ASD toilet training:sensitivity alert, could be TMI

[cyberseraphim]

DS1 is 4 (turned 4 at end of March) and is ASD. We started toilet training 2 weeks ago. The nursery suggested it and we decided to try although I felt it was 50/50 whether it would work. Two weeks on, we have had some moderate success. He can stay dry for long periods of time (he is almost always dry overnight though we haven't tested theory to destruction). He is happy to sit on the toilet for 5-10 mins at a time. He used the toilet successfully (wee) on saturday morning and on friday night emptied the contents of his nappy into the toilet (poo). However I still feel we have a bit to go to re inforce the idea and to teach him to anticipate. He can follow instructions if explained simply and he can understand and say wet/dry/dirty.

Any more ideas for what to do?

My two boys both used a social story to help them understand what they were supposed to be doing. They were very basic - just little pictures with small captions.

With ds1 (then 4yrs) it worked within a week. He was happy to go straight from nappies to pants. He also loved stickers so used to get one put on his T-shirt every time he sat on the potty chair.

With ds2 (also just turned 4yrs at the time) it took several months. He disliked wearing pants (sensory problems) and so we had to build it up really slowly. We started off with just a couple of minutes each day and then built it up slowly until he was able to cope all day.

Mine are both still wet at night so you're doing better there than I am.

It sounds like he is not far off getting it at all Cyber! I used a little chocolate reward when he did his business in the loo, and I used to sit him on there for ages when I predicted he'd need to go. Other useful tips given me - make the loo a "desination of choice", so he likes being there - we had Disney posters up, books by the loo and a comfy kid's loo seat that was all his own. On the other side, if he did wees or poos on the floor in the living room, I took him smartly upstairs for a shower (which he hates). Also crucial I think was never putting a nappy on him again, even though it made long car journies a nail-biting experience and there were accidents. I don't think you can do a half-way house on it though, and putting on nappies when out is a mixed message. But to be honest your lad sounds like he has pretty much got the idea already and you just need to keep going and he'll be there (nb it did take me months, and quite a lot of standing outside the loo making encouraging sounds, I don't want to make it sound like I had all the answers but once he got it, he never looked back!). Good luck!