Hi I have a 2 1/2 year old daughter she will be 3 in aug. She is non-verbal, and might have a slight form of autisim, we haven't seen the behavioal phy. Yet. She already goes to speech, and o.t. Once every week. She is not potty trained yet, and I have had a really hard time trying to potty train her because she doesn't talk yet. If anyone else has been in this situation, and have any advice or tip for me, I would love it. Thank you.
I work with a little boy who has been diagnosed on the Autistic spectrum, is going to be starting school in 4 months, and he's still not toilet trained either. Some children learn later than others, and that's perfectly fine, but when you're getting as close to the wire as my employer and I are, it's easy to get frustrated! Here's a few things we're trying currently:
Making sure we use language that shows toileting is normal- we don't use words like 'yuckky' or 'gross' when referring to waste products. We can describe them as 'sticky' or 'hard' and sometimes 'smelly', but we never show disgust when using those words. I know it seems a bit hard, but using simple descriptive words can take away a child's possible anxiety.
A motivator when I sit the boy in question on the toilet is I tell him to 'push his tummy'. He knows to squeeze his tummy muscles in as part of using the toilet now, and a gentle reminder sometimes helps.
Sometimes children are scared they will hurt themselves when going to the toilet. The children I work with usually have a fruit smoothie at about lunchtime, sometimes made with a bit of prune juice to get things moving.
PULL UPS! These may be coming forward in leaps and bounds with absorbancy, drawing the fluid away, etc, but it's a nightmare for toilet training! Nine times out of ten, it's all too comfortable for the kid to stay in the wet nappy. A suggestion I heard was putting your child in cotton underpants, with a pull up overtop. That way, when they do have an accident, they can feel they are wet, and you don't end up having to change their clothes all day.
Reading books about toilet training can be a good way to motivate your child. One of the best stories I've heard is one called "Nappy Duck and Potty Pig" by Bernette Ford and Sam Williams. It's witty, short, and has very simple language that young children understand.
Reward charts work well too. Sometimes a sticker can do the trick well, as it's a small, immediate reward the child recognises and feels proud of (accompanied by lots of praise, hugs and kisses of course!). Sometimes you can tell the child 'If you can do your poo in the toilet every day for a week, you can have...' it might be a small treat, or a trip to the park, a small toy... use your imagination, and make sure it's something you know the child will like. Using a calendar, whenever they achieve the goal for the day, let them stick the sticker on the calendar, so they can see the progress they're making, and feel like it's their hard work paying off.
And of course, as most people have said, patience and persistence- it's not an easy task, but keep at it, and don't be discouraged. All the best!
My 2 year old daughter is not that verbal either, well actually I take that back, she mumbles and yells a lot. Says some words (but not how they should be used?) we work with her everyday , but I just dont know. I'm trying to get her to use the potty as well. She will run to the bathroom and say potty, but when I pull her pullups down and place her on her seat she automtically wants DOWN NOW! lol. I dont know, She is a very hyper lil girl I know that much. I think it just takes time. Keep working with her. Keep talking to her as if shes talking back and eventually everything will go the way its supposed to... Good Luck and God Bless
thank you so much lex icon. those are really good ideas, and I will try them.her thing is she nows what the potty is for, and has used it before, but will stand next to it, pee, then sit on the potty. but at least she is associating that with the toilet. thank you for answering.
My little cousin is autistic and she is about at the age of your child now, and she was taught how to use the potty by special body signals that my aunt uses. I dont know how helpful this advice is but I hope it works
My daughter is autistic, and all I can tell you is that persistence and patience will eventually pay off.
Try not to get discouraged - it's counter-productive.
I am in the same boat, my son may have autisim as well. Please let me know if you come up with anything. G-d bless.
