Ok everyone, I have a son who is mildly autistic. I have been trying to potty train him for 8 mths now and am getting no where. We have tried: letting him play in water while on the potty, putting his potty in the shower with him and getting him to go then, and putting him on the potty every 30 min. Is there anything else we can try? My husband is not comfortable letting him (our son) watch him (my husband) go to the bathroom because our son tried to grab the stream the last time. It is getting more difficult to get him to try. I did find that if I put real underwear on him that he would take them off as soon as he did pee in them but it makes it hard when he is not allowed in real underwear at school. The reason he is not allowed in underwear at school is because there is no bathroom in his classroom. They have to go across the hall and share with another class. Also, my son is just not getting the concept of pee peeing. I know he can feel the sensation but I don't think that he knows what he is doing. I have been trying to get him to know what he is doing when he does it but he doesn't do it at the same times everyday. I wish I cound get him on a schedule but I can't.
I used "Toilet training for individuals with autism and related disorders" by Wheeler for my daugher and it worked great. If that doesn't work for you, I would recommend making an appointment with a pediatric occupational therapist.
I too have been trying for 8 months to potty train. My grandson will be 3 in November. It has been a real struggle. I have learned that when they are ready it will be easier. In the last two weeks everything has clicked and he is wearing big boy underwear and going to the potty. He is even starting to go on his own. My suggestion is too keep trying. If he is now to the point of taking off his wet underwear, I think you are half way there. It shouldn't be long before he is going on his own. The first day my grandson went all day being dry, I did stop by the convenience store and let him get a treat in celebration. Little rewards and much incouragement, like jumping up and down and yelling yea seems to help. Good luck and just keep trying.
If your son is on an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), the school could be working with you on the potty training.You could include some potty training goals on his IEP. Also Marie Wheeler has a book, "Toilet Training for Individuals with Autism and Other Developmental Issues" that you might be able to get from your public library for some ideas that might help.
Try putting cheerios or fruit loops in the toilet and let him "sink" the cereal (this also helps them make it in the toilet) and it only takes 2-3 fruit loops or 5-6 cheerios. You can also try putting a dab of dish soap in the toilet and when they pee it makes lots of bubbles.
Hi! this T. & my Autistic son is 18 now. He was not completely potty train until he was about 5 to 6yr.s old. I had help with other kids!!! I would have them go together. Dad was no help neither! If none of the kids were around he would go with me. I tried books, videos, dolls,whatever!!! He just had to get it down him self! & U know what? out of all the guys (4) in the house he is the ONLY one who will SET to pee!!!!! So don't try so hard! He will get it! I have 3 boys & 1 girl & he is the 2nd. oldest. He is mildly autistic too! Hugs! T.
We feel your pain, as we are in the middle of the same thing, but our boy turned 4 in July. Why is he not allowed underwear at school? That sounds like plain laziness on their part. I have never heard of a daycare or school that would not work with you on potty training! We just put our son in K4 with the understanding that we will review in one month (he is also autistic, it is a regular dayschool)and just being there with other children his age and reminders to go potty is already helping. We have been working on this for over a year! I have heard of autistic children who weren't potty-trained at age 9 and were terrified of the potty, so if this is not the case, take comfort in "it could be worse". We didn't get our official diagnosis til the first week of September, so it has been a struggle. Hang in there!
I know what you are going through been there. One of the things I found that worked with my son was blowing bubbles while he potty. I got him to sit before standing came into play. Something else that worked was shooting Cheerios or Fruit Loops in the potty. Just put 4-5 in the potty and let him aim at them. Good Luck.
T. K.
Have you tried putting cheerios or fruit loops in toliet and telling him to aim for them? I have heard that it works. Good luck.
