Help!!! Son, ASD, continually taking clothes off :(

[runikka]

Good evening

Please can someone advise me how to deal with this.
Our little boy, aged 5, non-verbal severe ASD and non-toilet trained has taken to removing his clothes several times a day. He has already had several toileting accidents. We have another child and a baby due in about 10 weeks. I would really be grateful of any ways to deter him. I can handle the clothes removal...I think it stems from school teaching him to change for swimming...but the nappy is another issue as not sure how we can expect grandparents/carers to look after him whilst having the baby if he is toileting all over the place It started off vaguely amusing but now he is doing it every 10 mins. Tonight I have put parcel tape across the front of his nappy in the hope it will deter him but he tends to just pull it down anyway. Already stressing and feel guilty for telling him for it earlier, the last thing I want to do is put him off being able to undress himself...its just so hard when the nappy I'd really rather leave until we are in a position to toilet train (school do not think he is yet ready).

Many thanks

Any advice much appreciated.

[sickofsocalledexperts]

I would ignore the school and start to toilet train him as at 5 he may well be read. We bought one of those loo seats that go over the loo, and sat him on it when we thought he needed to go. Then we waited, and waited and waited. When finally some tiny drop of wee or poo appeared went into the loo we went wild with joy and gave him chocolate pieces. While he sat there, we gave him toys to play with , so the toilet became a nice place to be. Then repeat the next day. It took quite a while, but the school told me my boy wasn't ready either and he got it in about 3 months and has been toilet trained ever since. You have another set of nappies coming soon so worth a try?

My boy also did the clothes taking off thing and I'm afraid the only way we cured him of it was a sharp and loud no, and then immediately put every single item back on. Then do it every single time IMMEDIATELY he takes them off, till eventually he realises that the boredom of having to get shouted at and then have to put his clothes straight back on, spoils the fun of taking them off in the first place. It's something to do with breaking a habit before it becomes too entrenched.

Do not stress about telling him off or making him not like getting dressed. A child is still a child, autistic or not, and they need boundaries - he can't think it's ok to go around naked as that won't be appropriate as he gets older.

I'm now going through the same thing with my boy playing with his willy, trying to teach him it's ok but only in his room when he's on his own! There's always something!

Good luck!

[cyberseraphim]

I agree that you should not worry about telling him off - although you are the only one who can judge his level of understanding. I have found setting strict boundaries really works. It could be a sign of readiness for toilet training although I can appreciate you have a lot on your plate at the moment. Could you try to 'catch' something when he takes his nappy off then make a big celebration of it? I don't think the 'ready' moment ever really strikes for ASD in the way it does for NT children, you just have to start anyway.

SOSCE - My Ds has started what you mentioned at the end of your post but only in bed. It has really helped to cut down on other stims. He has finally found something his peers do !

[staryeyed]

Ds used to do this not so much at the moment but these things come and go in phases. I bought some vests that go around the nappy to stop him taking it off.

[sickofsocalledexperts]

cyber - how old is your boy as mine is only 6 and I have been slightly taken aback by how vigorous he is with the old willy - it really does look like proper wanking, though nothing comes out of course. Is your DS similar, is this just something people don't talk about or see with nf boys as they have more social sense of privacy?

[Marne]

Hi, i met a lovely lady last week who has the same problem with her DS, he has just started at dd2's sn nursery and comes straight in each morning and takes his clothes off.

Dd2 (ASD) went through a similar stage during the summer, i though she was ready to potty train as taking her nappy off but it turned out she just wanted no clothes on, luckily she keeps her clothes on when we are out but as soon as we get home she takes her trousers off as does her 5 year old sister (AS).

[cyberseraphim]

(5.7) Yes - looks totally real but nothing comes out. I had thought about posting a question but was worried search engines might pick it up for the wrong reasons. He chooses to do it in his bed under his tent canopy (so far..)

[sickofsocalledexperts]

that makes me feel relieved Cyber! My boy now knows to do it in his room, but he is not quite clear that it's only when he's ALONE in his room. To him it's just an entirely natural activity, so I have had to try and teach him to say "go away" when there's someone else around and he wants his "private time". I had a worry that maybe he's hyper sexualised or something, but I think actually (and DH confirms this) that all boys are at it even at this age, but the nf boys instinctively know not to let people see them in full swing, so to speak!

[PeachyTentativelyPosting]

Have you got that book on ASD toilet training- 'toilert training for individuals on the spectrum and related disorders?'- if not feel free to CAT and I will post it to you,my last baby seems NT atm and my 2 ASD kids are trained at last (ds3 was about 5.5) so you are welcome to it

[runikka]

Many thanks for your messages. It is reassuring to know we are not alone.

I think we do have some information on toilet training and might have to give it a go. We had wondered whether his nappies were bothering him. He generally takes everything off but is contented as long as his nappy is off.

I have ordered a popper vest but I suspect he will figure it out or just pull it over his shoulders. We will persevere in trying to make him know it isn't always acceptable but he doesn't get social stories.

Many thanks again

[borderslass]

my son has adhd, severe learning disability,communiction problems and undiagnosed autism and is 15 and still takes his clothes off as soon as he comes home from school, he will only wear his boxer shorts, he is hypersensitive which is quite common he has only just started doing this again. he stopped for a couple of years he used to run around with no clothes on in the garden in the snow as well. We don't tend to force the issue he wears them when going out doesn't get dressed at weekends.

[wraith]

if clothing removal is the issue you canlook into undresser jumpsuits,

there meant for althimers but would work well if you can find one small enough,

saveexpress.de may be of help

there zippered in the back so he cant get to it