I'm wondering if mommas of other children with speech delays began potty-learning later because of the communication issue.
My son has a speech delay (a year behind, so he is 26 months but has about 14 month old speech). His language level is much higher (at around a three year old). So he can understand us, but not communicate his needs very well.
We've introduced the potty and we think he can go #1 "on command" when he wants to, illustrated by the fact that he thinks it's hilarious to pee on me or in the shower. He likes the potty and has gone #1 in the pot once. I'm just not sure how he would communicate with us when he needs to go, or if he knows how to communicate with us when he needs to go.
Any similar experiences or words of wisdom?
I'm not sure why anyone thought I said he was delayed in potty learning. He has a speech delay.
We have thought about introducing potty learning around 2 1/2 because that's when we started for my daughter, and it probably wasn't until 3 that she really had it down. We don't really do the whole "throw out the diapers, potty training in a week" thing. More of a kid-led process.
I like the idea of signing! We use it occasionally, but I will have to start using when talking about potty words, maybe that will help him have a vocabulary he can use if he needs to. Thanks Marie and Ena!
Marda, he does attempt to speak and use words but his intelligibility level is low because his biggest issue is dropping the first consonant or part of a word. Like "Firetruck" becomes "I-uh" or "I-uck". It gets worse when he is tired or frustrated. When he's thirsty he will ask for "ew" which came from juice, but he means anything to drink, and when he's hungry he'll ask for "bar", which came from kiddie clif bars but means to him any type if snack or meal. We've been doing speech therapy for 2 months so this is pretty good progress. His language level is very strong, just not speech, so no docs have thought he had anything but a speech delay.
Hannah, what did they do when you were out of the house?
Just to add to the debate, my son trained, including night, at 21 months. I found him to be easier than his sisters. I honestly don't think boys train later. In fact, they are physically more able than girls, so they should train sooner.
As to how he would communicate, he would walk to the bathroom. This is how my kids did it.
My son had some pretty severe speech delays. I did not even bother to try to potty train him until he was 3 years old. However, I didn't bother to potty train my older son until he was 3 and he didn't have any communication issues.
Boys usually train later than girls. And most of the time, it's not verbal communication in regards to letting you know he needs to go. Usually it's physical cues.
I wouldn't try to do full-on potty training until he is a lot older. 26 months is just too young.
PS - Do you have him in speech therapy? I hope you do. NOW is the time for him to be getting help with articulation...
Have you tried sign language? When my son had speech issues, the therapist suggested we use sign language to help him understand the connection between using words and getting what you want. We started with signs for eating and drinking. You could start with that and then use a sign for using the potty.
My oldest was 2y9m when he potty trained. He was in speech therapy for speech delay (his expressive vocabulary was weak, but his receptive vocabulary was good). *I* think 2y2m is kinda young to potty train, but to each their own. I have 3 boys and all trained in 1-3 days at 2y9m.
ADD: Hi M. - I think we were just reassuring you that he was on track in case you were worried that he was delayed :)
ORIGINAL: He's not yet delayed. My son wasn't trained till just after 3 years old.
Involve daddy in the process since they have the same "equipment".
Sign language or communication apps might help. I think you can find some by googling. This site might help - http://appsforaac.net
AAC will help him learn to communicate faster. For some, speech is very complicated, but communication isn't just speech. Whatever gets you all understanding each other is the most important thing.
How does he tell you when he's hungry or thirsty? My 1 yo granddaughter has no word vocabulary but she lets us know what she wants. I suggest if he's ready to potty train words are unnecessary. Just take him to the toilet to try. Knowing when he needs to go doesn't come until later, anyway. He will associate pee with potty and pull your hand or decide on a way to let you know just as he does with other things he wants.
I suggest that if he's not communucating with you without words you should get an assessment for other learning delays.
I suggest that when he pees on you in the shower he's not controlling his pee. The shower caused him to pee and he may or may not have directed at you.
He is still a tad young and probably won't potty train until the age of 3.
"Touchpoints" is a great book to borrow from the library.
My dd was the same way... Very delayed in expressive speech, but perfectly capable of understanding what she was told.
I don't think the two are connected... I used "elimination communication" potty training with her young, and she was fully potty trained by the time she was 2, even though she barely had a vocabulary of 10 words at the time. She just used nonverbal communication to convey the need to go. :)
The sign for toilet is to make a fist with your thumb tucked under the index finger (sign for "t") then wag it back and forth. Very easy for his age to use, so you could teach him to use it when he needs to go.
Other than him being way way too young to even understand how to control muscles and hold his potty and urine introducing the potty isn't a bad thing. As long as you understand he doesn't have the physical ability to hold poop or urine and don't start making a big issue about it.
Most boys aren't ready until they are a lot closer to 3.
Hi M.
Oh ! This sounds so familiar....My son had expressive speech delay. Like yours, the receptive speech was fine. And his hearing was fine...He didn't start speaking until he was 3. There was some(alot) of sign language up until then and some there after. We introduced the potty multiple times since about 18 months on. He remained uninterested in the actually potty until he was 4 (it involved bribery) even though he'd know when he was going -- like he'd hide under the table when he'd be doing #2.
Soooo...IMO: hold off on the potty training for the moment; he's got enough on his plate with the language issues (sure uyou've noticed the frustration level)...Keep up the good work with the speech therapist -- maybe she can help with some official sign language--ours did....And any decent preschool will be accomodating and will work with you and your munchkin if he's still in diapers/pullups...Don't worry--he won't be wearing them in kindergarten.
Good luck!!
My son has some speech delays too, and I tried first at 3 to potty train. Nope, no go. So, a few months before he was 4, tried again.. got a better hang of it but only half the time can tell me. If he goes naked, he just runs to his potty and goes. I make sure to tell him anytime he feels he has to pee he can just say peepee and I'll take him. Slow work but making some progress (he's 4y2m now).
At 26 months he is not potty delayed. In my experience, most boys do not potty train until they are three years old. I have known many parents who start training their boys at the age of two, but take an entire year of potty training before the child is trained. I have also known many parents who waited until their sons turned three and potty trained in a few days. There are of course a few who will tell you that their son was fully trained and independent on the potty at two or younger, but that is not usual. My advice would be to put the potty training on hold until his third birthday (or until he shows interest in training) and concentrate on his speech.
ETA: I have two boys who both potty trained as soon as they turned three. One was very advanced in his speech and the other was a late talker.
ETA: Sorry, I guess I misunderstood. I thought you were saying he was both potty and speech delayed. Sign language is a good suggestion. Both of my boys took a sign course with me when they were about 18 months. They learned many signs, but they didn't potty train any sooner.
Also, we didn't "throw out the diaper and do it in a week." If you wait until the kid is actually ready it only takes a few days. Why waste six months training them to do something that will come naturally to them in a few days if you just wait?
Our son was potty trained at 3 1/2 but he couldn't stay dry through the night until he was 7.
I let daycare take the lead on it and it didn't take long for him to catch on.
Waiting till he was ready meant training only took a few days instead of being frustrated with trying and failing for months.
