Is Potty Training Harder When My Toddler Has a Speech Delay?

 Is Potty Training Harder When My Toddler Has a Speech Delay?

Potty training is something every parent must go through.  But is potty training your child with a toddler speech delay even more difficult?  Know that potty training a child with a speech delay may happen a little later than kids without a speech delay.  Children who are learning to use the potty, whether it be the toilet or their own potty, are also learning the words associated with having to go to the bathroom.  If your child has a toddler speech delay, he might not be able to speak the words to you to let you know he has to go, or that he has had an accident.

Despite not having the words to express himself, he will still let you know in his own way.  He will give you non-verbal cues, so pay attention to him!  This is actually a learning opportunity for everyone involved.  You as his parent will get to see how best your child learns, as you are going to be focusing on positives rather than his mistakes. Check out these tips for potty training while also dealing with a toddler speech delay.

Dealing with bumps in potty training

Potty training while dealing with a toddler speech delay

Potty schedule: Have a schedule for your child to use the bathroom.  After meals and drinks, take him to the bathroom after 45 minutes.  Speak to him slowly.  Stay in the bathroom with him, and stay for a few minutes to allow him to go.  He may not.  So bring him back in a few minutes.

Praise: Be very positive!  Accidents are going to happen, and this is not due to your child having a speech delay, all kids who are potty training having accidents.  Granted, you may experience more accidents until you can both learn his non-verbal cues, but you will get the hang of it.  Getting upset when he has accidents is not good for training or his self-esteem. He is not doing it on purpose, he is learning.  How would you feel if while learning to ride your bike your mom scolded you when you fell?

Prepare yourself: Not only does your child have to be ready for this, but so do you.  Go into potty training with the understanding that you have to be patient, very patient.  Everyone else involved in your child’s potty training must be the same way, and they must have the understanding that it might be a little different than potty training a child who does not have a speech delay.

Instill in your child that it is something he is very capable of.  Take him for frequent potty breaks and use words associated with having to use the bathroom.  Potty training is not just a teachable moment for the obvious, but also a time to work on his speech, language development and communication skills.

Fun Activities to Develop Speech & Language Skills in Toddlers

 Do you have any tips for potty training a toddler with a speech delay?  Share your stories with us below!

 

19 thoughts on “Is Potty Training Harder When My Toddler Has a Speech Delay?”

  1. Josephine thorogood

    Hi my grandson is 4 but not pottered trained he doesn’t speak yet so what advise can you give me I have another grandson age 2 he doesn’t speak aswell

  2. I agree with Courteney having a kid who is delayed in speech is 100x harder. My son is 2 will be 3 in Feb an we are in the process of potty training. He says “peepee” and runs to the bathroom but only does it 2x a day the most. It’s taking longer but will get there Lil by lil

  3. These are some great tips! Potty training can be difficult but with the right mindset and the correct actions, it can definitely be done easily. Thanks for sharing.

  4. Thank you so much for sharing all of the great potty training tips! I still have one more left in the bunch to potty training and each one is different!

  5. This is great. I never would ever link the two together, or guess. I didn’t really have issues with speech delay in my kiddos, and potty training was always pretty easy… But, I do know some people having some issues so I’ll be forwarding them to take a peek!

  6. What a wonderful post and so informative for those who are going through the same thing. I will be sure to pass this information along to my nephew.

  7. This is a great post indeed for parents who are learning to potty train their child with or without speech delay. Most important thing to remember is to have patients for sure. I would just ask my kids if they had to go potty and they would nod yes or no. Praising them is also very important. Thanks so much for sharing.

  8. I think potty training in general is pretty difficult, adding any kind of delayed learning or disability on top of it, can make it even harder, this is great advice and I think the important thing for parents is to be patient.

  9. I had 4 children & each one was different my girls were pretty easy to train, but the boys oh brother. Plus my youngest son was a bed wetter until he was eight. So I don’t envy any of the young mothers out there trying to potty train your children. If I remember correctly I don’t think my daughters had too much of a problem training there children either.

  10. Ahhhhh this is seriously my life right now -_- my daughter is speech delayed and let me tell you when a kiddo doesn’t have the language skills EVERYTHING is 100 times harder. Routin definitely helps with teaching things like potty training though! My daughters speech therapist explained that one to me & my daughter picks up on thing quickly if I add things into daily routine:)

  11. I agree with Esther, potty training is easy for some and a total nightmare for others. I think mine was a nightmare too. But were fine now (thank goodness!)

  12. great tips! i hear potty training period can be extremely easy for some.. and a nightmare for others. we haven’t had to deal with it yet bc we’ve decided to wait longer to have kids.. but it sounds really intimidating.

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