Is Your Child with Special Needs Ready for Potty Training?

Two things children can control and we cannot physically assist with are what they eat and when they toilet. There are many strategies to help your child be successful with toileting, but the signs of readiness should be the same for your child as they are for non-disabled or neurotypical children. Signs of readiness may include:

Awareness of when they are wet or dry "“ maybe your child grabs at their diaper, hides in a corner during bowel movement, or brings you a diaper. These are all non-verbal signs of awareness

Staying dry for at least two hours at a time "“ this shows muscle control of the bladder

Capable of reaching the toilet or potty physically "“ if your child has a physical disability, you may need to play in proximity to the bathroom or use a training toilet closer to them

Participating in or ready to learn dressing and undressing skills needed for toileting

Motivated to participate in toileting

How To Minimize Potty Training Troubles

If your child has difficulty processing the sensation of when they need to use the toilet or have a medical condition that does not allow them to feel the sensation, a toileting schedule can be helpful. Using a timer to cue your child every half hour or hour to use the bathroom can become a part of their routine. This helps your child predict what is happening when the timer goes off, plus they can prevent protest instead of the adult interrupting play to use the bathroom.

Use simple words to communicate with your child (i.e., wet, potty, dry, etc.). This will meet your child where their language processing may be and help them understand. Using a potty song, a sign for potty, or a picture of a toilet can also be alternative ways to communicate toileting routines and help with transitions to the bathroom.

Physical positioning and support are also crucial for your child. Children may fear sitting on an adult-height toilet if they do not have good trunk control or sitting balance. This is why some kids may be more successful with toileting at a daycare or preschool with smaller toilets. Otherwise, a child may concentrate more on holding themselves on the toilet than relaxing while using the bathroom. A ring reducer can be helpful to make the opening of the toilet smaller. The most important thing to help your child feel stable is having their feet supported. You can use a step stool, squatty potty, or potty training step stool ladder.

Boys may learn to use the toilet in various positions, including standing, sitting forward, pushing their private area down, or sitting backward and holding onto the toilet tank. Sitting backwards on the toilet can put the child's hips in a forward position that helps with aim.

Factors To Consider During Potty Training

Sensory processing difficulties can also be a part of toileting. When toileting we must process motor planning. Factors to be mindful of include getting dressed, the sounds of the toilet flushing, the tactile input of the water splashing or putting the toilet paper in the toilet, and the visual processing of the water spinning. Often the sound of the toilet flushing, especially automatic flushing, which is unpredictable, can be alarming and upsetting for children. A few helpful tips include:

Using something to minimize the flushing noise, such as a sticky note or masking tape, can help prevent the toilet from going off automatically

Putting a strip of tape on the floor for where your child's feet should be when standing at the toilet can be a helpful visual cue

Using a visual schedule close to the toilet can be a helpful reminder for what steps are coming next and a reminder that there is an end to the routine

Backward chaining or starting at the end of the routine and working forward can be an excellent way to help your child tolerate being in the bathroom and working toward toileting. Example: On the visual above, you may start at the last step, washing hands, then flushing the toilet, etc., until your child is successful with each step working backward. This lessens the demands and expectations and allows your child to feel successful.

Patience and Positivity Are Keys To Successful Potty Training

As with non-disabled or neurotypical children, reinforcers can be helpful motivators for your child: stickers, books, a short video, or a token chart toward a larger reward. Trial and error or a rotation of things are not uncommon. Try not to get frustrated or overwhelmed about your child's age or societal expectations of toileting milestones. It is important to help your child feel confident and successful with each step they take and tolerate.