It can be difficult to successfully potty train a child with special needs.It can be difficult for a child with special needs to learn to potty train.Depending on the type and severity of the special needs, it is possible to potty train most children with some planning, a little extra effort and some help.
Step 1: Determine if your child can potty train.
It is safe for your child to begin toilet training if they are physically ready.It can be detrimental to the potty training process if you force your child to begin too early.Either wait or create measures to help them succeed if they are not ready.The following are some ways to determine if your child is ready.Is it possible for them to sit without support?Can they squat without losing their balance?Can they walk on their own?Is it possible for them to stay dry for an hour at a time?
Step 2: Understand your child's needs.
It's important to make sure your child is ready for toilet training.It will help to determine where you child's ability to sense their own need to use the bathroom is, and how they process through the steps of toileting.If they are not ready, you can either help them or wait for them to be ready.The following are some ways to determine if your child is ready.Can they tell the difference between being wet and dry?Can they sense when it's time to go to the bathroom?Is it possible for them to undress themselves without help?
Step 3: They should get approval from their doctor.
If you have a child with special needs, you should speak to their doctors frequently.Inform your child's doctor if you want to start potty training.The doctor can talk to you about the readiness of your child to begin potty training, which can vary greatly by child, especially with special needs.During the process, having a discussion with your child's doctor may be helpful.
Step 4: Don't forget to have all equipment ready.
As you assess readiness for beginning toilet training, make sure you have everything you need.Child toilets or seat extenders are common toilet training needs.Determine the need for equipment that is specific to your child's needs.You may need to consider equipment or logistical considerations.There are portable toilets, hand rails, and appropriate access to the sink that your child may need.Take into account the practicalities of your child's access to the bathroom.Will you need to make adjustments to your home if it is easy to reach?There are cleaning supplies for the training process.
Step 5: Children with physical disabilities may have difficulties in potty training.
Children with physical special needs should be potty trained in a different way.Knowing how potty training will be affected by your child's specific problems will allow you to tailor each stage of the training so that they have the best chance of success.If your child has special needs that make walking or standing difficult, potty training should focus on different mobility options as well as how to give them more time to get to the bathroom.A child that is blind may need more detailed instructions due to not being able to model behavior they view, or they might need instructions on how to locate the toilet bowl or toilet tissue paper.Children with paralysis or nerve damage may have difficulty recognizing the feeling of their internal organs nearing capacity so they may need help developing a schedule.
Step 6: Evaluate the mental or emotional difficulties of potty training kids.
There are different challenges in potty training for children with mental or emotional special needs.Some potential difficulties can be caused by an impaired level of comprehension or understanding of what the parent is trying to get them to do.If you are aware of the potential obstacles, you can meet your child where they are functionally and work from there.The potty training process can take a long time if you have emotional, mental, developmental, or intellectual disabilities.Remember to celebrate small steps with your child.
Step 7: Establish a schedule for potty training.
One method that may be helpful for potty training children with special needs is for the parent to set up a fairly precise daily potty schedule.Creating something visual or even rewarding for the child to view helps them organize and keep track of what they are working on.The schedule should be based on when the child tends to go to the bathroom.Your child's schedule should be observed.When a child does certain things, the parent can try to get the child to the toilet before they use their diaper.If the child uses the toilet successfully, the parent should praise them and reward them so that they can begin to form connections.Being able to complete a task successfully, as well as the connection between how their body feels when it needs to go and the toilet, will help them continue to be successful.
Step 8: When is the right time for your child to go to the bathroom?
It is possible to teach a child to recognize when their bladder is full if there are no paralysis or nerve damage disabilities.Help the child develop a schedule for toileting if there are any disabilities.When they drink a lot and go to the bathroom, help the child by paying attention to them.They can use this to make connections to their sensations.If you put a nonabsorbent cloth in your child's diaper, they may begin to feel wet.Discuss with your child how their stomach feels when they are full and how it feels after they use the bathroom.Help them connect the sensations.If your child is paralyzed or has nerve damage, make a schedule with them.Help the child get used to the schedule.
Step 9: The behaviors are modeled.
It can be helpful to allow your child to watch you model the behavior of using the toilet.Children copy other children and adults all the time.Let it work for you.Some children with mental disabilities are able to pick up toilet training from their parents.If it works to get the child to use the toilet on their own, having your child watch is worth the embarrassment.
Step 10: There are devices for children with challenges.
There is a way to help potty train children with physical disabilities.It may be helpful to use a portable potty during the training process if you have a physical disability.The child can have easy access to a toilet while learning a schedule.As you progress through the training process, use any of the devices to help your child potty train.If you use a portable potty, move it closer to the bathroom.It will help your child to have longer distances to reach the potty.Depending on the age and disability of your child, it may be necessary to get an adult sized portable toilet.Consider the addition of hand rail, step, or back rest adaptive devices to help with getting on the potty or staying on it while training.It is possible to dress the child in easy to remove clothing, such as loose fitting clothing or clothing with fastenings.This may make it easier for the child to use the bathroom.
