frustrated with pooping

	Back to Autism Information >> Next Topic
	Jake did actually poop in the potty yesterday for the first time in I can't remember how long! However, he continues to have 'accidents' in his pants. He's fully aware of how and when to use the bathroom. He is able to complete all the skills necessary in order to use the bathroom. Yet, he just does not go when he needs to. He is often so involved in what he's doing that he just goes. He will not tell me he has gone, until I smell it and ask him, and then he'll say 'oh sorry'. We've used behavior charts, constant prompts and reminders to use the rest room. I'm at a total loss as to what to do now. He's five. I don't let him wear pull ups except for at night. Do I continue to put myself through all the extra clean up, or do I accept that he's likely to have this issue for awhile, and let him wear pull ups (MUCH EASIER to clean up after accidents -which he has about two or three a day)??? I feel that if the an ASD child can't perform the potty tasks and you have tried for a long period of time give it a rest. IMO putting him back pullups isn't a failure. My now 4.25 y/o NT did the same thing and we finally took a step and let wear a diaper after 3 months he was more into performing potty tasks. Just my .02 cents. T was the same way.  There might be several things that would help. Have you tried bare-botom training?  T would NOT poop when nekkid.  Find a HUGE reward for him.  Sit him on the pot daily at the same time (okay same THREE TIMES) and if he produces, he gets the reward.  My DH trained T this way at age almost-4 and it WORKED.  She had a movie obsession and could not watch until she pooped in the potty.  Once she got it, she got it FOREVER. Another thing that might or might REALLY NOT be a good idea, it worked with my NT son but it was hell on us (he's a drama queen) is to make him clean himself up. EVERY TIME. Me, I would emphasize the positive first ... but DH used this, and like I said it was what finally worked when all else failed. With the hypotonia it may be an issue of muscle control and he may not be able to stop it. Or, some don't feel the sensation of having to have a bm. I don't think it's a failure to take a step back. take a little time and then tackle it again.My son Isaiah, who just turned 5, 2 weeks ago, is in pull ups. We had to go back to them like 8mo ago because he was going in his underwear constantly.. too much of a mess. Now, he poops little bits at a time, enought that it stinks to high heaven..lol... it doesn't bother him a bit! He starts kindergarten tomorrow and he'll have to be changed at school. I am hoping that maybe, just maybe, this will motivate him. I am not holding his breath because he is not in the habit of giving a darn what everyone else is doing. So.. we are waiting it out. We've tried rewards and stickers.. he just won't do it. So We are waiting for him to start doing it himself. I get alot less stressed when I don't expect him to use the toilet. I just clean him up and be done w/ it. I do think we will try making him clean himslef up though.. I know he will need help, but I want him to take part in some of the responsibility of him not using the toilet. He gets ticked off when I have to change him, I will tell him that if he'd go in the potty, we could avoid this altogether.. he just grunts at me, lol.. so for now, for my sanity.. this is a battle I am not going to fight just yet... just my experience! Good Luck
	Copyright Autism-PDD.net