Ha, ha, this make me laugh because I actually broke the door so he couldn't lock it because I was so frustrated. Unfortunately its still broken and he no longer monopolizes the bathroom. He is 16 now and I just asked him what he was doing in there and it was two different things - sleeping on the floor because he was so tired in the morning...and just poor time management while showering, etc. He didn't do it at night, though. We put a timer in the BR with him and made a list of stuff he needed to get done to help with the time management issue. The sleeping solved itself when he was late for school a few times.
This too shall pass!

Thank you for sharing your experience. My son, in typical ADHD fashion, from what I understand, has no concept of time. It means nothing to hear me say, "Hurry up, you'll be late! Get out of the bathroom!" He doesn't understand why I'm angry, and the whole issue is driving a wedge between us. I am trying to figure out creative ways to make him understand that he has to be at school at the same time as everyone else and that the rules apply to him too. I'm embarrassed to say that in my angst the other day, I uttered something I regretted: "Do you think you might get out of the house if the place were on fire?"
Ouch.

Have your tried setting a kitchen timer? We were in the same boat with my son taking forever in the bathroom so now we set a kitchen timer and once it goes off, our son knows it's time to get off. We usually set it for 8 minutes. Just a thought and you might have tried this already. It worked for us because it was an inanimate object that my son couldn't argue with if that makes sense.

We have the same problem!! Showers before bedtime are a nightmare! My stepson is 6 and has yet to complete a full shower on his own. If we do set a timer, he comes out with his hair still dry or "forgets" to wash his body. We too are at our wits end and can't stand having to constantly stand outside the shower door yelling, "get your hair wet, get your shampoo out, get out your loofa, put soap on it, now wash your body...okay you've been in there for 30 mins, you need to get out!" Soooo tiring!

Unfortunately this is what I deal with as well, I just don't scream anymore it doesnt help. But I have learned to pick my bathroom battles. I either ignore my daughter or say omg I really got to use the BY, or I say I have to shower, or I have to wash the dogs muddy feet, lol....I just find different excuses to get her out of the BY and when It doesn't matter well I let her stay in there as long as she wants. This seems to help me when I really need her to hurry.
PS. My daughter is 13to and I still have to assist her with showers sometimes because she always bound to forget to do something.

This is my first entry on this blog... I'm glad I found it because it makes me feel a better that there are others out there dealing with the same issues I am. My son would come home from school and go to the bathroom for an hour! I found out he was doing "his business" but he was also on his iPod chatting or playing games. Do more iPod in the bathroom has helped with this. I have learned that you can yell till your head turns red, it won't speed them up. Now I just keep moving him along. I kinda follow him around in the mornings when he is getting ready for school. Kids with ADD / ADHD don't seem to understand the words "hurry up!" I have never seen my son even walk fast.... Work with it vs. trying to fix it... I'm hoping one day things will get better.

My husband has problems in the restroom and he is inattentive add. I think that in general there is a gender related thing with this (no offense) and that it is okay. I wonder sometimes if the stress of the day gets to men and boys and they repress their emotions and it disrupts the system (our society is so screwy and repressive to both genders).

I've heard that seratonin also influences evacuation, but I really don't know.

If it is of concern, I guess you could speak to a pediatrician.

Also, dehydration is something Americans in general have. I knwo that personally, I dont' drink enough water, so it could be any number of things.

I feel like all I say before we try to go anywhere is "HURRY UP!! YOU ARE OUTTA TIME!!" I know it is exhausting, over and over, the same thing!

I have had the same problem with my son taking soooooo long... If I slip up after i tell him to get his shower and forget he is in there it could be 2 hours! Now I have learned yelling does not help but sending his sister to pound on the bathroom door works wounders lol... he love his sister but they fight so much so when she pounds on the door repedidily after 10 mins in the shower he comes out... It irriates him that she is pounding on the door and he would rather just come out then deal with his annyoing sister... But when she is not here and at her dads house I have to pound on the door and it dont work... I may try the kitchen timmer and see what happens.. he can take hours in the shower!

My ADHD 9 year old son has the same problems. Time management is just NOT in his head. It frustrates me to death! At this moment, I have no voice due to yelling at him (and my other non-ADHD son) all of Saturday because we had to get certain things done that day and all they had to do was clean their rooms. I have learned my lesson about the yelling now. I understand it was my choice to yell and I need to resist the urge since it won't help anyways. I will have to buy a mobile kitchen timer and see if that helps. Lucky for me, when I do let him shower for as long as he likes, he gets everything washed and only takes about 20-30 minutes - not the hours that others have posted. GEEZ sometimes I just read others posts so I can feel that my son isn't as horrible as it seems. Other times, it's just nice to see someone else can relate!

My son has been doing this for years and he's 11 now. Wether it's a trip to the toilet or the shower, our first line of defense is the kitchen timer. Often times he gets side tracked before sitting on the pot and starts playing with soap, drawing on the counter, etc. when the timer goes off it reminds him why he went in there.

Just wanted to tell you that you are not alone. I feel so sorry for my 7 year old because he is in the bathroom 1.5 to 2 hours a day. Sometimes, nothing happens. I know that he has difficulties with movements. But what got my attention is how you said your son approaches the bathroom. My son runs in locks all doors, you hear furniture moving around and he brings the IPAD in for entertainment. Usually after an hour I will call out his name to make sure he is alright and remind him to stand up so that his legs will not cramp up or prevent the blood from circulating. We tolerate the evening bathroom behavior but in the mornings its terrible because we are on a schedule which doesn't include an hour bathroom break. We try to make concessions because we know that he will never attempt a movement at school. Many times we are out running errands or at the mall and we would have to come home so that he can use the bathroom. Just wanted to let you know ;that you are not alone.