Autism Toilet Training Readiness Checklist

Autism is a serious developmental disorder that usually develops before the age of 3. It's characterized by severe communication difficulties, language problems and behavioral issues.

Autistic children usually don't respond to their own name and often do not appear to hear when someone speaks to them. They also live by their routine, and any variance on their routine can severely disturb them. All of these symptoms of autism combine to make toilet training an autistic child a very challenging feat. However organized parents who are ready to help their child make the leap will find the process to be doable.

Making Sure Your Child is Ready

• Before you start toilet training your autistic child, make sure she is ready for the transition. Children who are ready to be toilet trained show signs of awareness that they are wet or soiled. They may bring you a diaper after they've used the one they're wearing.

  Some children who are severely autistic may not understand why they shouldn't remain in a wet or soiled diaper. You may need to wait longer before you toilet train them.

What You'll Need

• Before you actually start the process of toilet training, make sure you have everything you need. Use clothing that's easy to take on and off. Pull-up diapers by themselves never allow your child to feel wet, so use underwear inside of the pull-ups. Another good option is to use training underpants, which are thicker than regular underpants, and plastic pants over them.

  Many children also find colorful pictures to be helpful with toilet training. The Autism Program of Illinois recommends that you create a picture schedule showing all the steps of toileting. Review the schedule with your autistic child two or three times per day until he knows it well. Also autistic children live by their routine, so make sure the toileting routine is exactly the same every time. During every toilet time, point to the pictures in the schedule and make the connection between what your child is doing and the new routine she's learning.

Chart Your Child's Toilet Habits

• After you have what you need and you've determined your autistic child is ready for toilet training, begin to chart his toileting habits. Note the time of each bowel movement and wet diaper for about three or four days. Also pay attention to what time each meal and drink is taken.

  Starting with day five, use the chart you made to plan when you will take your child to the toilet. Schedule toilet times to coincide with the times most bowel movements or wet diapers happened, according to your chart. Your child may resist going to the toilet because it breaks her routine, but once you get her into adding toilet time into the routine, this habit of most autistic children should work in your favor.