Potty Training Stubborn Children With Disabilities

Many parents struggle with potty training their children. Parents of children with disabilities have additional obstacles to overcome during this important developmental process. Communication limitations, physical barriers and behavioral problems may impede potty training and frustrate both parents and children. While the basic premise of toilet training is the same, some precautions and adaptations must be taken into consideration when working with children with disabilities.

Take Your Time

• There is no time limit for when a child with a disability must be toilet trained and no two children toilet train exactly the same way. Avoid comparing your child to other children and avoid setting unrealistic goals for having your child trained. Placing unnecessary pressure on yourself and your child only makes you both more frustrated and impede progress.

Be Sure Your Child Can Communicate Basic Needs

• Your child should be able to communicate the need to "go potty" or that he has soiled himself. This communication may be verbal or nonverbal. Some children may use simple signs or point to a symbol on a communication board to express their needs. Your child should also be able to follow simple commands such as "sit down" and pull his pants up and down with or without assistance.

Check for the Child's Readiness

• A child must be developmentally ready to toilet train to be successful. Observe the child to determine if he takes his diaper off or expresses discomfort when wet or dirty. The child should be dry and clean some or most nights to indicate adequate bowel and bladder control. He should also respond to positive reinforcement, which means he increases positive behaviors when he is rewarded. For example, if offered a sticker, piece of candy or some other reward, he responds appropriately to requests.

Adapt the Environment to Your Child's Needs

• Children with sensory impairments may require bathroom adaptations to toilet train. If your child is sensitive to smells, she may dislike the bathroom due to smells, including air fresheners or cleaning products. Using fragrance free products or running a bathroom exhaust fan may help. Children may also find toilet seats uncomfortable or cold. Padded seats are available that sit directly on the toilet, and the seat may be warmed by rubbing it with a towel. Explore the environment and consider your child's limitations, as well as other adjustments that may be beneficial.

Observe Routines

• Most children with disabilities perform better when they follow a consistent routine. Observe your child's eating and drinking routine and determine when he typically becomes wet or dirty. If he typically becomes wet or dirty 30 minutes after eating or drinking, then sit him on the toilet 30 minutes after meals or snacks. Maintaining a consistent routine for meals, snacks and bathroom time will help the child know what to expect and improve his chances of success.

Use Encouragement and Rewards

• Use encouragement and rewards to encourage positive steps toward toilet training. Rewarding one step at a time encourages the child without overwhelming her. Reward her for sitting on the potty for the first time, staying seated for a few seconds or a couple of minutes and eliminating in the potty. Try different reinforcers to determine which are effective for your child. Examples are nonverbal reinforcement such as clapping or showing a thumbs-up sign, verbal reinforcement such as, "Great job sitting on the potty" or "Yay, you went pee-pee," playing with toys or reading books while seated or receiving a sticker to place on a chart. Food rewards such as small candies or crackers are also appropriate.