapers To Continue Longer Than Wet Diapers

For many kids with autism, toilet training for a bowel movement can take much longer. Often, dirty diapers may continue for a year or more after your child begins urinating in the toilet. Try to learn your child’s schedule to help out. Also, consider offering a more significant reward for this part of training.

Dont Potty Train Alone

While it is often thought of as a private affair, potty training is still an important behavioral skill that requires the same attention as any other while helping a child with autism. Similarly, it is often a great deal of work and you might require more bandwidth or a different approach. As such, professional help is often the best complement to your at-home efforts, and there might need to be clinical or in-home training from an outside perspective.

Every child is different, but we recommend working potty training into your ABA framework sooner than later its better to be early or over-helpful than to develop challenges in potty training patterns for such an important component of day-to-day life.

Dont Make A Big Deal About Accidents

Getting angry or visibly upset can cause the opposite outcome rather than the desired outcome. You definitely want to avoid causing unnecessary stress that will provoke more accidents. If your child wets their pants, simply state the obvious- Oh, you wet your pants. Lets get you some dry clothes.

Also Check: How Much Does Nick Eh 30 Make

Find The Root Of The Issue If Possible By Trial And Error

I realized there was much more to transitioning from diapers to the toilet. We had to discover what the root cause of the anxiety was. This is difficult to do when a child has very limited language skills. Was it having to sit down on toilet rather than stand? Was this a fear of having something fall away from Marcs body? Did he think he was losing a part of himself? Was he in physical pain sitting down trying to release a bowel movement? It was time to try another strategy.

I tried draping a towel across the toilet bowl so Marc would not have the feeling that something was falling away from him didnt work. We then changed the emphasis to just sitting on the toilet. We asked Marc to simply sit on the toilet and then rewarded him with chips if he did. During the toileting process, Marc was smearing his feces all over the house. He picked out just enough to relieve the bowel pressure.

Potty Training A Child With Autism Will Take Time Be Patient

Third, start the redundant process of the actual potty training. Familiarize the child with his potty and explain to him that it is his own and that he can use it anytime he feels like pee or poop is coming. Set a schedule as to when the child will use the potty, it is best to time it to the usual time he wets or that you change his or her diaper. Guide your child with the use of both visual and verbal cues, just kept it simple, and do not ever force the child if he refuses to follow.

With boys, it helps to provide them with something flushable to point their pee at just to improve their aim. It will be frustrating at first, which is normal, but be religious about it and most of all please be patient. The reward is a lifetime of control and normalcy for your child.

Recommended Reading: Best Toys For Autistic Toddlers

Make Sure Youre Ready

When youve determined that your child is ready to start potty training, make sure youre ready. This is a big step for both of you, so choose a time where stress will be minimized. If there are any big changes coming up, like starting a new routine or a close family member moving away, consider postponing potty training until things settle down.

Tips For Taking Toilet Training On The Road

Once your child uses the toilet at home, its natural to assume he will use it in public restrooms or at other peoples homes. Unfortunately, children with autism can have trouble generalizing toilet training, especially right after learning. The lack of consistent routines and a different environment can easily throw them. In time, your child will be able to use other bathrooms. In the meantime, these tips can help:

• If you know youll be going out, pack a small bag with your childs potty seat, potty books, and maybe even some of your home toilet paper. Keep as much consistency as you can.
• Prepare your child for the change ahead of time. Explain that the bathroom will be different in some ways but that the difference is okay.
• If your child is verbal, make a list together of the similarities and differences between this bathroom and your bathroom at home. Stress how the basic parts of the bathroom are the same.
• Stay with your child in the bathroom so you can offer reassurance throughout the process.
• Use the same reward you use at home, as well as extra praise for this new challenge.
• The sounds of public restrooms can be overwhelming, so consider using earmuffs to help.

Read Also: Can You Stop Being Autistic

You May Like: What Does Mild Autism Mean

How Do You Know When Your Child Is Ready To Toilet Train

The signs of training readiness are:

• The child is dry for 1 2 hours at a time or if the child stays dry throughout the night.
• The child has the cognitive development of 18 24 months. Dont confuse this with chronological age.
• The child has formed bowel movements.
• The parents are emotionally ready and professional team around the child is on board.
• The child is 4 years old with no medical conditions that would prevent this process.
• Medically, there is no reason not to start toilet training.
• There is no additional stress in the home. It is not the time to toilet train during a move, divorce, death in the family, or major illness. Wait until things have stabilized.

What If My Child Is Afraid Of The Toilet And Doesnt Want To Sit On Or Go Near It

If your child is afraid of the toilet, start the training by using a transitional potty. Have the child sit on the potty outside the bathroom and slowly transition it into the bathroom. Alternatively, your child may accept to sit on the toilet with the seat down or with clothes on. Gradually, have the child sit on the toilet with the seat up on a training seat.

Read Also: How Does Autism Affect Cognitive Development

Keep An Eye On The Childs Cues

When the child becomes more aware of their need to pee or poop, they may begin to exhibit more apparent signs of their need to use the restroom. An increase in rocking, holding oneself, increased vocalizations, or other signs may be cues that the child needs to use the restroom. Children may also show signs such as looking at you or the bathroom when they want to pee.

Parents, caregivers, and teachers should keep a vigilant eye on these signs and encourage the child to continue with their chosen way of communicating their need to use the bathroom. Let them choose their mode of communication-visual aid, speech device, or pointing their fingers.

