Before starting the journey of toilet training with your Autistic child, it is crucial to gather relevant information and understand their unique needs. Proper preparation ensures a tailored and effective approach to support your child’s toileting success.

Toilet learning can be one of the most emotionally complex and practically challenging experiences for Autistic children and their families. It is often framed through a negative, complicance-focused lens, overlooking the sensory, emotional, and developmental realities of Autistic neurobiology.

Free Autism Toilet Visual Schedule set to support Autistic children and young people to learn to use the toilet. This is a dual set featuring a boy and a girl to support children to learn to use the toilet

Autism Toilet learning can be one of the most misunderstood aspects of Autistic childhood. Many families are given guidance grounded in neurotypical developmental timelines, where independence, speed, and compliance are emphasised.

Some children may pass a wee in the toilet/potty with ease but may struggle to pass a poop in the toilet. They may instead prefer to pass their poop in a pull up or underwear.

Constipation is a common and often distressing health concern for many Autistic children and adults. Changes in routine, sensory processing differences, diet, and challenges in interoception (internal body awareness) can all contribute to difficulties with bowel regulation.

Understanding why Autistic children may be more likely (4 times more likely) to experience constipation is important. Some of the reasons Autistic children may experience constipation include:

You will find my top three recommended books on interoception, offering practical insights and strategies to deepen your understanding of this critical area.

Autistic Toilet Training is different. Your child is Neurodivergent and as such, their journey to toileting independence may be different to that of children who are Neurotypical.

Autism toileting and interoception differences. Traditionally Autistic experience of interoception differences have been ignored largely by the professional community. Now the community understand the pivotal role of interoception in supporting Autistic people to learn to use the toilet..

Teaching children the appropriate amount of toilet paper to use is a common challenge during toilet training, especially for Autistic children who may have differences with their  sensory processing, social and sequential understanding.

A neuroaffirmative toilet learning process respects the child’s pace, needs, and autonomy. Preparing ahead, sometimes called pre-teaching, offers a supportive way to reduce uncertainty, build predictability, and increase your child’s confidence. I