More than a year ago we started to seriously consider toilet training Quinns. Our Health Visitor was our first port of call. She referred us to a specialist continence nurse who has specific experience in toilet training children with quad CP.

Six months ago we got our appointment. She agreed that it would be possible to toilet train and great that we were starting young (at that point age 3 and a few months).

I left with two tasks. Monitor bowel movements on the Bristol Stool chart for a week and arrange a suitable potty for home and nursery i.e. one with full back support and harness.

At our next appointment I handed over my chart and advised that our social work OT had found us a potty from store (the Purple Potty). We were just waiting for the extra bits e.g. head and lateral supports. The health OT would order the same seat for nursery.

At our next appointment I had to advise that once the bits arrived the original potty seat was too big and we were back to square one!

I’m not raising this as a complaint, more to show how much more complicated it gets once there’s a disability. In contrast Big Sister was fully trained aged two and using a toilet within about one week except for the occasional accident.

The next step for Quinns is to meet with a couple of reps who’ll show us what seats they have to offer. Quinns will get to try them out and we’ll be able to see what works best for the space we have.

Once a decision has been made (we may need to see more reps with different products) one will be ordered for home and we’ll arrange for the same to be ordered for nursery assuming it’s suitable for their space.

At least we are still moving forward!

I don’t know exactly how it’s going to work when we’re out and about but I do know that Changing Place toilets will be essential. There are just a few days left to complete the Scottish Government’s Changing Places Consultation. Please help make our life a little bit easier by completing it – https://consult.gov.scot/building-standards/changing-places-toilets/