Potty Training Children with Autism Using the Toilet Timer

Potty training a child with autism can require different methods and motivators. Motivators that work for others may be ineffective for children with autism. These children may also find a lot of comfort in their routine, and they may not be interested in changing it. Not every child is going to respond to the same motivators, so it’s important to try different strategies and see which works best for each child.

WHY DO CHILDREN WITH AUTISM NEED A DIFFERENT ROUTINE?

Less Social Motivation

Most children want to start potty training because they want to mimic the behavior of their parents and peers, or they want to be more independent[1]. These desires are not as present in children with autism. They typically don’t have that same social motivation and often prefer to stick with their routine[2].

Verbal Communication

Autistic children can struggle with verbal communication. They may have a hard time telling you when they need to go to the bathroom. They may also have difficulty understanding what you mean when you ask if they need to go[3]. If you aren’t able to communicate, you won’t be able to keep the new habit consistent enough to become a routine.

Over-Stimulation

The bathroom can be a stressful environment for children with autism. There are a lot of new smells, sounds, lights, and sensations. They may be comfortable using diapers and may not find it worthwhile to go through this new and stressful experience.

TRANSITION OBJECTS

In order to help with these issues, it can be helpful to introduce a transition object. A transition object is a toy, book, picture, or any item that your child can take with them to the bathroom. This object should be specifically reserved for bathroom time. It can comfort the child and add a feeling of predictability to their new routine[4].

The Toilet Timer™ is a great option for a transition object. It can help visually communicate when it’s time to go to the bathroom. Timers have proven to be helpful to children with autism as they begin new routines or transition from one activity to another[5].

Also, The Toilet Timer™ is small enough that it’s easy to pack up with the child’s things if they need to go to daycare, a nursery, or to a caregiver. This is important because consistency in a new routine is essential. Anyone who may have a part in the potty-training routine should know about, and use, the transition object².

A COMMUNICATOR

A transition object helps with verbal communication issues because it is a physical object that represents an action or desire. An autistic child may have difficulty saying that they need to go to the bathroom. With the transition object, the child can pick it up when they need to go, encouraging independence in the potty-training process[6]. If they are having a hard time understanding verbal directions, the object can be presented to them to tell them that it’s time to use the bathroom.

When you give a child this object, the physical presence of it will keep them focused on the task they are expected to do. Following the earlier example, the Toilet Timer has a picture of a person using the toilet on it. This will be easy to associate with bathroom time. The child can see the picture and know what is expected of them. Visual cues like this can help avoid tantrums and increase follow-through⁴.

A TIMER

Children with autism may have a hard time dealing with all of the stimulation in the bathroom—new smells, flushing sounds, bright lights, etc. Having a visual representation of how long they have to stay in the bathroom can help the child stay calm, knowing that they only have to stick with it for a few minutes⁵.

Simply verbalizing how long they have to stay on the toilet, “a few more minutes,” or “just a little longer,” can be confusing and frustrating. But, the combination of the verbal cues and the visual cues can provide a clearer answer.

Another reason that a timer is useful in this situation is that children with autism may not be able to understand signals from their body telling them when they are done on the toilet². A timer gives the child an allotted amount of time that they should be trying to use the toilet before they get up. This can help prevent accidents resulting from the child getting up while they are still going or before they have completely finished.

The Toilet Timer™ lasts approximately five minutes. If they are taking any longer than five minutes, even for a bowel movement, it may be time to take a break and come back later to try again.

The timer also encourages the child to be more independent. They can set the timer and see for themselves how long they should spend on the toilet without having to ask a parent or adult if they can be done.

AUTISM AND BOWEL PROBLEMS

Children with autism can have bowel problems like loose stool or constipation³. This can bring an added challenge to the toilet training process. It can make bathroom time more unpleasant than necessary, and the child may become even less interested in a new bathroom routine as a result.

The Toilet Timer™ can help you monitor if your child is taking too long to have a bowel movement. It is designed to give your child enough time to finish but not so much time that the child risks injury. Sitting on the toilet and straining to eliminate for more than five minutes can be unhealthy. If the child is taking more than five minutes on the toilet, it may be time to make changes to their diet or take them to a doctor.

CONCLUSION

While there is no exact science or one correct path to potty train a child with autism, transition objects and timers have been used effectively to help a child make a change in their day-to-day life. The Toilet Timer™ is an easy tool to implement into a new routine, and it can make a big difference. 

References:

[1]Lisa Jo Rudy, https://www.verywellhealth.com/toilet-train-your-child-with-autism-260160

[2] https://www.autism.org.uk/about/health/toilet-training.aspx

[3] Gary J. Heffner, http://www.autism-help.org/behavior-toilet-training.htm

[4] Kara Hume, https://www.iidc.indiana.edu/pages/transition-time-helping-individuals-on-the-autism-spectrum-move-successfully-from-one-activity-to-another

[5] https://www.timetimer.com/pages/autism

[6] Danica Mamlet, https://behavioradvisor.ipower.com/Autism&Toileting.html