Step 11: It is possible to adapt to visual disabilities and sight deficiencies.
The toilet training process is more challenging for people with disabilities.Without sight ability, your child won't be able to see modeling behavior as well as the smaller tasks involved in toileting.Language, hearing, and touch sensations can help your child understand how the process works.Wait a little longer to begin toilet training with your child.When you are ready to start, allow your child to explore the bathroom and help them locate and identify the toilet and paper.Let your child talk to you about the process of toileting and explain all the steps.Musical potties can be used to reward your child for successful use of the toilet.
Step 12: Plan for potty training if you have hearing or communication disabilities.
Hearing and communication will greatly impact training for a special needs child.It may be easier if your child is proficient in sign language.You can give your child visual observation and explanations to help with potty training.Make sure you work on one part of the process at a time so that you don't overwhelm your child.If you can, let your child watch you use the bathroom.When training your child, use the same signs, gestures, and facial expressions.Put a few drops of food coloring in the toilet bowl and have your child guess what the color will be after they urinate.
Step 13: Continence problems can be a result of special needs.
The toileting process may not be hard for your child's special needs.Problems with continence and frustration with the training process can be experienced by your child.To get your child used to going to the toilet, make a regular potty schedule.It may help with the frustration of accidents.You may have to help your child with changes to their diet.Consider the special needs of children with Cerebral palsy.Developing awareness of needing to go to the bathroom should be the focus.Children with Cerebral palsy may have similar difficulties to children with Spina Bifida.If you want to teach your child to use a catheter for urination and visit the bathroom on a schedule for toileting, you may need to focus on toilet training more.Some children with disabilities may not be able to completely potty train.
Step 14: Put toilet training to behavioral or emotional needs.
If your child has special needs, toilet training difficulties may include low motivation, concentration, or a lack of response to typical reinforcements.It is difficult for children with these needs to adjust to change in their daily lives.Take training slowly and focus on one small change at a time as not to overwhelm your child with changes all at once.Adapt your training methods to your child's interests.If your child has a favorite cartoon character, try to buy underwear with that character on them and make a game out of trying to keep them dry.The stress of change will be alleviated by making it fun for your child and connecting it to something they are interested in.
Step 15: Intellectual Disabilities and Developmental Disorders can be accommodated in your child's training.
Understanding that the time to achieve successful training may be significantly longer than expected is a key to potty training a special needs child.The process may need to be broken down into smaller tasks for your child to master.Consider the following and be patient.Cater to your child's verbal ability.If they have a lower verbal ability, use facial expressions and modeling.Training should be simple and concrete.Your child can develop concrete ideas into actions with the help of visual aids.Rewarding them with treats or play time will increase their likelihood of repeating the behavior.It is not advisable to use punishments or reprimands as they may cause a regression or further delay in successful toileting.
Step 16: It's a good idea to visit a specialist.
If you have been consulting with your child's doctors to determine if they are ready and to deal with any issues that may arise, you should be good to go.If you are having a hard time potty training your child, you should consult with the doctor.If the child has special needs, your doctor may be able to give you a referral to a specialist.These professionals can help the parents and suggest plans that have never been tried before.
Step 17: You can join a group.
Other parents of special needs children will be your largest source of support.It would be helpful to join a group of other parents with the same special needs in order to share their experiences and ideas.The parent groups can provide emotional support for a parent of a child with special needs.Try the following to find groups in your area.There are groups for your child's special needs.You can search for parenting groups by visiting a doctor or specialist.You can search online for organizations.
Step 18: Talk to a mental health professional.
It can be difficult to care for a child with special needs.Your health is just as important as your child's.In order to provide the best care for your child, you need to take care of yourself as well.If you want someone to talk to while you are raising your special child, make an appointment with a counselor or therapist.
Step 19: You can adjust your expectations.
If you are a parent of a child with special needs, you will have adjusted your expectations for life with your child.All children with special needs are different from each other.Children with the same type of special needs, such as blindness, might differ in how they approach new tasks or how well they cope with them.Your child's needs may affect the course of potty training.Consider the following.Since potty training is started at a young age, children with any type of special needs might have more trouble understanding or doing what is expected of them.It is possible that your child will need more support, encouragement, and reminders to use the toilet than other children.Your child may have a different plan for potty training.
Step 20: Understand and be patient.
It can be hard to remember that accidents will happen during potty training as it is a learning process.When organs in the body reach capacity, these bodily functions automatically occur.The child learns how to use a toilet instead of a diaper when they are nearing their capacity because of potty training.It is difficult for a child to recognize their body's signs.Don't ridicule or yell at your child when accidents happen.Negative adult reactions can cause a child to slow down, stop, or even regression.
Step 21: Stay positive.
When in front of your child, try and remain positive, calm, helpful, consistent, and patient.It may show if you are stressed out about the lack of progress.It is possible that your child will pick up on the fact that you are upset with them.In a healthy way, it's important to express and feel that frustration.The child is not able to hear if you are in your partner or another adult.