Health Forums

Posted: 05 February 2008 at 1:50pm | IP Logged

I have to try to get Lewis out of nappies before he turns 4 in May. He hopefully starts mainstream school fulltime in Sept and the last thing i want for him is for him to be even more different to the other children by him being in nappies still so incontinece nurse has suggested startin now so hopefully by sept he is fully dry during the day.

Lewis has global devolpmental delay and also his brain isnt matured to his age which affects other parts of his health ie his ligaments/joints/ vocal chords an obv his devolpment.

Now the problem i have is Lewis just doesnt seem to know when he is going to wee or poo and just does it whether it in a nappy/in undies or he is naked!!! If he wets or poo's in the nappy or undies he doesnt get uncomfy in it and tell me... All normal signs really of a child not ready for potty training but what am i to do my child is nearly 4 and the last thing i want is for hi to be bullyed at a new school (he at special needs nursery atm) cos he is a *baby* and in nappies.

Any1 got any experience of potty training a child with the kind of special needs Lewis has?

Posted: 05 February 2008 at 1:54pm | IP Logged

im afraid i dont have any experience with potty training a child with special needs but i would suggest leaving him with nothing on and letting him learn to accociate the "feeling" of needing to go with the puddle on the floor,point it out to him and he will proberbly soon relate the two which willthen allow you to try get him doing it on the potty/toilet...?

hth xxxx

Posted: 05 February 2008 at 2:20pm | IP Logged

The only experience I have is potty training a child with cerebal palsy. He has extremely limited limb movement, and he found it difficult to control his bowel/bladder. Difference was he knew when he had soiled himself, although it never bothered him. He eventually started to get it with lots of praise and encouragement if he asked to go to the toilet. We started by taking him every 20 minutes and just giving him loads of praise if he went.

He's 6 now, and still have nappies from time to time. When he started mainstream school at 4 he was in nappies then and it didnt really bother him. Children at that age are much better at dealing with 'different' children than adults are.

I would just keep giving him praise, and when he has soiled himself explain to him what has happened so that he'll be able to conect the two things. Hope he picks it up soon xxx

Posted: 05 February 2008 at 4:17pm | IP Logged

Ok going to sound gross...... have you thought about once he's gone in his nappy touching it and saying oh oh wet  lewis went wee wee and no wee wee when dry.... see if this starts making a link? I know it's gross but it's the only way i can think of trying to help him make the link.

Good luck

Posted: 08 February 2008 at 2:13pm | IP Logged

We have had to put it on hold am going to try again dring the easter holidays.

Lewis started holding himself and not weein at all he was going 21/22 hrs a time without having a wee and was nearly admitted into hospital so i rather he was healthy and doesnt make himself ill thro the pressure/effort of coming out of nappies... his special needs one to one support teacher agree's.

Good luck anneste