Kids diagnosed with ASD take longer to master numerous of their daily skills. Due to this, toilet training special needs take some additional time. Thus, caregivers and parents of such kids should not take much stress because there is always a solution. Successful potty training is achievable with plenty of reinforcement, patience, and structure. Read to know how to potty train an Autistic child.

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How to Potty Train an Autistic Child?

This section will cover everything you need to know how to potty train autism child:

Can Potty Training a Child with Autism Possible?

Yes. Autistic children can be effectively potty trained as long as they do not experience medical problems that prevent them from carrying a bowel movement or urinating. Therefore, book a physical exam with a paediatrician to make sure your child has no medical problems. 

Symptoms that signify your kid is facing urological issues include:

• Failure to hold pee.
• Bad-smelling urine.
• Stools are dry, tiny, hard, and painful to pass.
• Too little or too much pee.
• Less than 2 bowel movements per week.
• Discomfort when carrying a bowel movement or urinating.

5 Best Potty Training Pants for Special Needs | Special Needs Potty Training Pants

Before you know how to potty train a autistic child, let us discover the best potty-training pants.    

1. Superbottoms Unisex-Baby Cotton Potty Training Pants (Pack of 6)

SuperBottoms padded underwear are simple to wear pull-up potty training pants. They have 3 layers of cotton padding that prevent accidents and leakage. The soft elastics around the back and thighs ensure a snug fit. These training pants are also semi-waterproof and gentle on your little one’s skin.

2. Diaper-Pants Washable-Reusable by Momstouch-Babies

This potty-training underwear is reusable and is ideal for infants 0 – 2 years old who require toilet training or a break from diapers. 100% cotton lining holds up to 1 pee and a PVC top avoids a pool around the baby. To use these PVC diaper pants, wear a diaper pad, diaper or cloth first. They are easy to wash and skin-friendly. These plastic training panties are perfect for unisex babies. 

3. MooMoo Baby 8 Packs Toddler Training Underwear for Boys and Girls

These cotton training pants are perfect for girls and boys aged 6 – 7 years. The inner layers are made of muslin, cotton and TPU, which enhances softness and absorption of urine. They also come with a 6-layer structure. Therefore, these baby-training underpants will absorb more moisture. Comfortable leg holes and a stretch waistband make it simple for the pants to pull up and down. Rinse in water before wearing these diaper pants to your kid.

4. Huggies Complete Comfort Wonder Pants

These large-size baby diaper pants come with a 3D bubble bed that provides softness to your little one’s skin. The 3D layer keeps the surface dry and the triple leak-guard adds additional padding on diaper sides. These Huggies wonder special needs potty pants are disposable and made of chlorine-free material. They absorb wetness for up to 12 hours without rashes or irritation. 

5. Superbottoms Padded Underwear 

These potty-training pants are ideal for growing toddlers or babies (2 – 3 years). It can handle up to 1 pee and is semi-waterproof. The padded underwear comes with a super dry feel layer and 3 layers of 100% cotton padding. The pull-up style makes it easy to use. Furthermore, the soft elastics ensure a cosy fit. 

Problems that Make Toilet Training Challenging for Children with ASD?

Knowing autism and toilet training problems can help you discover diverse methods to meet your kid’s needs:

Physical or Medical Reason

Medical or physical reasons can make potty training for special needs hard. Make sure you tell this to your kid’s paediatrician.

Phobia

Few children with Autism Spectrum Disorder have a fear of sitting on potty seats or hearing flush sounds. 

Language

Autistic children find it difficult to understand and use language. 

Not Aware of Body Signs

Few of these kids are not familiar that their clothes are soiled or wet or they need to visit the toilet.

Follow their Own Routine

Autistic children have their routine of peeing and bowel movements. They may even use the same toilet at school or home. 

What Are the Potty Issues with Autism?

Few kids on the spectrum have bad sensory experiences due to:

• Hard seat or unsteady seat.
• A feeling of cold.
• A loud flush of the toilet.

Autism and Potty Training Age

Many people want to know at what age is an autistic child potty trained. Since every kid has unique needs and skills, there is no golden age to begin toilet training. 

Generally, the average age autistic child potty trained is about 3.3 years when compared to kids with other developmental disabilities. You must look for readiness signs in the behaviour of your kid. Then, learn how to potty train an Autistic child.

