Looking for some opinions on toilet training

[bright sparks]

How about using pictures to help him communicate? You can start with photos, then move to hand drawn or computer drawn images. You can use these to help him request items or activities including using the bathroom. I would take this boy to the bathroom every hour at the most. He seems to have some control and taking him to the bathroom every 10 minutes is too much on the both of you.

Like I said he is disengaged from the whole thing. I have picture cues but he doesn't use them. He does talk and quite a lot sometimes, just verbalizing his needs is an obstacle sometimes although there has been definite improvement there. I have potties so I don't need to leave the room fortunately. If I try to engage him in anything specific he struggles to stay fixed in me or the subject. I've tried giving him something to manipulate and that doesn't seem to help. He can make eye contact, but it is short lived and when I ask him something, his response will often be non related.

[monkeys]

Like I said he is disengaged from the whole thing. I have picture cues but he doesn't use them. He does talk and quite a lot sometimes, just verbalizing his needs is an obstacle sometimes although there has been definite improvement there. I have potties so I don't need to leave the room fortunately. If I try to engage him in anything specific he struggles to stay fixed in me or the subject. I've tried giving him something to manipulate and that doesn't seem to help. He can make eye contact, but it is short lived and when I ask him something, his response will often be non related.

The pictures if used regularly, can help him. They give him a concrete means as to what is being asked and potentially what he is asking for. Words are not concrete and as soon as we have finished saying them they are gone, the picture would still be there.

His talking even if it is off topic is his way of communticating with everyone, it sounds like he understands that if asked a question he needs to answer. But, his thoughts become jumbled with his thoughts or possibly a question that was asked earlier.

Initially, it would be you giving him the picture and telling him its time to use the potty. It may take a while, but it gives him another tool to use to clearly express his needs.

Using a combination of the ideas given by all, will help. A pull up over underwear, waterproof pants, heavier underwear, putting the toys away to be cleaned if there is an accident, set potty times (I use transitions to new activity times, school run, meals, outside play, etc.,) and pictures, are all great ideas. Toilet training is hard for some children, they need more time and effort one our end to help with their success.

I wish you luck, this sound like a tough one.

[bright sparks]

The pictures if used regularly, can help him. They give him a concrete means as to what is being asked and potentially what he is asking for. Words are not concrete and as soon as we have finished saying them they are gone, the picture would still be there.

His talking even if it is off topic is his way of communticating with everyone, it sounds like he understands that if asked a question he needs to answer. But, his thoughts become jumbled with his thoughts or possibly a question that was asked earlier.

Initially, it would be you giving him the picture and telling him its time to use the potty. It may take a while, but it gives him another tool to use to clearly express his needs.

Using a combination of the ideas given by all, will help. A pull up over underwear, waterproof pants, heavier underwear, putting the toys away to be cleaned if there is an accident, set potty times (I use transitions to new activity times, school run, meals, outside play, etc.,) and pictures, are all great ideas. Toilet training is hard for some children, they need more time and effort one our end to help with their success.

I wish you luck, this sound like a tough one.

Thanks for this...I do like using pictures for cues and have worked with autistic kids outside of daycare who used them and it was huge success. That being said, my issue isn't getting him to go on the potty or to the toilet. We have also all looked at another boys pee in the potty...don't judge me I told you I was trying lol, he has seen his grandparents go and other kids go. He will go to the toilet when requested but will not go pee. How do I get a picture depicting a child "actually" peeing?? Also he will always say, okay I'll try, or okay I'll make a pee, and when I ask him if he went pee, he will say yes when he hasn't. Those things are not going to change based on a picture of a child peeing. I need him to have a pee, so a picture of going to sit on a toilet or potty are not the problem as he already does that. Also with no cues whatsoever, it's really hard for me to catch him peeing, and when he does pee, he doesn't change his reactions but just carries on as though its not even there.

Also, if there is a special need, the not peeing is a symptom, and the actual cause is what needs to be addressed in order to gain success in his toileting. If this is the case, it would be unlikely that any amount of verbal or visual cues from me will have any success....don't mean to be a pessimist, but it is hard to really explain the extent of this situation without actually seeing it for yourself.

[ebhappydc]

Just two cents here... Would signing help as opposed to verbal? I've heard kids can clue into signing easier than verbal at times.
Also, if you need him to pee, is he a good drinker? I've encouraged a child in training to drink a fair bit (fave juice watered down) and then I set a timer for myself of about 45 min as that's how long takes for a cup or so to start putting pressure on bladder (remember baby ultrasound days!?). At the timer, I'd watch for any sign of discomfort, fidgeting, and I'd talk about feeling so much more comfortable with an empty bladder. I'd pointed to where his bladder was just below his tummy. Did over the course of many days as we can't get them to drink too much! He's lucky with all the effort and research you're doing; going above and beyond for him.

[bright sparks]

Just two cents here... Would signing help as opposed to verbal? I've heard kids can clue into signing easier than verbal at times.
Also, if you need him to pee, is he a good drinker? I've encouraged a child in training to drink a fair bit (fave juice watered down) and then I set a timer for myself of about 45 min as that's how long takes for a cup or so to start putting pressure on bladder (remember baby ultrasound days!?). At the timer, I'd watch for any sign of discomfort, fidgeting, and I'd talk about feeling so much more comfortable with an empty bladder. I'd pointed to where his bladder was just below his tummy. Did over the course of many days as we can't get them to drink too much! He's lucky with all the effort and research you're doing; going above and beyond for him.

I know of some people who promote pushing more fluids during toilet training but I have never been a big fan. That being said, in this case some encouragement physically to have him pee sounds like it might be an idea. I'm going to try that tomorrow. He is napping now and goes home within 30 minutes of waking.

[ebhappydc]

I know of some people who promote pushing more fluids during toilet training but I have never been a big fan. That being said, in this case some encouragement physically to have him pee sounds like it might be an idea. I'm going to try that tomorrow. He is napping now and goes home within 30 minutes of waking.

For sure, only if they wanted to drink then it worked for me. During training I found they'd drink more with juice than water, and I'm not keen on the sugar, but parents were on board as it was temporary. Much luck tomorrow.