Potty Training (with & without Down syndrome)

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The Best School Ever said that it’s okay that Moxie isn’t potty trained, they want her (and more stuff like that that has me looking at my toes because I’m always worried I’ll start crying over their total awesomeness). But even with them saying so, I know it’s a good thing to get her on the bandwagon now. I’ve been feeling guilty on account of how MUCH she wanted to do it before and how LITTLE I did, and so… we didn’t. But I’m ready now!

I am potty training BOTH Moxie and MacQuinn: Moxie’s 4 years old and her typically developing little brother MacQuinn, is almost 2. I decided to just work with them both at the same time – I mean, why not?! Their level of interest was about the same and if I’m doing one, may as well do both, right?

This is a work in progress: we are not done

I have been doing this for about 10 days now, but we are far from done. This is going to take some time, it seems. This post is more of a beginning of the process as it has led me.

Prep for Potty Training

I prepared by googling “Down syndrome + Potty Training” – useful links are at the end of this post – and also googled plan ole’ “potty training techniques”.

I ended up liking Julie Fellom’s Diaper Free Toddlers Program the best, wherein you let your child run around naked from the waist down – and make the potty the centre of your existence for those three days.

We got busy.

I took the clothes off of their lower parts and set the timer on my iphone to every half hour.

Then every half hour after the timer buzzed, we sang “Potty Time” (- from Signing Time) and sat down in turns, Mac and Moxie.

Both children would go potty in their toilet but to date neither poops. They both poop outside – squat, go and then come over to tell me about it. Since they both have predictably-timed bowel movements, I think I need to follow them around at that time and place them on the potty when they start to squat.

Cloth diapers

I have cloth diapers that can be pulled up and used like underwear but with a little more absorbency. (I use Charlie Banana that we bought 50% off from Target -does the job). I use these now around the house,  but I use regular diapers for when we go out/to bed.

I also use the cloth diapers when we hike around the property since it will keep their privates protected. Hill and tree climbing, you know.

So far…

The kids have been half naked A LOT. Mac-Q will go on an almost laughably Pavlov-like basis – he hears the ringer go off and BAM! I just have to hope the potty is nearby.

Moxie will go (it seems) when she feels like it. She’s far less conditioned than he is.

If I drop the ball and forget the timer on the iPhone, I live to regret it.

But overall, I try to keep perspective and laugh and remember that it’s all a work in progress and it’ll happen.

Maybe slower than I want, but it will.

Links for Potty Training Your Child (with Down syndrome):

Toilet Training Children with Down syndrome (NDSSS)

Toilet Training Children with Down syndrome (article by Kennedy)

Potty Training in Three Days (- Baby Center)

Diaper Free Toddlers Program (- Livestrong, because I couldn’t find a link to the actual program)

Naked Potty Training (- site)

Down syndrome Potty Training Facebook Group

 

Programs that are GOLD!

Potty Time – from Signing Time – includes songs and lots of inspiration for the kiddos. They love it!

Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood – Potty episode – it is on youtube, amazon instant video and mayyyybe on netflix?

PS

I’d seriously LOVE to hear your potty training stories or tips!

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