Ask the following questions to yourself to identify whether your child is ready to begin potty training:

• Can your kid copy actions?
• Can he/she have good gross and fine motor skills to conduct a toileting routine?
• Can your little one determine the location of the bathroom in the house?
• Can he/she sit on a potty training seat without anyone’s help?
• Can your kid pull down underwear and pants without any help?

When to Take a Break from Toilet Training?

The following signs signify that your child is not ready to be potty trained. He/she needs to take a break for 3 months from potty training before beginning it again:

• If you feel your kid is unaffected by visiting the bathroom and you see no progress signs.
• If you notice your little one has been having more accidents in the toilet over a week.
• If he/she becomes resistant to sit on the toilet or visit the bathroom. 

For more in-depth support, speak to your kid’s occupational therapist or get early intervention. Your little one might not be responding to potty training due to UTI (Urinary Tract Infection) or constipation. Therefore, it’s worth to see a paediatrician if it has been several weeks. Remember, as long as your kid is making progress and it’s a positive experience, continue the procedure. 

How to Potty Train an Autistic Child? | Toilet Training Tips for Autism

Now, let us discover the steps that help you know how to potty train an Autistic child:

Potty Training Autistic 3 Year Old

How to Potty Train a Toddler with Autism?

Teaching independent toilet skills helps you empower kid, address their physical needs without anyone’s help and decrease the risk of complications linked with prolonged diaper use. It will also enhance the quality of life of families with Autistic kids.

These tips will help you ensure successful potty training autistic child age 3:

• Focus on a single step at a time.
• Use cue cards for every step.
• Put your child in underwear instead of diapers.
• If you notice your little one not visiting the bathroom enough, encourage him/her to drink enough water or other fluids like juice and milk.
• Also, make sure he/she is receiving a healthy fibre amount. It’s because this can result in constipation. 
• Keep everything consistent. Try to avoid making sudden alterations to the routine.
• To keep your child comfortable while seated on the toilet for longer, take toys, TV or books into the bathroom. 
• Consider a potty seat with handles. It will make your little one safe while sitting. 
• Give special treats to your child when he/she successfully poops or pees in the toilet. 

How to Potty Train a Non-verbal Child with Autism?

Follow these steps to potty training non verbal kid:

• Wait till your kid shows he/she is ready to be potty trained.
• Shift your kid from diapers to underpants. 
• Put aside some time from your busy schedule and focus towards toilet training at home. You can also get assistance from an expert or another family member.
• Make training fun by allowing your kid to select a toilet seat with cartoons or other fun figures. 

How Do I Know When My Child is Completely Potty Trained?

A fully toilet-trained child will show the following signs:

• Tucking shirts and pulling pants down.
• Independently use a familiar bathroom.
• Tell you clearly when he/she needs to poop and urinate.

FAQ’s

Is delayed potty training a sign of autism?

Yes. It is completely okay if your autistic kid is taking time when potty trained. 

How long does it take to potty train autistic child?

According to one study, kids with Autism Spectrum Disorder take 1.6 years of potty training to stay dry during the daytime. However, to accomplish bowel control, sometimes these children take more than 2 years.  

What to do If my son faces difficulty standing while peeing?

Most kids are used to sitting while urinating. Use a visual chart that depicts how boys use the toilet and how they urinate while standing. You can even take assistance from a male family member if your child is fearful. 

Are autistic children hard to potty train?

Yes, toilet training children with autism can be challenging. Numerous kids with ASD take longer than usual to learn to use the toilet. This delay can be due to several reasons. 

What is the best potty for autistic children?

LuvLap trainer potty seat with ladder is a large potty for disabled child cum toilet seat. It is ideal for potty training boys and girls of 1+ year old. This toilet trainer fits every standard-size toilet. 

The adjustable steps are non-slippery and make climbing simple. Anti-slip pads beneath the seat make seating comfortable. LuvLap trainer potty seat is also easy to fold and assemble. 

Do Autistic Kids Need Diapers?

Children with autism are slower to accomplish milestones. It makes it important to wear big kid-sized diapers, youth pants or pull-ups for numerous years. 

Do you have more tips on how to potty train an Autistic child or potty training special needs? Please tell us in the comment section below.