Toilet training help

[whenwilligetsomesleep]

I have a DS with ASD who is 3 1/2. He has some speech but at a two word level and limited understanding of speech. For a year now he has been put on the toilet at change time. He has just started doing wees on the toilet when asked and is happy with that. He refuses to go near the toilet for a poo and never has. He has constantly wet nappies between toilet times and never announces that he needs a wee although he does tell me when he is going to poo. My question is when do we withdraw nappies and what if he can't actually feel when he needs to go wee? Also how do I persuade him to poo on the toilet. He gets upset if I try. Any advice or tips would be helpful. Thanks for reading!

I will search for my old threads on this tomorrow and post them. I got some excellent advice here

1. Is he physically ready to be trained? Holds wee for about 40-45 mins? Has roughly set times for poop? Goes to a particular place when he has to poo?
2. If yes, then is he ready to sit on the toilet? (eg mine will sit at home but not elsewhere). If no, then work on desensitising him first. Even if he goes in the toilet and comes out a second later, reward him. We used ABA for that.
3. If he is happy to sit, then simply prompt him/physically sit him on it every 10-15 mins. You will eventually catch a wee and or poo. Reward it and keep going
4. Have a word and sign for toilet and e consistent.

This has worked for us at home. Hoping to generalise it in the day care and other social settings in coming months.

Oh and we went cold turkey on nappies.

Thanks for the advice salondon. Much appreciated. I'm not sure he is ready. He will wee on the toilet if I sit him on and tell him too and obviously I praise him a lot but a few minutes later he will be wet again. It's like he's just constantly peeing! Poos he is adamant he won't go near the toilet. Have bought some stickers he likes as a reward to encourage him. I don't know why he is getting so upset by poos on the toilet as he has never actually done one.

it sounds from your second post if he isn't physically ready - if he really can't hold wee for more than a few minutes then its too soon.

The only other tip I have (for when he is ready) is the only time the sensory stuff worked in our favour. Turned out DS hated being in wet trousers, so it only actually took two wee 'accidents' to make the link in his head between not going to the toilet and being in a physically uncomfortable state. I think sometimes we let DCs run round in just pants and are very quick to clean them up, he did a massive wee in jeans when I was in the shower on his third day of proper toilet training and it made all the difference.

(Of course I'm not advocating child cruelty here, simply letting cause and effect work a couple of times and see if that helps.)

DS was much later for poo as well but I was pretty good at predicting it and it came in its own time.

Thanks Polter & Wilson. I think you are right and he isn't physically ready. Would much rather be patient and wait until he is. Really appreciate the advice given. The ladies on the special needs boards are so lovely and helpful. Thanks!