There are many challenges which face parents in our position, this article explains how to keep a diaper on an autistic child.

Being a parent of an autistic child can be tough and problems with toileting in general can be common.

Whilst every child is different there are some tactics which can help you make progress in this difficult area.

Why do autistic children remove their diaper

Autistic children can have a number of quirks but removing their diaper is possibly the messiest.

One of the first steps to overcoming any such problem is finding the root cause for the behaviour. Here are some possible reasons;

Sensory issues

One reason why your child may be removing their diaper is discomfort or sensory issues.

Children with autism may be more sensitive to the feeling of the diaper, and it may be uncomfortable for them to wear.

If you think about it diapers are often a crunchy material. In the same way that many autistic children dislike labels in their clothes, the sensation of the diaper may be unpleasant.

In addition to the feeling of the diaper itself when it becomes soiled that could really increase the sensory repulsion for your child.

Communication struggles

Another factor could be communication difficulties.

Autistic children may have difficulty communicating their needs, this includes when they have either soiled themselves or need to.

Removing their diaper could be their unique way of letting their parents know that they need a change.

Self stimulation

Removing their diaper could also be a form of self-stimulatory behavior.

Autistic children may engage in repetitive or self-stimulatory behaviours to regulate their sensory input.

The act of removing their diaper could be one such behaviour.

It may be something like they enjoy the feeling of unsticking the diaper tabs, or the rush of fresh air which meets their body when it’s removed.

What can parents do?

If an autistic child is repeatedly removing their diaper, there are several strategies parents can try to prevent the behaviour from occurring:

Change them regularly

As mentioned above, autistic children may have difficulty communicating when they need a diaper change.

By changing the diaper frequently, parents can prevent discomfort or irritation from building up.

Try different brands

Although they all feel similar to us it may be that your child is hypersensitive to the feeling of touch.

The textures will vary slightly from brand to brand so by operating a method of trial and error you may find one more comfortable.

Make them more comfortable

If all the diaper brands are causing your child discomfort you can try and make them more comfortable.

There are obvious negative consequences of this but you could tuck their undervest into the top of the diaper.

It is likely that the most uncomfortable area is where the tabs are pulling the diaper tight to your child’s skin.

So if you tuck a vest in just around the top of the diaper that could drastically change their comfort levels.

If it is just the top of the diaper the vest should stay clean more often than not also.

Make them harder to remove

You can try ways to make it harder for either your child to access the diaper or remove it all together.

You could try using clothing that is more difficult to remove, such as onesies or overalls, these could stop your child even getting to the diaper.

If this isn’t an option then you could keep a roll of strong tape next to your changing area and reinforce the tabs.

Finally there are ‘over diaper’ options available which are like underpants which Velcro over the top of the diaper.

Provide sensory input

If removing the diaper is a form of self-stimulatory behaviour, providing the child with other forms of sensory input could help.

Sensory toys or activities could be used to regulate their sensory input and prevent them from removing their diaper.

In practice this would be a case of when you think your child is about to remove their diaper, you instead break out a sensory alternative.

This could be something like toy slime, fidget spinners or sand.

Reinforce positive behaviour

If your child goes a full diaper cycle without attempting to remove it be sure to let them know how happy you are.

Even if your child’s level of communication and understanding is still developing they could still enjoy smiles and praise.

Summary – How to keep a diaper on an autistic child

Autistic children may remove their diaper for a variety of reasons, including discomfort and self-stimulatory behaviour.

Parents can try different strategies including frequent diaper changes, using clothing that is difficult to remove and providing sensory input.

If the behaviour persists, seeking professional help may be necessary.

By understanding why the behaviour is happening, parents can develop effective strategies to address it and ensure their child’s comfort and well-being.