I've read over and over that when a child shows interest in the potty or discomfort at having a wet or dirty diaper, it's time to potty-train. As Quinn hasn't been in daycare where he needed to be potty trained, I really haven't worried about, figuring I'd wait for his cue.
But now that I'm learning about Sensory Processing Disorder, I'm realizing that cue may never come. He is PERFECTLY happy to spend the entire day in a wet diaper if I let him. He never complains about the feel, smell, whatever - in fact, he doesn't even seem to notice.
I got a little bench potty a few months ago, and while he loves to drag it all over the house and use it to step up to things he's not supposed to reach, he dislikes sitting on it. So I got him a potty seat that goes on top of the regular toilet seat. That he likes. He drags his potty bench over to it, steps up to sit on the potty and has a lovely time opening the little cubby door next to the toilet, unrolling the toilet paper, asking me to identify the fall foilage on the potpourri envelope. After a while he puts the potpourri back, closes the cubby door and says very cheerfully, "All done potty!" Then he hops down. NOT ONCE has he done anything in the toilet - and it's the same story at school, where he's taken to the potty each morning.
I'd love to hear any ideas, or things that worked for you!!
9 comments:
Well, before bath is always a good one. Plunk him on the pot before he goes into the tub each night.
After each meal, especially after a large meal.
Don't ask, "do you have to go?" Just says, "it's time to sit on the pot" or whatever. If given a choice, they'll say "no thanks" almost every time! ;)
Since he's home with you, you can take him after each meal, at the beginning of the potty learning.
Now I know it's controversial, but I still did it (and it worked LIKE.A.CHARM). :)
M and M's: one for a pee and two for a poop. Have the bag in your hand. Ask him if he'd like one? Yah, I know, horrible, aren't I?? LOL But I swear, it works!!
First kid trained at 2 1/2. Second kid trained at 2 3/4.
Both girls, so that usually makes a difference.
Good luck,
Snick :)
Hey, I'm not above a little bribery... I'll try it...
If he didn't have SPD, I'd suggest rewards, but I know that didn't work for my grandson who avoided the toilet for months and still often has to be dragged there.
So here's something to try and sorry if you already know all of this. Kids will generally pee about 10 minutes after waking from sleep or a nap. They shouldn't be put on the toilet right after waking because the cold causes them to seize up and then they lose the need to go-until they're off the seat and warm and comfy again. Kids also have a bowel movement about 30 minutes after eating. So maybe you could create a schedule. You won't catch him every time, but if he always sits on the toilet at regular times and those regular times coincide with meals and snacks and sleeping, something is likely to happen.
Ruby, I have been putting him on the potty right when he gets up. I'll adjust the schedule a bit and see if that works. Thanks!!
Give him something. Reward factor. kids would surely love it than ending into having some Anti Bacterial/Anti Biotic cream to him :D
My daughter had some sensory issues, nothing major, and still has a significant speech delay. She didn't train until last April when she was FOUR AND A HALF. There was just no way she was going to do it sooner - I had to wait until she was ready. None of the "tips and tricks" people suggest worked for her until she was ready. She just isn't your typical kid, she's unique. :-) But once she was ready it went quick (days). So maybe you just need to wait longer?
Allison is 5 now and never has accidents or anything, though she still wears a diaper at night and occasionally will poop in it. :-(
I just found your blog (read your post on APC) so I'm not familiar with your whole story but thought I'd chime in.
Eileen
jkunstman @ new . rr . com
It's soooo relieving to find a blog that struggles with the same issues!! So, my 4.5 yr old daughter Morgan (one of a twin) is a sensory seeker. To add to this she has cerebral palsy (hemi - one side of the body very stiff so constant physio is needed and OT for fine motor skills), and her and her brother were born at 27 weeks (Morgan weighed 410g and Konnor 720g). This means developmental and physical delays. Besides all this they have been such troopers and have been victors over much of the above. The only challenge now is Morgan's sensory seeking. Our OT is not only working on the fine motor skills, but also helping Morgan identify for herself which sensory exercises are needed in order to calm herself down when she's disorganised so that she can focus on things like fine motor skills and gonig to the loo!!. At home we have all sorts of crash pads, swings, bouncy cushions, balance boards, weighted blankets, hanging bars and ladders. HOWEVER......when she has not calmed herself down sufficiently, out comes the wees and the poos without her feeling them. But after 8 months of persevering with OT and without putting a diaper on, only at night, she is sloooowly but surely identifying that urge to urinate etc. We've had to be very very firm with her as well. It can be very frustrating having to clean up soiled clothing and bedding constantly, but the perseverance is paying off. the reward system has also been very beneficial. We'd like her to put her own stickers on the reward chart, but being a sensory seeker this gets destroyed almost immeidately. So gold stars or gorgeous fairy stickers pasted on her arms and forehead work just as well. it's going to take a couple more months even a year, but she'll get there. I think it's important to get your sensory seekers off to an occupational therapist to teach your child when and how to apply organised sensory stimation. I hope that this has provided at least SOME useful information. I will be reading the other comments now, so that I can also learn a few tricks of the trade!!! Thanks guys. xxxxxx Robyn
It's soooo relieving to find a blog that struggles with the same issues!! So, my 4.5 yr old daughter Morgan (one of a twin) is a sensory seeker. To add to this she has cerebral palsy (hemi - one side of the body very stiff so constant physio is needed and OT for fine motor skills), and her and her brother were born at 27 weeks (Morgan weighed 410g and Konnor 720g). This means developmental and physical delays. Besides all this they have been such troopers and have been victors over much of the above. The only challenge now is Morgan's sensory seeking. Our OT is not only working on the fine motor skills, but also helping Morgan identify for herself which sensory exercises are needed in order to calm herself down when she's disorganised so that she can focus on things like fine motor skills and gonig to the loo!!. At home we have all sorts of crash pads, swings, bouncy cushions, balance boards, weighted blankets, hanging bars and ladders. HOWEVER......when she has not calmed herself down sufficiently, out comes the wees and the poos without her feeling them. But after 8 months of persevering with OT and without putting a diaper on, only at night, she is sloooowly but surely identifying that urge to urinate etc. We've had to be very very firm with her as well. It can be very frustrating having to clean up soiled clothing and bedding constantly, but the perseverance is paying off. the reward system has also been very beneficial. We'd like her to put her own stickers on the reward chart, but being a sensory seeker this gets destroyed almost immeidately. So gold stars or gorgeous fairy stickers pasted on her arms and forehead work just as well. it's going to take a couple more months even a year, but she'll get there. I think it's important to get your sensory seekers off to an occupational therapist to teach your child when and how to apply organised sensory stimation. I hope that this has provided at least SOME useful information. I will be reading the other comments now, so that I can also learn a few tricks of the trade!!! Thanks guys. xxxxxx Robyn
Thanks, Robyn - some great ideas here!!
Post a Comment