Tips for toilet training autistic DD5?

[comradelouise]

Hi, we are 3 weeks in to using pull ups and taking to the potty every hour and not having any luck. So far she did one wee on the potty, but not intentionally - she was sat on it in front of the TV for 20mins.

I showered her with praise and a reward of beetroot crisps, but she still never requests the potty. She has a twin who is toilet trained and also comes with her, but peer pressure doesn't seem to help either!

She goes to a specialist school and part of me thinks she just isn't ready. But the school seems to think the longer you leave it the harder it is.

Anyone got any tips for success? Do I just need to take the leap and try big girl pants, even though she never asks for the potty?

As with an NT toddler - pull-ups do not give much sensory feedback that weeing in them is bad because they're designed to wick away the mousture immediately. You could try just pants at home, or even pants with pull-ups on top if she's willing, as that could give the feeling of wet pants sgainst skin to trigger a thought about the toilet. Between where you're at and the child asking, there is also just a step of sitting on the potty or toilet for 2-5 min every hour, and then every 2 hours.

How is DD at recognising and communicating other needs?

Can you leave the pull up off at home?

Is DD drinking enough and have you ensured she isn’t constipated (that can make knowing when you need to go to the toilet harder)?

What strategies does the school use? It can help to be using the same strategy.

She's definitely drinking enough. I think you're both right, I just need to take the plunge and try proper pants. I'm just nervous about it being a messy uphill struggle!

She does communicate other needs pretty well - her language has come on a lot recently. But she does tend to go silent when paralyzed by choice, and is also not fussy about sitting around in a wet/dirty nappy