Our guide to toilet training explains how to know when your child is ready for toilet training and how to get started. Adjust our tips to suit your autistic child’s needs.

Start by getting your child familiar with the toilet, what it’s for and how to use it.

Going to the toilet is a task with many parts. It helps to teach each part step by step.

As your child learns each toileting step, encourage them with rewards. Try different rewards. Use the ones your child likes best.

A social story or visual support can help. Stick the visual support on a wall near the toilet. Download an example of a toileting visual support.

Go over the visual support or social story with your child 2-3 times a day. Share it with people who do toileting with your child.

Skip the potty stage if your child doesn’t like change. Using the toilet straight away limits changes for your child.

Some autistic children don’t like the sound of flushing. Prepare your child for flushing and other sensory aspects of toileting.

Some children flush the toilet continually, stuff it with paper, or refuse to poo. Your child’s professionals can help with challenges like these.