July 18, 2020 2 min to read
Potty training children with autism: difficulties and solutions
Category : Lifestyle
Potty training your child is often a challenging job, which gets trickier when your child has autism. However, not all autistic children are the same and their potty training difficulties also vary despite having the same overarching disorder. They can suffer a number of toileting related troubles. Such as:
– Withholding a bowel movement
– Being afraid of the toilet
– Fecal smearing
– Continuously flushing the toilet
– Filling the toilet with paper or other items
– Constipation
– Continued use of diapers
– Going other places than the toilet
However, all of these troubles can be overcome with time if handled with patience, care, support, and some smart tactics. Here are things you need to know about autism potty training:
Why Is It Difficult to Potty Train a Child with Autism?
One of the main characteristics of a person with autism is they don’t like changes, which means they do everything in a particular manner as they are used to doing it.
This is why it takes more effort to make them accept something new, like using the toilet as opposed to wearing diapers.
At the same time, this can be seen as a blessing since once you get to train them properly and they are comfortable with it, they will most likely carry the practice on their own if there are no further distractions.
When to Start Potty Training
Before you decide to start potty training your autistic child’s potty training, it is better to consult a pediatrician who can warn you of possible complications that may arise and suggest when to start training.
Also, you can observe your kid to figure out if they are ready for the training. Here are some signs you can look for:
1. They let you know when they have peed or pooped in their nappy or clothes. They may tell you verbally or express through a sign or gesture.
2. They are able to follow easy instructions, so if you tell them to sit on the toilet, they can.
3. They can pull down and pull up their pants.
4. They have a regular and almost routined bowel movement.
5. They have enough control over their bladder to not pee or poop for at least one hour at a time during the day.
Preparing your child for potty training in general would also be a good idea. Here, the procedures are almost the same as it is with the average children. It may require just a little more time and tricks.
How successfully you manage to communicate with your child and how interestingly you can initiate the process will decide how well and fast they are going to learn.
You can start with steps as simple as introducing your kid to the toilet, such as its purpose and how to use it.
Remember to take it one step at a time rather than doing everything at once. The whole procedure is going to take time. Keep your patience up, and once your child becomes familiar with the toilet, gradually start further training.
As stated earlier, potty training kids with autism might be a work of patience and should be planned step by step to avoid unnecessary irritations for both you and your child. Here are three strategies…
Continue reading the article and learn more about potty training on Daisy Linden’s blog.