Using Tech to Nighttime Potty Train our Neurodiverse Son

I used to joke that surely our son wouldn’t still be wearing nighttime pullups on his wedding night. Well, this summer, it started to feel less like a joke!

Like other neurodiverse kids, T has sensory-related challenges; one symptom is delayed toilet training.

Now 11, he is ok during the daytime but had frequent accidents till about Grade 3.

Nighttime is a continued challenge. Up until a week ago, he was still wearing nighttime pullups, which are soaked in the morning.

We know it’s normal for boys to wet the bed till age 12. It used to give me anxiety as a child going to sleepovers.

But this summer, we were determined to face this challenge head on.

One motivation was that T is starting middle school – and sometime in the fall, there will be an overnight trip to an indoor camp-style park.

It’s a rite of passage. I have my own warm memories of these multi-night school trips.

T is aware and self conscious. He even once shared, “If people find out I wear a pullup at night, I’m going to die of embarrassment.”

We even brainstormed a plan for him to wake up earlier than his classmates and to hide the pullup in the garbage.

Then we realized the best plan is to face this challenge head on this summer!

Introducing TheraPee!

Technology is a friend in our home.

T uses our Alexa AI assistant to ask questions and we use apps to support planning and learning. So finding a tech solution to address nighttime toilet training made sense for us.

The hubby purchased this TheraPee device, pictured above.

It’s a non radioactive pad that is placed under the sheets and it’s connected to a device that emits a loud alarm when it detects moisture.

The premise is that it wakes up the child – and yes, the caregiver – at the first sign of moisture. When the child is woken up, they go to the bathroom.

Over time, the tool trains the child to wake up at night to use the bathroom at the moment of need.

Finding the Glimmer in Potty Humour

First off, TheraPee is working well – not perfect, but T is making great progress!

Last Monday night, we said goodbye to pullups forever. He went to bed in his underwear – the first time since he was born without a pullup!

The hubby explained how the system worked, did a few tests of the alarms, and off we went to bed.

About an hour into my deep sleep, the alarm jolted me awake.

My goodness, was it ever loud! 😂 I thought that this must be what a tsunami warning in the middle of the night sounded and felt like.

If a child had not pissed their pants yet, this alarm surely would’ve scared the piss out of them!

T was surprisingly cooperative and got up and went to the washroom.

The alarm sounded a second time in the middle of our first night – but it was a false alarm. T claimed he was just sweaty.

On our first morning, T woke up with a dry bed and underwear.

Huge win!

TheraPee comes with an app where you can track daily progress – a blue star for every dry night. And you know how much we “love” sticker charts! 🤣

We are staying positive and encouraging. We remind T this is a work in progress. We want progress, not perfection.

On mornings T wakes up with a wet spot, we shrug tell him it’s part of the learning and remind him that he’s making great progress.

It never ceases to amuse me the things the things that are often take for granted that caregivers of neurodiverse kids have to work through.

Our other goal this summer is getting T to tie his laces – so we can move from velcro shoes – another skill that parents take for granted.

We will get there!

This week, we head off for our annual visit to T’s grandparents in New Brunswick. T is especially excited to see his family and his cousin, A.

We’re now halfway through his summer break. We’re taking it every easy – while focusing on these two pragmatic life skills.

T is making steady progress and we’re finding potty humour in the experience.

Photo at top: A recent outing with friends to go stand up paddle boarding at Cherry Beach. Doesn’t all that water just make you wanna go pee? 🤣 T did great!