Shop By Category
Shop by Gender
Shop by Absorbency
Featured Products
Most parents have struggled with the potty training process at some point in their child’s development. If you have a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), teaching your child to use the toilet regularly can present a unique set of challenges. Thankfully, with the right tactics and products, you can help set your child up for success to use the toilet and have fewer accidents. Read more below about how incontinence and autism are related and tips for how to manage incontinence with special needs.
ASD is a developmental disorder that can affect the way your child communicates, interacts, and behaves. Children and adults with an autism diagnosis may have difficulty with verbal and non-verbal communication, challenges recognizing emotions, and experience sensory sensitivities. These symptoms can pose additional challenges that neurotypical children do not face when it comes to toilet training.
Incontinence is a common symptom in those with ASD. While no child experiences autism in the same way, a study of children with ASD by PubMed showed that participants with ASD had higher rates of both nighttime bedwetting (nocturnal enuresis) and day time incontinence (daytime enuresis) compared with participants who did not have ASD. Finding the right tactics and products can help improve your child’s incontinence symptoms and make things more comfortable for all involved.
It is important to note that while children with ASD are more likely to experience problems with toilet training, there are many young children with autism or special needs that have no issues. For autistic children who do have delays, the severity of their condition can vary.
Children and adults with autism may experience incontinence due to the the following symptoms of autism:
Urge incontinence happens when there is a sudden intense urge to urinate, which results in an accident. Children with autism who experience a lack of body awareness may experience urge incontinence. If they’re playing a video game or watching a movie, they may not realize they need to go before it’s a problem.
Functional incontinence occurs when there is a physical or mental impairment that prevents someone from making it to the bathroom on time. Children who have ASD may experience behavioral issues like resistance to change or sensory sensitivities that delay going to the toilet.
Bowel incontinence is the inability to control bowel movements resulting in bowel leaks. Sometimes known as fecal incontinence, this can occur in children with ASD due to the higher likelihood of experiencing gastrointestinal issues.
Whether your son or daughter experiences urge, functional, or bowel incontinence, getting a strategy in place to help manage these toileting difficulties can help those with ASD use the toilet successfully on their own.
The first step to helping your child or loved one with ASD and urinary incontinence is to have patience. Regardless of age, let your son our daughter know that you’re there to support them and understand that there will be setbacks. When your child does have an accident, minimize discussing the accident to avoid reinforcing the behavior. Instead, provide an encouraging reminder that you expect your son our daughter to use the toilet next time.
When it comes to finding urinary incontinence products, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Depending on the body type, absorbency level, and skin sensitivity, different products may be suitable for different people. Be sure to consult a manufacturer’s size chart to ensure products fit comfortably and securely to avoid underwear leaks. If your child is sleeping in regular underwear, nighttime pads can help protect bedding and furniture from accidental leaks.
If you’re traveling or running errands, bringing an extra set of pull-ups or incontinence underwear and a fresh set of clothes can be hugely beneficial if accidents do occur outside of the house. For older children who are in school, be sure to pack an extra set of clothes to keep there as well.
Starting a consistent toileting routine can equip your son or daughter with the tools they need to use the bathroom regularly. Try a combination of these tactics to see what works best for you and your child.
Understanding your child’s triggers can also be an effective way to prevent accidents. Keeping a journal to document the circumstances and timing of any accidents that may occur can help you isolate your child’s triggers. Whether it’s a certain space or sound, a distraction, or a certain food or drink, identifying triggers can help you avoid or plan around them in the future. For example, if your child has a negative reaction or psychological symptom to the toilet flushing, sequence the flush after handwashing to minimize their fear.
Being proactive about managing fluid and dietary intake can also help your child use the bathroom at appropriate times. Giving a drink 10-15 minutes before a scheduled toilet visit can help increase the chance that your child will urinate on the toilet. On the other hand, avoid giving liquid before long car trips to prevent accidental leaks.
Nighttime accidents are very common. If your child is at an age where they have started night-time toilet training, you may experience accidental leaks. To help minimize the disruption of these accidents, try using a disposable bed protector to keep urine from leaking onto bedding. If your child prefers a softer, cloth material, try a washable bed protector, which may be more comfortable if your child has psychological symptoms that result in sensitivities to textures and materials.
Maintaining proper hygiene and skincare for your child or loved one with incontinence is key to preventing skin irritation. If your child is wearing incontinence diapers or underwear, be sure that they or their caregivers are changing their underwear regularly to avoid diaper rash and skin irritation. Flushable wipes and cleansing sprays can be used to clean the skin between changes. Zinc oxide based barrier creams can also help prevent rash and chafing.
When you’re managing ASD and urinary incontinence, a good first step is visiting your child’s pediatrician to get a medical diagnosis to see whether your child’s incontinence is related to autism symptoms or due to underlying medical conditions. Speaking with your doctor can help you create a plan to help improve your child’s toilet habits. In some instances, your doctor may refer you to an occupational therapist or other healthcare professionals to develop a specialized incontinence treatment plan for your unique needs.
There are many ways for individuals and caregivers to provide support to those with autism and incontinence symptoms. Varying treatment plans may be needed, but with a little extra work and good practice, you can make progress and see drastic changes in your child.
Are you a caregiver for a loved one who struggles with incontinence? Take our Bladder Protection Quiz and get a free starter pack to try.
