Tips for Potty Training an Autistic Child

Creating a routine, planning fluid intake, and optimizing bathroom comfort are just a few of the many ways you can boost the success of potty training for autistic children.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), commonly referred to as “autism,” is a neurodevelopmental condition that occurs across a spectrum of severity.

Autistic children often experience a variety of behavioral and developmental differences, such as sensory sensitivities and delayed communication skills.

Successfully using the bathroom without assistance is a developmental milestone that many autistic children face challenges achieving.

According to a study from 2022 , 49.1% of autistic child participants exhibited resistance to potty training, compared to 23.6% of neurotypical child participants.

With patience and the right approach, you can help an autistic child master toilet training in a way that supports their individual needs and preferences.

How do you know when an autistic child is ready to potty train?

ASD exists on a spectrum. There’s no universal sign that you should start potty training, but your child may be ready when they demonstrate an ability to control their bladder and bowels well enough or when they’ve been successfully learning new habits and routines.

Signs an autistic child might be approaching the “right” time include:

• expressing awareness of needing to use the toilet
• talking about the urge to pee or move their bowels
• fidgeting from holding their bladder or bowels when they have to go
• showing discomfort or displeasure from soiled nappies
• successfully forming new habits through routines in other areas of function

These indications suggest an autistic child is able to recognize a need for the toilet or can learn to use it through a consistent approach.

Why can some autistic children be harder to potty train?

ASD affects each child differently. For some autistic children, potty training may come naturally, while other children experiencing significant developmental delays or sensitivities require a longer period of adjustment.

Common reasons for resistance to potty training in ASD include :

• not understanding what you’re asking them to do on the toilet
• being unable to communicate that they have to use the bathroom
• believing that caregivers know when they have to use the toilet without being told
• not understanding why it’s socially necessary to use the toilet
• being unable to learn by watching others
• experiencing anxieties about the toilet seat or flushing
• being unable to feel the urge to use the toilet
• enjoying or not noticing the sensation of a soiled nappy
• feeling overwhelmed by sounds and smells in a bathroom
• living with medical conditions that make using the toilet painful
• experiencing discomfort when using the toilet but being unable to communicate it

Tips for potty training an autistic child

Consider the following tips and tricks to increase your chances of successful, low-stress potty training in ASD.

Use ‘trip training’

Habits come from routines, and autistic children can learn to use the toilet through habit, even if they aren’t able to recognize bladder and bowel sensations or urgency.

Trip training is a toilet training approach that uses a planned, consistent schedule (like visiting the toilet every few hours) to promote toilet use. This is in contrast to demanding that an autistic child recognize and express when they need to go to the bathroom.

Plan fluid intake before a scheduled toilet visit

Encouraging your child to drink fluid 10 to 15 minutes before a scheduled bathroom trip can increase the likelihood of their successful departure.

Have a plan for getting off the toilet

Not all autistic children can feel when they’ve finished using the toilet. Teaching your child to count to 10 (or more) out loud after they finish hearing the sound of “going” can help.

Keep the toilet from being terrifying

If toilets and flushing are a source of anxiety , it’s OK to let your child finish their bathroom routine completely before you flush with them at a comfortable distance.

Cover the sound of using the toilet

In a quiet bathroom, the sudden echo of urinating can be startling for some autistic children. Turing the water in the sink or bathtub on first can help mute the sound when it happens.

Make the bathroom comfortable

Consider your child’s sensory needs in the bathroom to make it as comfortable as possible.

You may need to remove strong-smelling soap, for example, or switch to towels and bathmats with a more pleasing texture. Bright lights and bathroom fans can also be overwhelming for some kids.

Use diapers (nappies) creatively

Autistic children can become familiar with the sensation of wearing a diaper (nappy) when they urinate or pass their bowels, making them unwilling to go if not wearing one.

During toilet time, you can use diapers (nappies) with holes cut in the bottom and slowly increase the size of the hole until there is no nappy left at all.

Use visual sequencing, not words

When teaching the process of using the toilet, using visual aids rather than words can prevent your child from becoming reliant on being told when to wipe, wash their hands, and so on.

Have others in the home use the same bathroom cues

Autistic children often learn by watching others, so having the other people in the household use the same bathroom cues, like pointing to a visual card, can help kids learn.

Are there special tips to help potty train nonverbal or nonspeaking autistic children?

Autistic children who are nonverbal benefit from the same strategies as autistic children with verbal communication skills.

Regardless of communication level, visual aids when toilet training can help children learn the steps of using the bathroom without having to rely on verbal cues.

Physical gestures, picture boards , cue cards, and bathroom objects can all be used to communicate bathroom activities without words.

Identifying sources of toilet training resistance in nonverbal children can be more challenging. You may need to visit your pediatrician to rule out medical complications, for example, that might be contributing to toilet pain.

Having a universal gesture or visual aid your child uses to convey discomfort can help.

What is the outlook for autistic kids learning to potty train?

Almost all autistic children achieve potty training success, and many do it within the same time frame as neurotypical children.

According to a 2017 st udy, however, autistic children are more likely overall to take longer to potty train than neurotypical children.

In the research, 79% of autistic children achieved daytime dryness by 5 years of age, compared to 95% of neurotypical children. By 10 years of age, 93% of autistic children had achieved daytime dryness. At age 12, approximately 5.1% of autistic children had not yet achieved daytime dryness.

The takeaway

Potty training for autistic children doesn’t have to be stressful. When they’re ready and how long it takes will depend on their individual needs and preferences.

Prioritizing patience, comfort, and effective communication lays the foundation for successfully using potty training tips. Creating habits, using visual cues, and accommodating sensory needs are all great places to start.