Hey,
We have been struggling with potty training issues in my 7 year old son since he was 3. It started off with a bad peri-anal strep infection that caused pain and made him not want to go. That may have been just coincidental, looking back on things. He was seen by a gastroenterologist at about 3 1/2 and was determined to have normal anal sphincter tone, thereby eliminating an neurological problem with innervation to that area. However, due to some other issues, he was determined to have sensory integration disorder at about age 5 1/2. I believe now that this has more to do with the problem than anything else. As it is now, he claims that he can't sense the need to go (either #1 or #2). Kids with SI have trouble either interpreting the info they receive through their senses or often have trouble planning motor behavior based on that info. So, it is easy to see how this may be related to the pottying problem. He continues to see an OT for SI, and is followed by a neurologist because as is true with a lot of kids with SI, he has very mild low muscle tone from birth (which is called hypotonic cerebral palsey --- doesn't that sound horrible?? It isnt as bad as it sounds). I have been through everything. He has fought us all the way (I am sure he feels out of control about it all). I think that he is finally getting old enough to understand that we are trying to help him and save him from accidents. I have (with his infput) devised a "plan for success." I remind him to pee every two hours. If he is around friends, I use a secret hand signal that only he and I know what it means (therefore no embarrassment). He is NOT allowed to refuse to go try. If he refuses to cooperate, he gets punished, by no TV or computer. That is like chopping off his head, in his view. On school days, he carries a check list in his pocket that says, "before Spanish, after lunch, and after recess." Those are the times he needs to try to pee. I have secretly told his teacher and she is the one who gave me which activites to write on his list. As for #2, he is on Miralax every day and I am trying to increase his fiber, although he is not big on bran stuff. He gets the Miralax every day at 3 PM in warm juice. He has to sit on the potty for 10 minutes every morning and night. If he poops at night, he can skip the morning session if we are pushed. Again, he is NOT allowed to buck the plan. It took forever to convince him that we will NOT punish the accidents, but will punish his refusal to cooperate. He still tries to "control" this by saying that he does not need to go, but I simply remind him of the consequence, and he usually cooperates. Sorry for the long email but I can feel your pain. Believe me.
momofcandk...this sounds like a good plan that perhaps could help candi...
Has he had any other delays? My son didn't potty #2 in the toilet until 5. He had a few other concerns too. No all in all he is a very bright child. He walked before most kids do, talked as well. He has no other issues besides ADHD and not wanting to use the potty for a BM... Candi38814.575162037my son dillon just started going pee in the potty but he will not go #2..he is 4 yrs old.. he knows when he has to go and he will ask me to put a pull up on him.. it drives me crazy.. I know there's some disorder where a child resists going BM on the potty, but not sure what it's called or what to do for it...Hello All,
I am coming to you all for a little help. I have a son that just turned 7 last week. We have always been having issues with potty training since we started. We finally got him trained to use the potty but he just refuses to use it for BM. He has no problem going pee in the potty but he just will not have a BM there. We have tried rewarding him when he does go but it doesn't help. He has to wear pullups all the time because of this. And I am just at a loss. We have even tried taking him out of the pullups to underwear but he still will not use the potty.
I don't get angry with him. I try and reinforce the fact that he must use the potty at all times. When he is home I even set up times for him to sit on the potty and he still will not go. Then 15 - 20 mins later he has gone...It is very frustrating. Dad gets upset. I deal and I am just not getting anywhere.
Any help you guys can offer would be much appreciated.
Thanks !
Distressed in Texas
Have you looked up info on sensory disorders? Sounds like it could fall in that realm.... I know you'll get some great personal responses on here.... we haven't encountered that problem.