How to help toilet train a delayed child?

[RebeccaTee]

Hi All!
My daughter is 2 years and 8 months old. For reasons that we're still all unsure of (including her team of therapists and pediatricians) she is delayed globally. Had all genetic testing, blood tests etc they came back normal. No problems during pregnancy or delivery so no one knows.
Anyhow, myself and my partner feel so alone in this journey because we haven't met anyone like her so can't relate. All the things you think about as a parent, birthdays, parties and holidays they're all emotional triggers for us. I have a friend who also has a 2 year old who's younger is toilet trained, having full blown conversations etc. Honestly, when I attend clubs with my daughter most of the time I end up in tears worried about her and what her future will be like. She's started to say a few words now so I'm so proud of her. She walks with a physio walker as she has hypermobility and low muscle tone. She knows what to do on the potty, will wee and poop etc but I'm wondering if there is anyone out there with a tot or who had a tot with gdd or autism that had some form of communication, buttons or something that helped them communicate they needed the potty? Anyone who can relate and has positive stories I'd love to here, this journey is so emotionally taxing. Love her dearly though and she's really coming along. :)

My little boy is 2 years 10 months, delayed development due to being premature (and a few other health problems) .

I’m only just introducing toilet training. I’ve got some picture cards (think they’re called ASD communication cards) from Amazon and Etsy - I use them for everything but the toilet ones breakdown the steps - pull pants down etc etc . I’ve blue tacked them at his eye level and he can go over and touch the relevant card - takes some practice - so for example we have his fave tv show images near the tv - we would put the show on and touch the card over and over again. He’s now at the stage where he can just go over and touch the card of the show he wants to watch .

With toilet training we’re at the stage where he can sit on the seat - so we touch this card whenever he sits down.

i think it will be a long process to get fully trained but such is life ! X

Thank you. :) Great tips as well! You're right, such is life!

You’ve had some great tips already. I just wanted to add that you might get some more suggestions if you post in the SN Children section

Maybe just wait a bit at this stage in case communication improves soon? My daughter has just turned 3 and we are really struggling with potty training too so I know how hard it is. She has hypotonia and hypermobility too but her delays are mostly physical (gross and fine motor). Her understanding and communication are fine but so far she has not been able to identify when she needs to go beforehand so I also don’t know what else to try. I know how hard it is watching other kids the same age. My daughter is the only one still in nappies in our NCT group. One was even potty training at 2 while my daughter was not even walking at that point.

Also to get more suggestions have a look at the hypotonia Facebook groups. There is one UK based one and one international but mostly US based ones. There are quite a few posts about potty training and lots of people have struggled.