Potty Training? - Autism Spectrum Message Board

CindySue74 · 06-04-2005, 09:03 AM

My 3 y/o has recently received an educational diagnosis of autism. He's on the waiting list to get a medical diagnosis, but that won't happen until the end of the summer at the earliest.

He is beginning to use some language, and can indicate when is diaper is wet or dirty. He can follow simple directions. He is holding his bladder for HOURS and then releasing it all at once (often causing a massive leak and a clothing change). This all tells me that PHYSICALLY he is ready to potty train.

However, he is afraid of the bathroom and he hates to be naked. He will NOT sit naked on any potty (the little ones or the grown up ones). In the bathroom, he won't even sit clothed on the big potty (we bought an insert so he won't fall in). Bathing and brushing teeth are both issues because he doesn't like to be in there.

Has anyone had success in training your child to use the toilet? What did you do?

I'm willing to work hard, and it seems to me this summer would be a great time to do it, but everything I'm trying seems to not be working.

KathleenW · 06-04-2005, 09:11 AM

I set up his training potty in front of the TV. Maybe that would work for you since he is afraid of the bathroom

Lisa in Indiana · 06-04-2005, 04:55 PM

Well, I know how you feel. My dd just turned 4 and we still do not have her trained yet. In fact, I posted this exact same question myself this time last year here, lol! We have tried everything thinkable and she still is unable to make the connection. Altho, she has made the transition from diapers to pull-ups and will occasionally go before getting in the bath/shower if she is naked. So, my plans are to get her trained this summer by the "letting her be naked from the waist down" method, lol! We will see.
I am no help for you, but just wanted to let you know to hang in there, it'll happen one day.
Oh, and BTW, her developemental preschool teachers didn't think it was any big deal that she wasn't trained yet. They told me not to push her as it would create an anxiety issue for her towards going in the potty.

Al & Matt's Mom · 06-04-2005, 05:33 PM

Just wondering if you've tried the GFCF diet. My son couldn't tell he had to go until after he was casein free for a week.

AggieMom · 06-04-2005, 07:57 PM

I think GFCF is a very good suggestion, but my son was never on it, though I think it would help (we did eliminate whole milk as a drink due to gastric reasons), but he is 7 and potty trained, but still "hates" bathrooms. He was born and potty trained in one house, but always had problems at school, the therapy office, public restrooms, other family members homes, etc... I had to drag him in and make him sit (usually causing quite a scene) but if he really needed to go, he would. At home he likes to take off all his clothes to go "#2", but will stand to pee. At school he hated the "auto flush" toilet, so the teacher covered the sensor to disable it. I think alot of it is the "echo" in bathrooms. When he was 4 we moved to a new house and I had to drag him into the bathroom for about a week before he would go on his own. Strangely, he loves the bathtub and would close his eyes past the toilet to get to the tub! It's crazy, but he eventually got over it. He even spent a few months drawing pictures of "pottys" that he had seen (he loves to draw). I think that you really have to "tough it out" and they will overcome alot of their "phobias". Good Luck.