Any suggestions on potty training?????

[brownsfan1970]

Hi all. I've got two I started potty training today. My six year old is special needs and the baby is going to be three in July. I've already got experience having done this with the oldest three kids.
My question is does anyone have any advice for special needs kids? He won't be able to be all the way trained for I don't know how long. He actually has bowel movements while he sleeps. Very little muscle control in that area. He is staying dry for longer periods, so I figured it's now or never to begin as Jordan (the almost three year old) adores Jakob (my six year old) and does everything or in this case doesn't do everything Jakob does. When Jordan saw Jakob not going potty, he decided no way, not til Jakob does.
We've been the reward route, sticker route, you name it. I decided today to just go to underwear cold turkey. I'm still planning on the "GoodNites" for sleep, but this is going to be a long road I'm not looking forward to.
It's been only today thus far, four hours worth and we've already been through five pairs of undies.:gaah
Maybe I don't need advice, just some moral support from my RR friends. :heythere

[funmudder]

I'll give all the moral support I possibly can :hug

we did bribes. one M&M for going #1, and 2 for going #2

Maybe Jakob could be regulated (with fiber or what you find works best) to go #2 just before bedtime?

[BlessedinHim]

I am sure after a while, your 3 yr old will grow to not like having "mud" in his drawers and will learn, just be patient and loving, maybe try to explain why his older sibling cant do what he needs to do to him. I know 3 is pretty young to understand a lot of things, but they do tend to understand more that we think if we just give them the chance.

[CelticMist]

Same site:

http://www.pottytrainingconcepts.com/Potty-Training-Special-Needs/How-to-potty-train-special-needs.htm

http://www.pottytrainingconcepts.com/Potty-Training-Special-Needs/Potty-Training-Special-Needs-Potty-Chair.htm

________________

http://pediatrics.about.com/cs/parentingadvice/a/sp_needs_potty.htm


http://www.babiesonline.com/articles/pottytraining/pottytrainingsecrets.asp

these might have some suggestions on how to potty training Jakob.

Praying for you here!!!

[brownsfan1970]

I'll give all the moral support I possibly can :hug

we did bribes. one M&M for going #1, and 2 for going #2

Maybe Jakob could be regulated (with fiber or what you find works best) to go #2 just before bedtime?

Thanks. :hug
We've done the fiber thing and he was even prescribed a laxative by his pediatrician. Those were both nightmares. Caused horrible diarahea and an even worst rash. Jakob's done great so far today, it's Jordan that keeps having accidents. :scratch
One of his special needs is Apraxia and smells don't bother him at all. It's so weird, stuff that smells good to us smells bad to Jakob, and vice versa, so it completely doesn't bother him when's he's dirty.

[Dolly]

One suggestion for your older son... take his hand and help him sign "toilet" (sign language T rotated back and forth) and say whatever word you're using- toilet or potty- EVERY time you sit him on the toilet. You not only want to get him to keep his pants dry, but you want to teach him to tell you when he needs to go. If he is verbal, try and get him to say the word, too. Signing gives another input mode, and can help reinforce what you want him to do.

Depending on his functioning level, you can also use some sort of picture communication system. Try this website:http://www.mayer-johnson.com/, or you could take a picture of the toilet. Again, this gives another method of input, and can help him understand what he is supposed to do, and help him learn to tell you when he needs to go.

Some kids, even if they are unable to tell you when they need to go, can be toilet conditioned- meaning that they will use the toilet and stay dry (unless you don't take them often enough), but can't indicate the need to go. You have to just kind of learn when to take them either by their behavior or using a particular schedule.

[Dolly]

Oh... and another thing. Reward the heck out of good results. Even if you have to give an M&M for staying dry for an hour.

[Dee]

Since I don't have kids.........let them run around naked in the sand box??? Then hose them off?? :heh

Sorry couldn't resist. Know this is a serious subject. Was for all my nieces and nephews and friends' kids.

See I told y'all I wasn't parent material. :ohno

[brownsfan1970]

Thanks all for the advice. Jakob is verbal and I was on top of it all day yesterday, getting both on the potty at set times. Jordan did better once dad got home. I bought them character underwear which gave some more motivation.
I really think we'll have to go to a pediatric gastronentologist for Jake. He stayed dry except for one time, but had small bms all day in his pants and didn't realize it. He argued with me that he wasn't dirty. Since the smell doesn't bother him and he doesn't realize it, could it be that he doesn't even know? Does he not feel it? He wakes up from sleep and will have a huge bm in his pull up. Only then will he tell me that's he's dirty.
Been there done that with the sandbox Dee.:aha My middle boys are seven months apart, so when they were little, I don't think they wore clothes all summer. It was an easy way to train and since we spent all the time outside, no messes to clean. LOL. :aha The grass was especially green that summer too.:heh

[buzzbee]

I hung a piece of paper on the wall in front of the toilet. Every time they used the potty they got a sticker to put on the paper. They could see their victories right there.

I really let my kids train themselves with me as basically an encourager.

It's frustrating sometimes though. :hug