Toilet help

[elliejjtiny]

DS2 is 4 and newly toilet trained. He has hypermobility, hypotonia and gross motor delay. He had one of those potty chairs with the high sides which he could just about manage to get on by himself but struggled getting off. He's now decided that potties are for babies and he wants to use the toilet.

Is there anything I can buy to help him use the toilet on his own. We have a step which he uses at the sink but he doesn't have the co-ordination to stand on the step, turn round and sit on the toilet. We have tried the disabled toilet at DS1's school which is lower than ours and has child sized rails but he can't manage that either. We have one of those childrens toilet seats which stops him falling in. At the moment I'm lifting him on and off the toilet but it would be nice if he could do it himself as when he needs to go, he needs to go right then and he has had a few accidents while waiting for me to turn the cooker off or finish changing the baby's nappy. We are seeing the OT next week but I thought I'd ask here first.

Hello elliejjtiny,

We were in EXACTLY the same position as you. DD2 is now 4.11, newly toilet trained and has shocking balance and coordination.

There is absolutely nothing on the market so we contacted 'remap', it's a charity and they have skilled tradesmen/craftsmen (or people if I'm being pc) and they will make or adapt something that cannot be bought commercially.

We now have a stool which has 2 high handles that reach up to her hips and she is now totally confident stepping up, turning around and sitting on the toilet. She also uses it to get in and out of the bath which we never thought she would do. It's such a success Remap are now making us one for our downstairs loo and also adapting a stool to hlp her get into her own chair at the kitchen table.

They ask for a donation or cover their costs but it's up to you. To give you an idea, our bathroom stool cost them £11.

HTH

www.remap.org.uk/

We've got one of these which DD (3, CP) can just about get up onto and turn herself around to sit down on. At the moment she will still use the potty chair, and anyway, isn't yet at the stage where she can tell us that she needs it.