Toilet Training- A Parent Training Guide
Toilet training is an essential milestone for children with autism but often can be a challenging one. Patience, consistency, and positive encouragement are key to helping your child succeed.
This blog offers simple tips to make the process more effective, efficient and hopefully smoother for both your child and you.
Factors to consider BEFORE beginning toilet training
1. Ensure your child has the pre-requisites before beginning
Diaper dry for 2-3 hours during the day
Can sit & stay seated on the toilet with minimal help for a few minutes
Can undress with minimal help (pull underwear down)
2. Rule out any medical conditions/concerns.
Usually kids are ready to begin toilet training around 2- 2½ years of age
Check with your child’s pediatrician if OK to begin or if you have other concerns
3. Prepare your child with visual aids keeping in mind his/her preferred individual learning style-
Pretend play with dolls using the toilet
Youtube videos, books and social stories depicting using the toilet
Flashcard (picture of a toilet) to help your child request the use of the toilet
Assess if he/she needs a toilet seat, kids potty or stool to be as independent as possible
4. Give yourself time
Plan at least 7-10 consecutive days that can be free of distractions, when school is off, no guests, no planned outings, so that you can provide consistency to your child
It allows you to dedicate your mental and physical energy to this process.
Beginning toilet training
5. Individualize the time schedule
Based on the age and ability of your child, set a timer to tell your child how often or when he/she will go to the toilet.
When beginning toilet training, parents typically take their child to the bathroom every 30-minutes.
You can increase this to 45-60 minutes if your child is able to stay dry for longer periods.
You can decrease this time to 10-15 minutes, if your child is having frequent accidents.
6. Establish the routine
Explain the routine to your child. You can say something like “when the timer rings, we’ll go to the bathroom” or “We will sit on the toilet till… “ (we sing the ‘potty song’, read the book or wait for the timer to ring)
After sitting on the toilet for a 1-2 minutes (whether or not your child voided), you both can go back to playing/doing whatever we were doing
Collect data
Keep a record of the times your child voids in the toilet or has an accident. This is helpful in understanding if there are any patterns or routines that are forming.
7. Celebrations and rewards
Praise and reward your child for every attempt- i.e., attempting to sit on the toilet, not getting upset, crying or resisting, and sitting on the toilet even if he/she did not void. Every small step is a step forward.
Positive reinforcement can motivate them and make toilet training more enjoyable. Try a variety of rewards for-
Dry checks- if the diaper is dry before going to pee- reward #1
Voiding- if he/she urinates in the toilet- reward #2
Keep in mind that these rewards should be saved for toilet training only, and not available otherwise to the child.
How to manage accidents
8. Working through urine or bowel accidents-
Do not punish or reprimand the child
Can state simply “Toilet goes in the potty”
Involve the child in the clean up process- prompt them to undress and remove soiled clothes, put soiled clothes in laundry, wipe themself and dress in clean clothes.
Move on & wait for the next opportunity
Other factors to keep in mind-
Consistency in training across settings and family members is crucial
Encourage communication- the child can be taught to point or label the toilet picture before he/she can independently request to use the toilet.
Toilet training can be a strenuous task that requires time and patience. The steps above can help you and your child on their journey to independence. Remember, every small step towards success is worth celebrating.
Toilet training may feel like a daunting task, but with the right strategies and a steady approach, it’s entirely achievable. Progress will come with time, and each small success brings you closer to the final goal. Stay patient, stay consistent, and trust in the process. You and your child are capable of making this important transition—there’s no better time to start than now.
References
Azrin, N.H. and Foxx, R.M. (1971), A rapid method of toilet training the institutionalized retarded. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 4: 89-99. doi:10.1901/jaba.1971.4-89
Kroeger, K., & Sorensen, R. (2010). A parent training model for toilet training children with autism. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 54(6), 556-567