| Most parents wonder how their children with | | | | who has Down syndrome. Giving an edible |
| Down syndrome will learn to become toilet | | | | reinforcement might be tried, but this can |
| trained. This is understandably an anxious | | | | lead to the child expecting something to eat |
| time for a parent, as you might be thinking | | | | every time he has success on the toilet. |
| about sending your child to a preschool | | | | Since children with Down syndrome already may |
| program and wonder if he will ever be out of | | | | struggle with weight issues, it is |
| diapers. Teaching any child to use the toilet | | | | recommended that reinforcements such as |
| can be a frustrating time for parents, and | | | | verbal praise, hugs, high fives be used |
| the child, but if you relax and remember that | | | | instead. |
| you cannot "make" him learn before he is | | | | |
| ready, he will leave those diapers behind | | | | Some parents may have expectations for their |
| someday. | | | | child in the area of toilet training that are |
| | | | too high. Remember that not only is your |
| One professional suggests taking a few days | | | | child delayed mentally, he also may lack the |
| to document your child's voiding schedule. | | | | proper muscle control at the average age that |
| Check his diaper every twenty to thirty | | | | an "average" child is toilet trained. He will |
| minutes to see when he is going, and what | | | | eventually learn this too; it will be on his |
| (urine, bowel movement). When data is taken | | | | own individual timetable. |
| for a few days and you can see some semblance | | | | |
| of a pattern, you will want to schedule | | | | Night training may be even further behind the |
| toilet times for those specific times of the | | | | average child's schedule. Manufacturers are |
| day. | | | | now making disposable underwear (commonly |
| | | | called "pull-ups") in sizes large enough to |
| One suggestion is to give your child some | | | | accommodate a child up to 125 pounds. This |
| fluids to drink about 15 to 20 minutes before | | | | does not mean that your child will be night |
| you plan on toileting him. Tell your child he | | | | trained so much later, but he just might not |
| is going to use the toilet, and if needed, | | | | learn until he is that size, and you need to |
| use the sign for it and help him make the | | | | be aware of that fact. |
| sign. | | | | |
| | | | "Megan was a few months older than four when |
| Make his toilet training experience pleasant. | | | | she was toilet trained during the day, and in |
| Have books available for looking at during | | | | retrospect, I wish I had relaxed more with |
| this time, and keep the toileting time short, | | | | her in the preceding years in trying to get |
| about 7 or 8 minutes at the most. If your | | | | her trained. I felt a lot of pressure from |
| child does not void during this time, don't | | | | other people, but you can't "make" her learn |
| force it or use an unpleasant or frustrated | | | | something until she is ready to learn it. She |
| tone. Have him get off and then try again at | | | | wasn't night trained until she was ten and a |
| the next scheduled time. | | | | half. It just happened when it did, and |
| | | | that's all there is to it," says Valerie, |
| A lot of praise is necessary when toilet | | | | mother of a 17 year old daughter with Down |
| training your child, especially for a child | | | | syndrome. |