Aspergers and potty training

Post Reply New Topic

I was wondering about potty issues? My 8yr old will not "poop" in the toilet. He goes in his pants then takes it out and throws it in the toilet. He will "pee" in the toilet but he will not sit on it."

He has probably developed some kind of anxiety around using the toilet. I remember, at that age, being scared that I would fall into the toilet. So, even though I was past the potty-training stage, my parents brought out my old training seat. It was a comfort object more than anything; even though there's no way I could have physically fallen into the toilet, the training seat made me feel much safer.
Maybe let him choose a funky toilet seat, some patterned toilet paper etc. Some kind of reward chart would probably work at his age as well.

[Moved from General Autism Discussion to Parents' Discussion]

Maybe it's the idea of changing a routine that he's so familiar with thats bothering him more than actually using the toilet. Have you asked him what would make him use the toilet instead of his pants? Maybe something that he can have in there every time he poops? I personally like a good book or magazine. Maybe find something like a hand held game that he can use only when he's going to poop. Or if he likes reading, a book or magazine.

Also, it could be impatience. I'm an extremely impatient person, and I hate doing things that take a long time. Especially if I'm just there bored, waiting. If he had something to occupy his mind that may help. I'm never on the toilet long and hardly ever have been, and I'm 47. (I'm the aspie in the family, my husband and kids are NT) I just wait until I really have to go, then I go to the bathroom. I detest sitting on the toilet for a long time. If I have to be there, I want a book. I have never understood how people go to the bathroom to poop and sit in there for 20 minutes or so. That could also be part of the issue.

_________________
I'm giving it another shot. We will see.
My forum is still there and everyone is welcome to come join as well. There is a private women only subforum there if anyone is interested. Also, there is no CAPTCHA.

The link to the forum is http://www.rightplanet.proboards.com

It could also be he doesn't want to stop in the middle of something because he wants/(HAS) to finish what he is doing. Maybe he waits until a stopping point to scoop the poop into the toilet?

If it is an actual dislike/fear of sitting down, maybe it is a fear of falling in? Has he ever sat down on a big person toilet? Mine is 6 and still uses the baby toilet for poop. Now that he has transitioned to peeing standing up. he will use the big potty for that, but not poop. That is probably going to be a summer project for us.