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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Under pressure to toilet train severely autistic child. AIBU?

129 replies

Dsandnappies · 25/09/2021 22:16

My DS is 3.5, with a diagnosis of ASD and he has an EHCP. Socially, emotionally and intellectually he functions at around 12-18 months old so is quite delayed. He has limited speech and understanding. Paediatrican has referred to him as being on the severe end of the spectrum.

He's not toilet trained because he's just not ready. He doesn't know when he has been, or needs to go. He has no concept of what a toilet is for. He doesn't recognise when he's wet/dirty. If he can get inside his nappy when he has pooed then he will play with it such is the level of his understanding of it (he has never done this at nursery)

His nursery are putting pressure on me to get him out of nappies. They wanted me to switch him to pull ups and sit him on the toilet constantly every day. I reluctantly agreed for a quiet life because they were insisting he was ready, but I knew it wouldn't work.

I trialled it for a few weeks with no results so reverted back to nappies and stopped putting pressure on him to sit on the toilet every day. I'm expecting another baby in a few weeks so to be honest can do without the additional work when I know he isn't ready.

Nursery manager brought it up again yesterday and I told her he's not ready, she said I have to try again and stick at it because they always want to get the children out of nappies by the time they start school. Personally I think the insistence is driven by them wanting to make life easier for them, not nessecarily DS.

This is a nursery for children with SEN btw, and he will be going to a school for children with with autism.

I know my child better than anybody else. I know he's not ready. He might not be ready for another year, he might still be in nappies at 10. Some children with severe ASD are still in nappies at 15.

WIBU to put my foot down and ask them to back off about it or do you think they're in the right?

OP posts:
herculesoffline · 25/09/2021 22:26

You know him best, but it does make sense to start as early as possible to identify areas that he needs support in. Whilst there are many people with intellectual disabilities who use incontinence pads, it's less hygienic. Even with the best care and support in the world, adults who use incontinence pads long term are more likely to suffer broken down skin and UTI - its harder to change a nappy on an adult, once they are 5 or 6 years old they don't fit on a changing table any more and so are limited to places that have adult changing facilities nearby.

Sirzy · 25/09/2021 22:24

Look at the ERIC website which show the legal stance and provide advice how to deal with things.

It’s an awful approach from any nursery but particularly a SEN one

AntiSocialDistancer · 25/09/2021 22:24

I'd tell them to piss off frankly assuming he is as incapable of toileting as he sounds. Or lie Flowers

"Oh yes we do it all the time at home" and cross your fingers behind your back.

shockedNeighbour · 25/09/2021 22:21

I think this is a massive red flag and would be looking for an alternative nursery ASAP.

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