Potty Training??

I apologize if I have overlooked information on potty training. I was wondering if you had any suggestions on getting a SPD child to go in the potty??




My son is almost 3 1/2 and attending preschool. At school, he will usually go in the urinal with the other boys. At home, he rarely will go in the big or little potty - or even the little boy urinal I just bought. He will sometimes refuse underwear (very soft!) and always refuses pull-ups. Most often, he wants his "diaper".

Somedays, he seems so sensitive that he will request a "diaper change" after just peeing once. Other days, he will refuse all diaper changes and go with an extremely full, wet diaper until it practically falls off him.

It feels like we've tried everything (rewards, bribes, timer, ignoring, peer-pressure, etc.) When we were using the timer, I missed the right time by just a few seconds. The look on his face as he was peeing in his underwear was a look of...... confusion... Like, he didn't understand what that feeling was. (This was after a rather successful day of peeing in the potty.)

I don't know what to try next...!
Thank you!
Carissa



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starstarstarstarstar 		What worked for me...
by: Anonymous

Carissa,
I feel your pain!!! My son was nearing 3 1/2 when I finally got him trained. The technique I used was not really a "technique" and maybe would even be frowned on, but it worked, so I'll share. I started, at times when I felt he may need to go, taking him to the bathroom and basically just making him sit there until some pee came out. It was sometimes awful, sometimes I just had to hold him while he sat there, and sometimes we were in the bathroom for 30 minutes until something came out. But I think it helped him to recognize the feeling. None of the other "tricks" worked for me either. But a few days of this and then when I'd take him in, he'd just pee so we wouldn't have to sit in there all night. And then after around a month, he started telling me when he needed to go, and then after another maybe 2 months, I stopped having to go in and help him. He still prefers to sit even though the other little boys stand, but I'm sure you'd agree that who cares as long as we aren't in diapers anymore!

Oh, and by the way, my son used the potty at school as well. That's so frustrating when they tell you to start putting him in underwear "because he's fine when he's here". Of course, when I put him in underwear, he had an accident every day. So I put him back in pull ups and started holding him on the pot every day! Like I said, it sounds sort of cruel, and it isn't fun.... but I think it really did help him to recognize the sensations associated with going to the bathroom. Also, I have the kind of potty seat that has handles on either side... if that's not what you have, you might try and it may make him feel more secure to have something to hold onto. The potties at their schools are so little and I think they prefer them to the big potty at home and that's part of the problem as well.

Good luck! You will both survive, I promise.
-Jessica
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starstarstarstarstar 		Potty Training...I know!!!
by: Laura

Hi Carissa,

My son is three and a half years old as well. He is having the same exact troubles with potty training as your son. His OT has started the Therapeutic Listening with him. The "Ease CD's" have actually helped him. For about a week now he has only had about three accidents and has actually pulled the potty over and gone by himself!

I also tried the feel and learn diapers to hopefully help him learn the cues his body was telling him to go. I really believe that it is the Therapeutic Listening that is helping him. Also... from what I hear from other parents (sorry to be so graphic) going #2 is a challenge this.... has been a piece of cake for him I think due to the Listening Therapy!

Hope this helps,
Laura

Michele Mitchell comments...

You are right on Laura!! Thanks for your input. I too know many parents who have reported positive potty training results with Therapeutic Listening... especially, the "Ease CD's" that you spoke of. Keep up the good work!!
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starstarstarstarstar 		Thank you
by: Anonymous

I am so glad I found this site. It is a great resource. Thank you for your time and energy. God bless you both.

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