Potty training attempt -WDYT? | Autism PDD

My son was trained at 4-1/4 years -- that is about average for kids with autism.  One of the techniques we used for both our kids was what we called a "poop machine" -- a handheld toy that made beep noises.  It didn't require any concentration, but seemed to get the kids to relax.  We also joked that if you pointed it at someone it would make them need to poop, so that silly game got us past reluctance to sit on the toilet.  I would say let's point it at Daddy upstairs, and then we'd giggle and listen to see if we'd hear footsteps running down the stairs.

I think your game is worth a try!  Even if he doesn't pee or poop, always praise for a great try.  If you're using a potty chair, you can check for "output" but if you're using a regular toilet, it's not easy to tell if the child has peed or not, so that might be a subject of arguments. 

To anyone else who is looking for tips and hasn't seen my list of free online potty resources yet, here's the link:

http://www.autism-pdd.net/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=16098&am p;KW=potty+resources

Good luck everyone!

Jake will be four at the end of August and is not potty trained in the least. Not at all. We've tried so many things over the YEARS. Sticker charts, rewards, big boy underpants, etc. He just doesn't seem to feel the urge before he has to go --which may be due to his low tone or his sensory issues. We've upped the ante and are hoping this works. Jake loves to play computer games. He'd do it all day if he could. We were talking about getting him a v-smile pocket or leapster for his b-day. So we decided to get one now, and only let him play it when he sits on the potty. If he actually pees or poops in the potty, then he can play it for 20 minutes. Otherwise, it goes away until he sits on the potty again (and we limit the potty sitting for about 5 - 10 minutes, otherwise he'd sit there all day just to play the game). I'm hoping this will atleast get him sitting on the potty more, and then hopefully going in it as well. What do you think? Is this a good idea, bad idea? We're at a loss at what else to do. He just doesn't care to use the potty otherwise. He'll tell me after he goes and that he needs changed, but he won't go in the potty. Even when we put him in underwear all the time, he just kept peeing and pooping in them. We talk about being a "big boy" and he just doesn't seem to care at all! we're willing to try anything at this point!

I went through the same type of thing with my son Max.  He would stay dry while he had on big boy pants but the second we put on a diaper he would go; and he wanted nothing to do with the potty.  So what we did was set up a dvd player with his favorite movie in the bathroom and I gave him one juice pack after another.  Eventually nature won out and he peed.  Then we made a big deal about it and he understood.  I would dilute the juice with water though.  Hindsight is 20/20.     Good luck. 

Daniel

We did that type of method - except with books. We had certain "potty books" which were some of his favorites. He could only have those read to him when he was on the potty.

However, unlike what you're doing - I would let him sit there for an hour with me reading to him. The difference is - we were interacting, so I didn't mind him sitting there. My back minded though! But, one day when he'd been sitting there for about 45 minutes, he started to have gas. About 5 minutes later, he started to want to get up and I told him - "Wait! Let the poop come out into the potty!" He didn't really want to, but he did sit back down and he did poop. We had a PARTY! Called everyone, etc. Within a month or so, he always pooped on the potty. Peeing was another story - that took a lot longer. But every child is different!

Anyway, I guess for my son, he needed to sit for a while and relax. And, I could pretend that when he accidentally went in the potty - that he did it on purpose and make a huge deal out of it! Then he started paying more attention to what was happening in his body (eventually).

We did stickers, little dinosaurs for every time he went, a big reward of going to Sears if he went three days in a row, etc. It DOES get better - really!

I have tried all of the above, the DVD player, the stickers, charts, new toys as rewards, book reading...so far, no poops on the potty, can't even really get him to sit on it, after almost a year of trying...and this is a kid who would watch Thomas DVD's round the clock if you let him, but he will forgo even Thomas if it means his tush making contact with that toilet seat, or any facsimile thereof (the little potty chairs, the inserts, etc.)...in fact, he knows when a poop is coming and will throw a fit if I try to get him to sit on the potty at that time...he asks for a pair of "potty pants" instead :(...but we have no problem with the pee...LOL...every kid is different

but I think what you're doing is fine if it is working on improving his comfort level with the toilet...that tactic is often recommended in different sources I have consulted on potty training...it just doesn't seem to be working for my little guy, or at the least, I haven't figured out what reward there is big enough that it will entice him to at least sit...

Hi Jen: My son is right there with your son. He will be four at the end of November and has no desire in the least to go potty. Because of sensory issues, just this season we were able to get him to wear shorts and short sleeved shirts. With my son, I know it is definitely the sitting on the chair with no pants on. This child is never naked, only when taking a bath. He just cannot stand to not have clothes on. I have been thinking and thinking about how to approach the potty issue. My two older kids did it all by themselves at 2! This is a whole new ball of wax for me too. I wish I could even just get the underwear on him! He won't even do that.

Snoopy, love the idea of just sitting there. That might be something that we (Jenn too) could try. If I stay with him and do not move, I think he may stay there, but the part that is challenging for my son is the actually taking off the pants and staying naked on the bottom. 

Best of luck with the little game--it may work for him. If he sits on the potty and plays it all day, eventually he'll have to go, and he'd be in the perfect place! I look forward to reading your replies.

Im having the same problem except my son pees but will not poop on the potty! He says he doesnt like the water splashing because he did poop twice but after that, nope! hell poop in his pullups, underwear, hell poop right on the ground since he hates wearing clothes and most times runs around like a nudist after stripping to nothing. Im at a lost what to do about it too. Ive tried the potty books, watching a movie, stickers and rewards. All that worked for pee but not for pooping and in all thats been happening in the past month and a half ive forgotten about getting him fully potty trained for preschool which he starts on the 28th! But then thats a totally different thread!

Anyway, I think what you're doing sounds like a good plan.  Keep us posted on your progress.

I just attended the Autism Conference at Penn State last week and attended a seminar about potty training. Maria Wheeler was the speaker and she was wonderful. She has a book out (can't recall the name - but it is on amazon.com)that I am going to get. I can honestly say that I feel so much better about starting potty training with my daughter. After listening to Ms. Wheeler, I don't feel as overwhelmed regarding the whole potty training thing. Good luck Twice this week when I've seen my son do his "poop face", I've stripped him down and kept him in the bathroom for 3 hours.  He will clench and clench.  He will say, "I don't want a prize.  I want my diaper."  He will soil underwear without a care.  I've tried charts, treats, toys, etc, etc, to no avail.  The BCBA says that it is a control issue with him and she is tailoring our ABA program to make compliance a goal.  I guess the theory is to get him compliant on simpler tasks then work up to potty compliance???  I'm at a loss. 
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