How do I poddy train my son who is 6 years old?

Question

MY adopted son who turned 6 in Aug. I have been consistant in pddy training since he was 2 years old. He still has no clue on what he is to do in the toilet. His teachers keep him on a tight schedule as well. The doctors have ruled out downs syndrone even tho he has the charatertistics, ruled out autisim he is to friendly and maintains eye contact. They have decided he has fetal aclchol effect and is global mentally retarded. His brian activity is the level of a 28 month old child. His bio logical parents and family tree all are handicapp in diff ways. He has 2 biological sisters that are poddy trained. I have had my son since he was 8 weeks old. He is a very happy boy and is so eager to pleae. How can I help him understand how to be toilet trained? I have had my younger son who is also adopted but completly poddy trained, show him how to pee in the toilet but he still does not get it.
Thank u
Mother of 5

Answer 1

You know even though your son's level is 28 months he may just not be ready. some children with special needs have what is called splinter skills...meaning maybe your son is 28 months functioning level in some areas, but not in others. I work with a seven year old disabled little girl and we have been training the same way and the same amount of time you have...and nothing here either. Sometimes she just happens to go and we cheer and clap and stuff but sometimes I seriously doubt if she really knows why we are cheering for her and I think she mostly just likes the fact that we are paying positive attention to her. However her therapists and teachers all agree that it doesn't hurt to toilet her on a regular schedule at all times because hopefully sooner or later she will start to comprehend what is going on. We also use pecs, and switches that say stuff like "bathroom please" that we have her press everytime we take her to the bathroom. We also read Elmo uses the potty everytime we go to the bathroom with her. Good Luck!

Answer 2

Does your child understand and notice when he has been to the toilet?
If he does, thats a starting point for potty training, if not then I think you have to realise that some children with special needs will suffer from incontinence.

If your child does recognise that he has passed urine then you should keep a toiletting record of when he goes and if a pattern immerges that is the best time to take him and sit him on the toilet.

make sure that the toilet is a fun place that he doesn not see as scary (keep lights on, books, toys etc nearby)
run a tap when he is sat on the toilet (siiting down is easier than standing up to go to the toilet) as the noise of tricking water may encourage him to go.
If he does go give him lots and lots of praise.

Does your child go to a mainstream or special needs school - if he goes to a special needs school talk to his class teacher or the school nurse, they will have been in similar situations with lotsof other children before

goodluck
and dont stress too much about it, I am a teacher in a special needs school and a lot of children wear incontinence pads, its not that unusual

Answer 3

About all you can do is keep trying, I think.

When I was potty-training my daughters, I read a potty book to them while they were on the toilet. Our favorite was "Everyone Poops." So many potty books are very vague, and they don't spell out what exactly happens on the toilet. This one is frank, and pretty charming, actually.

That keeps your son on the toilet for a little while. Then, if he pees or poops during the process, give him a great deal of praise. If not, that's all you can do for that session.

I hope you find an answer! I know it must be hard.

Answer 4

Persistence. Try making him go every 30 minutes or so, and repeatedly ask him if he needs to. Once he earns the pride of going successfully, he will probably remember and start to go again.