I am frustrated and struggling with potty training my son ....anyone have any tips?

Question

Malachi is a special needs child with Down Syndrome. He is now 5 and getting ready to start kindergaten at a special needs school in June. He is developmentally delayed is only has the development of a 2 year old. He has faced many medical obsticales in that past

Answer 1

Oh my heart goes out to you. My girlfriend has a special needs child, down syndrome, diabetes, bone fractures every time she turns around, ect.....

My girlfriends daughter didn't get potty trained until she was ready for school either.

The more noise and excitement you can have when he goes in the potty, the better he will like it, and he will be more eager to get that praise again.

I suggest buying his favorite big boy pants and some extra sweat pants, so they are easy to get off and on. He will have accidents, probably more than a child without special needs. but putting a diaper or pull up on confuses children.

We still use pull ups at night, due to the length of time she sleeps, but reserve those for only night time and extra long outings. You will go through a lot of laundry, but no kid likes to have wet pants.

I hope this helps. (((((HUGS)))))

Answer 2

Being that your child is special needs, maybe he's just not ready to be fully potty trained. His development is at the age of a 2yr old, when most children start to potty train. So, in saying that...it is definitely a great time to start, but I wouldn't push the issue with him, it might make him push further way. Timing I believe is everything. I would insist on taking him to the bathroom starting out every 15-20 minutes. Once he sees the routine for a week or so, then I would increase the time to maybe 30-45 minutes. All the while let him wear underwear, regardless of an accident...he's got to get use to the feel. And not to mention, him wearing a diaper/pull up is still letting him know he can wet his pants. Whatever you do, don't revert back to diapers at anytime...it just confuses him. Baby one minute, big boy the next. Just be consistent and alot of encouragement, praise, and treats...the treats should be for actually going pee-pee in the potty. Good Luck, it's an exhausting process!

Answer 3

I would try to use jelly beans. Every time he goes potty, give him a jelly bean as an award. (or try something else he may like to snack on) You can always by the potty target that you place in the potty. He has to aim at the target to go potty. Sort of like a game, but makes it fun to learn. There are also books that you can read him about potty training. They are cute stories and it might encourage him. Lots of praising every time he goes. If he has an accident, don't say anything, just clean him up and send him on his way. Reward the positive, ignore the negative. Good luck!!

Answer 4

Ugh, I feel your pain. My son is autistic and I just got him potty trained (well, for peeing at least) at age 4. His school and I jointly used ABA therapy and PECS to help him. Basically its very similar to how you'd train a "typical" child. But starting every 15 minutes, we'd put him on the potty. He'd get a reward (we used m&m's) every time he sat on the potty. If he produced, he got a big reward. Gradually we increased the length of time between potty visits - went every 30 minutes, then 45 minutes. Also increased his fluids to increase the chance of him producing. In addition to this, we also used PECS - which are pictures of the steps to going to the bathroom - pulling down your pants, sitting on the toilet, producing, wiping, pull pants up, washing hands, etc. You really have to spell out all the steps with a special needs child. My son's school gave us teh PECS, but I think you can probably print them off online too.

Anyways, this worked for my son - he's at the point where he still won't tell me when he has to pee, but he will hold his urine until someone puts him on the potty. Hope this helps!

Answer 5

Consistency and repitition do help. Also, do you have a good potty video? Try putting him in front of that on a portable potty when he goes, and sing whatever potty song is in the video every time, in front of the TV or in the bathroom. Use lots of praise when he succeeds, but not punishment or disappointment when he fails, or else it will be just discouraging and stressful.

Answer 6

because special needs children require more repetitions to make things stick in their minds, consistancy is the key.

when added to patience, Malachi can succeed. Remember to be patient and to praise him for successes in his bathrooming skills.

try not to nag or punish. this is hard for children without special needs!

take him to the bathroom at the first moment after waking, again right after breakfast and at least every 30 minutes to an hour through the day.

even if he doesn't produce any waste, praise him for going "like a big boy" and for making the effort.

help him to always wash his hands.

draw a picture chart of the process and give him stickers to put by each element of the job.

hang in there! his special needs school will also help him. make sure to make potty training reinforcement part of his IEP (individualized Educational Plan).

Good Luck!

Answer 7

Ok I did this with my boys. I don't know if it will work for you but you can try it.

1. I put cheerios in the toilet and told them to aim. LOL

2. I would give them candy (i.e. one skittle, one m/m, etc.) if they went potty or poop.

3. I would take them with me when i went. They would sit on their potty and go. 99% of the time I really didn't go. But I would say "i gotta go potty wanna come with me." then after a week or so they would say the same thing. Then I would start telling them "no you go alone"

4. I put them in underwear and let them run around in it. YES i did have to clean up messes, but they got tired of being wet.

5. (goes with 4) I let them pick out their "OWN" underwear at the store. Then they were excited about wearing them.

Just be creative. You can email me if you want to and I will be glad to help you more if you want.


Good luck.

Answer 8

All kids become potty trained some just take longer than others. It sounds like you are under many pressures and it must be hard for you but sometimes we pile the pressures on ourselves. You must try not to do that. Wait till your little boy is at kindergarten he will learn from the other kids, I am sure you will be amazed what kids learn from each other.

Answer 9

my son is 2 and he likes it when i go one knee and i wait for him to put a knee on the toilet seat and then two knee and he puts the other up so hes kneeling on the potty your son would probably be large enough to do this on the toilet it seems to aim them right in the right spot its worth a try my son thinks it great fun although still not potty trained

Answer 10

try to find pictures of his favorite cartoon characters on the potty im sure they got some online. and say look sponge bob goes on the potty.. elmo goes on the potty ect...good luck. potty training wasent easy for me either.