Learn More About Your Familys Ally In Growth

At Ally Pediatric Therapy, we have decades of experience assisting families through any and all behavioral challenges for children with autism. Working with professionals to help with potty training can be so beneficial for your family and is something we specialize in. Wed love to help make it less stressful for you.

If you are looking to take the next step towards helping your child with autism, please reach out today wed love to help make a difference for you and your family.

Don’t Miss: Can You Outgrow Autism

Look For Signs Of Toileting Readiness

How do you know when your child is ready to start toilet training? Chronological age should not be a factor. Children with autism often exhibit significant developmental delays so you should look for signs of readiness.

Two absolute signs of readiness are staying dry throughout the night and asking to be changed when soiled or wet. This can be indicated verbally or through a cue such as getting a clean diaper or the diaper is removed by the child.

Be Sure Your Child Is Healthy

Many children with autism have gastrointestinal issues. And, of course, if your child is suffering from diarrhea, constipation, bloating, or other gastrointestinal issues, it may be tough for him to toilet train.

If your child seems to gastrointestinal problems, check them out before you start toilet training. Signs of GI problems can include unusual crankiness, positioning to press on the abdomen, reluctance to use the toilet or poop, or inability to evacuate. See your pediatrician and, if necessary, a pediatric gastroenterologist. It may even be possible to treat constipation with something as simple as prune juice.

You May Like: Mild Autistic Symptoms

Now To Our Favorite Toilet Training Strategies:

Know When Your Child Is Ready

For many neurotypical children, potty training happens around the age of three. According to BrightTots, an autism resources website, children on the spectrum often arent ready for toilet training until quite a bit later, sometimes closer to four or five years old. Since you cant use your childs age as a guideline for when to start potty training, look for the following signs of readiness:

Don’t Miss: Symbol For Autism Awareness

S To Potty Train Children With Autism

This article is mommy approved by Miriam Slozberg, mother of two.

Parenting children on the autism spectrum is most definitely difficult regardless of the severity, or whether the child is verbal or not. The challenges may be different depending on how profoundly the child is affected. However, one of the things that parents of children with autism dread are potty training, a lot worse than helping your autistic child eat.

In fact, many parents of children that are on the severe end of the autism spectrum and that are non-verbal may give up on the idea of potty training entirely. However, that is never a good idea because even if the child is non-verbal and is on the severe end of the spectrum, potty training is possible.

However, there are steps to take and methods to utilize when you take this major step. Either way, parents must be prepared regardless of where the child is on the autism spectrum because children with the condition do not do well with transitioning. It needs to be done slowly and in a methodical manner. Lets now take a look at the 10 methods to utilize in order to potty train a child with autism.

Contents

• 11 References

Signs Autistic Children Are Ready For Potty Training

There is no set age for when a child on the autism spectrum is ready to start potting training as each child has their own needs and develops at their own pace. So, rather than focusing on the age of the child, it is generally best to take note of their skills and abilities as signs they might be ready for the challenge.

If your child is able to pull their underwear up and down without help, this is a good indication they have the motor skills needed for starting potty training. Also, take note of whether your child can sit upright without support and feels comfortable sitting on a potty.

If your child has shown interest in the toilet/bathrooms thats a great indicator the child is ready to start potty training!

Its also interesting to see some children dislike sitting in their own messif the child is trying to remove their diaper/nappy after filling it, you know a desire to be potty trained is already in place to some extent.

Recommended Reading: Average Life Span Of Autism

What If My Son Has Difficulty Standing While Urinating

If your son is used to sitting while urinating, you can teach him how to urinate while standing by providing a visual chart on how boys use the toilet. If he is afraid or does not want to touch his privates, you can ask a trusted male family member to show how to aim it in the toilet bowl. You may also use some target objects such as a colored toilet paper or a paper boat to encourage him to urinate in the bowl.

When To Give Up or Take a Break

Potty training children with autism may take a long time. As long as the child is making progress and it is a positive experience, continue the process. However, if the child becomes resistant to going to the bathroom or sitting on the toilet, or if the child is having more accidents in his/her underwear than successes in the toilet for over a week, then stop toilet training.

These are indicators that the child is not ready to be potty trained. At this time, take a break from potty training for at least three months and revisit it at another time. Do not think of it as a failure, but think of as both parent and child are not ready. Once everyone is ready, potty training will be an easy and positive experience.

At What Age Is An Autistic Child Potty Trained

There is no particular age when a child with autism is guaranteed to be potty trained. Some may fall right into the typical development schedule while others may continue to refuse to go to the toilet or just simply struggle with voiding themselves in the toilet during the day and night.

This can lead to a significant amount of frustration for parents. The first step to eliminating any frustrations about timeframes and milestones is to understand that there isnt a definitive time frame when it comes to children on the autism spectrum. Each child on the spectrum has unique sensitivities and their own individual approach to everything that they do. Potty training will only be successful when they have the awareness and the willingness to learn this new skill amidst these sensitivities and by using their own approach.

Also Check: Difference Between Sensory Processing Disorder Asperger’s

Potty Training A Child With Autism Using Aba

Dr. Anna Kaplan is a writer and a licensed physician. She completed a 3-year residency and board certification in Family Practice and was in active practice for 15 years. A parent herself, Anna still remembers the I know how to use the potty song that her children sang.

You May Like: How Do Autistic People Act

Schools And Early Years Settings

Admission to school should not be refused simply because a child has difficulties with continence. A school that does this may be at risk ofdisability discrimination. If you have any concerns about your child not being admitted into an establishment because of their needs or their continence needs are not being met at school, our Education Rights Service may be able to help.

Read Also: Autism Psychology Today

A Few Other Things To Remember