Challenges Of Toilet Training A Child With Autism

So...one of the things I am often asked as a mom with an older child with autism is...will my son/daughter EVER be completely toilet trained? These expressed frustrations are well-founded and exhausted autism parents are not helped by the annoying phase resounding from doctors all over the world: "Don't worry...your child will be trained by the time kindergarten graduation comes along." I hate to tell you what you probably already know by now, but some of us have figured out this rite of passage of toddler hood to big kid does not apply to children on the autism spectrum. No, time has proven that many of our children are still in diapers at least part of the time through grade school. Some are in diapers for life.

With training attempts there are countless mishaps and accidents...and hidden poop under the couch. It becomes even more difficult when our older children will not use certain public facilities, such as those in school and in the mall. We have tried rewards and habit training, and have used timers and star charts and yikes, even bribery. For years, I sang songs, made silly faces, and told a million jokes with no avail. Some of my friends have even moved their television sets into the bathroom! Yes, anything to get their kid to sit on the toilet and make something happen. Two things I prayed for in the early years was for Jack to sleep at night and learn to poop the right way. What was most upsetting to me personally was the utter look of confusion and loathing on his face whenever I ushered him into the bathroom. One day I realized that until he was able to comprehend what his body was trying to tell him all the habit training and back massages would be basically useless. And so I waited patiently and encouraged and praised...and cleaned up a ton of messes.

By the time Jack was six he was finally able to go through the night without the use of those dreaded pull ups. I swear, those nasty things really made our situation worse, even though we were able to go out in public. I remember using the habit training and running to the bathroom every hour on the hour if we were out of the house and hoping more than anything I would find nothing in the pull up every time. It is a daunting and exhausting experience for a parent with a larger child, especially one big enough to give you a long hard kick in a tight public restroom. Even better when you have to wrestle the child into a stall and complete strangers think you are nuts.

It seems to me a child with autism has some really anxiety-related issues when it comes to using the bathroom and speaking reassuredly and having a ton of patience is helpful. But something even more important is addressing your child's digestive issues. Many times our special children suffer greatly from stomach distress that is too often food allergies or sensitives and/or candida overgrowth. A friend of mine made a great suggestion that eventually helped Jack master the art of pooping in the toilet!!! Digestive enzymes to the rescue!

What is a digestive enzyme?
Digestive enzymes are used by the body and the digestive system to break down the foods that you eat into the nutrients that you body needs to function in a healthy manner. A healthy body will produce 22 different digestive enzymes that it uses to break down the food that you eat.

When you eat, the digestive enzymes in your body are excreted from the salivary glands in your mouth, as well as the digestive enzymes that are found in your stomach. The small intestine in your body helps to move the digestive process along by allowing the each of the digestive enzymes to react to a certain type of food. Different enzymes work on different foods, such as the amylase's digestive enzymes that help your body to digest carbohydrates. This is if everything is working as it should.

But what about the child who is toxic or damaged from vaccinations? What gut repair needs to be done for the child who suffers from malabsorption of nutrients? Run out and get these digestive enzymes for anyone in your family with any type of digestive issues. Jack was toilet trained in a week at the age of nine, because of them.

Please see this very informative page for more information:

http://www.betternutrition.com/enzyematichealth/columns/askthenaturopath/697

Today, at the age of 14, Jack still has toileting issues, especially in public situations.  Of course, he is too big to take into the women's room and our outings are very limited. At times he can be obsessive with hand washing and other days he needs to be reminded constantly. At home, he went through a phase where he would flush anything down the toilet, and I mean anything, including the cordless phone. I have cleaned up many a flood and I hate to learn the current condition of our septic system. But the enzymes helped him quite a bit. I think they took his gut pain away and put him in touch with his body. I only wish I knew about this sooner.

It is said your second brain is in your gut and it is my belief that if you balance the gut some of the brain fog in a child with autism will be lifted. Maybe emotions can be balanced, and anxiety alleviated, at least a little bit. And every little bit counts...

May You Always Recognize The Blessings..