How to Potty Train a Developmentally Delayed Child
Potty training a child with a developmental delay presents a parent with a unique set of challenges. You may worry about pushing your child, who already faces other struggles, to do something they are not physically or mentally capable of doing. However, there is no evidence-based research available to suggest developmentally delayed children cannot potty train, according to a National Center for Biotechnology Information toilet training publication. Though potty training your child may take longer, she will master this important milestone with time and patience.
Things You'll Need
- Potty training book or poster (optional)
- Reward Chart (optional)
Instructions
Preparation
Use verbal and visual cues early, prior to beginning potty training. He does not have to be completely ready to potty train as long as he has some basic understanding and you are consistent. Check his diaper regularly throughout the day. When he is wet, indicate this by using a verbal cue such as "wet" and then shake your head. Change the diaper and, using a different verbal signal, smile and say "dry." Repeat this routine until you notice he is making the connection between being wet and dry, as recommended in a 2010 American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Healthy Children Toilet Training website article. If your child struggles to understand speech or has a hearing disability replace the verbal signals with easy visual ones. Visual clues can include shaking and nodding your head or waving your hand from side to side or up and down. As long as your child is able to eventually associate a visual clue for wet and one for dry, you can do what is easiest for you and your child. Buy a potty chair and leave it where your child can see it. The best place is in the bathroom so that she can associate the potty with the toilet. Let her examine it and sit on it while wearing a diaper. Introducing the potty into her routine early on should stop any resistance or fear when training does begin, recommends an Autism Today website article. Observe your child for signs he is ready to potty train. Nobody knows or understands your child's care needs like you; don't be afraid to go with your parental instinct. If he is dry for long periods, two hours or more, and can follow basic command and instructions from you, consider beginning to train him. Potty Training
Use visual aids to help explain the process to your child in pictures. Ideally, it should be something she can look at every time she is on the potty such as a potty training book or poster. Looking at pictures of the entire process, from pulling down her pants to washing her hands, will give her a guide and something to follow. Children with special needs respond well to visual instruction, according to the Autism Today website. Take his dirty diapers to the potty and empty the contents into it, recommends the Center for Biotechnology Information website. Do not forget to use your verbal or visual cues at the same time. For instance if he does a bowel movement in his diaper shake your head and say "Mess". Than take the diaper to the potty and empty it, smile and say "clean". Using the cues he is already familiar with is important in order to prevent confusion. You should also introduce words for urinating and bowel movements if he does not have any already. Arrange for her to have a potty training buddy or mentor. Ideally, this will be a same-sex sibling or family member. This person must be happy with allowing her to accompany them to the bathroom and should be aware of the verbal and visual cues they will need to use. Sit him on the potty with no diaper, at least every hour at first; this will increase the chances of you catching him when he needs to go. Keep him on the potty for at least five minutes or longer if you can manage it. Read to him or let him look at the pictures in his potty training book. Because of his developmental delay, he may not associate the feeling of wanting to go with urinating or having a bowel movement. The longer he sits there the greater chance of success. Keep doing this until he gradually understands that he has to use the potty to go to the toilet. Praise her enthusiastically when she is successful. Clap your hands and tell her how proud you are of her. Food treats make a great incentive and you can phase it out once she is happy with using the toilet, recommends the Healthy Children AAP website. Her confidence will increase when she sees how pleased you are with her progress. Reward charts are another way to provide incentive for a job well done and she will be able to chart her own success. Simply award a star or sticker for each time she uses the potty successfully. A certain number of stars, at your discretion, earns her a treat.
