Down Syndrome and Toilet Training

Parents of children with Down syndrome still have to tackle that important challenge of toilet training, just like any other parent. However, you may be wondering if you should approach this in a different way. Should you wait till you child is older? Does your child need to be able to tell you they need to go? There are a few extra questions you may be asking yourself.

The good news is that the vast majority of children with Down syndrome will become potty trained. However, it can take a little longer and require a little more work from the parent. We began potty training with Tashi just before she turned three. She was using a lot of signs and knew the one for potty. One day she used the sign and we rushed to the bathroom. This was an exciting moment and I felt very encouraged when she used the toilet. Unfortunately, the training process went on for about two years before she was really trained. I finally got fed up with those annoying pull ups and just went to underwear. After a week and a lot of extra laundry, she was pretty much with the program.

After discussing the subject with other moms, I made an interesting finding. The idea of starting much earlier actually seemed to get better results. We typically think because our kids are experiencing delays in many areas, we should delay potty training. Not so! One mom reported beginning as early as 17 months and having her daughter trained in a matter of weeks. This is great news. She put her daughter on the potty with a popsicle to suck on and keep her entertained, and let nature take its course. This is providing a great positive motivator and keeping the entire process up beat and fun for everyone.

A common link reported by most moms was the use of a positive reinforcement. What does your child like? For some kids its stickers, for some its popsicles or m&m's, you know your child best. When you decide to begin the potty training process make it very clear to your child that they can earn a reward. One mom used the great idea of making a poster of her child on the potty and next to that a bag of her favorite candy. Every time she went, she earned a treat. This type of positive motivation can usually be phased out once the idea of using the bathroom is clear.

Another crucial issues seems to be setting aside some time, usually about a week, to focus on the potty. Don't plan to be out much, or if you are have a clear plan about how you will handle the bathroom. Most kids learn best at home, where they are comfortable. Using public restrooms is not really comfortable for anyone, especially a young child. Have your child go shopping for underwear. Hopefully, you can find some with their favorite characters. Tashi loved her Dora undies! Talk about them and how soon they will be giving up their diapers and moving into big kid underwear. Be prepared for accidents, take them in stride and don't make a big deal about them. Just head to the bathroom and get some dry clothes on. Obviously, if you can do this in summer its better when your child can wear shorts or dresses for the girls.