K.O. asks from West Mifflin, PA on September 15, 2006
Mom Needs Help with Potty Training!! HELP!!!
Hi guys!
I need some help. I am so clueless and I am completely frustrated! I have a 5 year old with autism and he is not fully potty trained. He will NOT poop on the potty. He has constant stools of pudding like substance or diarehha. He knows when he has to poop to go on the potty, but I have the sneaking suspicion that he doesn't get that feeling in his belly. I don't know what to do! I have tried everything and he just doesn't seem to get it. Is there anyone out there with the same problem that I am having? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks from the newbie around here,
K. O.
1 mom found this helpful
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S.B. answers from Erie on January 17, 2007
HI K.
My son is 5 1/2 and still isn't potty trained. But his school has started helping me with it. It is a SLOW process though, everyone is saying that. After training his sister, in a week's time he is difficult. My son was has ASD. I have a program here that they use with him at school, if you are interested please email me. I don't have time to type it all out.
GOOD LUCK!!!
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C. answers from Providence on September 16, 2006
Hi K.
My name is C. and i have a 13yr old daughter w/Autisim/PDD. It took alot of time and perserverience and she still has the occasional accident. I used social stories with pictures and took her on a timed schedule as they did at school. I have to say the school was fantastic at helping her along. My daughter was about 6 when she finally got the potty training down. Hang in there. If you ever need anything to talk about my email is ____@____.com
C. Fram
Cumberland RI
1 mom found this helpful
E.K. answers from Rochester on September 16, 2006
My daughter has a lot of problems pooping on the potty as well. She is 4 and gets scared because she says it hurts her. So, she holds it and doesn't go for a week or so. The doctors suggestion was to get her to sit on the potty at a designated time each day for about 5 minutes and let gravity take effect. This is easier said then done with a toddler, but we have finally found a solution that might work for you too. Have your son sit on the potty each day after dinner time and find a toy that he thinks is interesting and tell him that the toy has a belly ache and needs his help to learn how to poop on the pooty. My daughter gets so involved in talking to the toy (who I give a funny voice to) that she forgets that she is sitting there and eventually goes potty. This may help your son to learn the feeling that you get right before you have to go. Hope I could be of some help.
E.
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B.R. answers from Pittsburgh on September 16, 2006
K.,
I'm sorry I don't have advice for you, but we do have a 10 yo son who is Autistic. I just want to wish you and your son the best of luck. Unfortunately for us, our son can't go without the help of medication.
I hope there is someone out there who can help you. I'll say a prayer for you both!
B.
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A.L. answers from York on September 15, 2006
Hello K., I can totally relate to your problem. My son has the same issue. Peeing in fine, no problem, been peeing in the potty for quite awhile. Pooping on the other hand has been a big problem. I too feel like he doesn't know "when" he has to go until it is too late. My son did have a bad spell with constipation when he was young. He learned to hold it because it hurt too bad to go. He got so good at holding it that we couldn't fix it naturally, but had to use a prescription stool softner. That took awhile for him to get to the point of not trying to hold it everytime he went. But we are fianlly at that point, where he is not afriad to go, but I think he doesn't know how to go, because he learned how not to go instead. Anyway.....with all that said, I have had to just make him sit on the potty every so often and "try". Sometimes he goes just a little bit, some times he doesn't go at all. But if I leave him to do it by himself, he will wait too long. So, I suggest just making him go to the bathroom every so often. If it is soft like you say, then at some he will be able to go while he is one the potty. I am still in the process, it is taking a while, but I think he is finally getting it. I have to make sure I ask him and take him often. I wish you the best, I know it sooo frustrating. Good luck.
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E.B. answers from Cumberland on December 31, 2006
My son is 4 and has PDD-NOS. and he is semi-potty trained.Preschool helped him alot and we are also working with him. he is like your son however he has only pooped once the day after his brother came ( this was for his dad)we are trying to get him used to going at a certain time..Like before a bath, bed in the morning.next I will be trying to see when it is most common for him to poop and trying to add this to the schedule..Try to find soemthing that works and keep with it I learned with my son doing it all at onece made him have more accidents but to slowly change his schedule was easier.Well if you find something that works let me know.
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M. answers from Philadelphia on September 24, 2006
Check out "Encopresis" on the web. IT's a condition where the children hold in their bowel movements for various reasons, causing a constant cycle of constipation. My daughter age 10 still has bouts with it. I found giving her "Fiber Con" added to her food or drink helps since she isn't one to eat much food containing fiber. Check it out with the childs doctor. Hope this is of help.
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E.W. answers from Boston on February 01, 2007
Its normal for an asd 5 year old to still be nappies, especially for poo's, Poos are a whole different ball game. I have just managed to get Ethan to wee in the loo or the potty (He was 5 last september), he will wear pants in the house, but will bring me a nappy to put on him when he needs a poo, or for bed, and will not go out of the house without a nappy on. It is vital not to distress them as it can cause no end of problems.
One friend of mine who has sussesfully potty trained an autistic boy, used the placing the nappy over the potty method, but that can be long winded.
See if you can get a copy of this book, its very good:
Toilet Training for Individuals with Autism & related disorders
(www.FutureHorizons-autism.com) isbn ###-###-####.
Hope this helps E. xx
S.B. answers from Erie on January 17, 2007
HI K.
My son is 5 1/2 and still isn't potty trained. But his school has started helping me with it. It is a SLOW process though, everyone is saying that. After training his sister, in a week's time he is difficult. My son was has ASD. I have a program here that they use with him at school, if you are interested please email me. I don't have time to type it all out.
GOOD LUCK!!!
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