Using the toilet is a learned skill, one which many children struggle to learn. It requires you to recognize that you feel a certain way physically, and then connect that sensation to the need to use the bathroom. Children with autism or other sensory processing disorders often have poor interoceptive skills, making toilet training an even more daunting task.

What Is Interoception?

Interoception, otherwise known as the eighth sense, is the awareness of how you feel internally. It enables you to process an internal physical sensation and the feeling that goes along with it. For example, your stomach may growl when you have not eaten in a while, signaling that you are hungry. If your throat hurts and is dry, you are thirsty and need to drink. When children have an underdeveloped sense of interoception, they may struggle to identify when they need to go to the bathroom, leading to frustration for themselves and their caregivers.

Some kids might constantly feel the need to go, even if they just used the bathroom a few minutes ago. Others don’t notice their body signaling the need to eliminate until it is too late, and they have wet themselves or gotten constipated. This frequently leads to low self-esteem, especially as children get older.

Sensory Challenges With Toilet Training

• While interoception may be the main player in toilet training challenges, many other sensory processes could also be at play.
• Tactile: Is the toilet seat too cold? Is the toilet paper scratchy and rough? Can the child feel if they are soiled?
• Auditory: Does the flush sound too loud? Does sound in the bathroom echo off the tiles?
• Visual: Are the lights too bright?
• Olfactory: Is there a very strong or bad smell in the bathroom?
• Proprioceptive: Is the child able to get on and off the toilet? Do they have the coordination needed to pull down their pants and wipe?
• Vestibular: When they sit on the toilet, does the child feel as though they are falling in? Are their feet dangling, increasing a sense of insecurity? Is it hard to sit still?
• Oral: Is the child getting enough fiber in their diet to help prevent constipation?

Examine your child’s behaviors around toileting and try to discern what sense is affecting them, so that you can strategize how best to help. 

3. Teach Body Cues Gradually

Modeling is an amazing way to teach kids about body cues. When you have to go to the bathroom, verbally describe the physical sensations that alerted you to that feeling. You might say, “My stomach feels tight. I have to push something out.” Take a moment after each bathroom break to allow your child to describe any sensations they felt. Gradually they will be able to identify and respond to these cues independently.

4. Practice Interoceptive Awareness Activities

Daily sensory activities can build a child’s awareness of their body signals, which is crucial to successful toilet training. Incorporate deep pressure activities into your child’s day to promote greater body awareness. Encourage children to play games while wearing a body sock. The stretchy fabric gives resistance to their muscles and joints, increasing their body awareness. Yoga poses engage core muscles that help kids tune into their internal sensations. Mindful breathing techniques also help, allowing children to slow down and connect to their core muscles, noticing the way it feels when they activate and relax.

Sensory Strategies for Kids With Sensory Sensitivities

Even if interoceptive awareness is not a problem, bathrooms can be overwhelming for a child with other sensory processing difficulties. They are often harshly lit, full of hard surfaces, smell funny and make a lot of discordant noises very suddenly. Any or all of these things can make children feel uncomfortable and insecure in their environment, leading to trouble with toilet training.

1. Create a calming space

• Try to adjust the environment as much as possible to reduce your child’s discomfort. You can use dim lighting, such as the LimeLite™ LED Cube, to decrease visual overwhelm. Keep a scent diffuser in the bathroom for olfactory stimulation. Make it more comfortable to sit with a cushioned potty seat and a stepstool to place their feet on. Wear noise canceling headphones to block loud noises.

2. Keep fidgets handy

Some children benefit from having a fidget to engage with while sitting on the toilet. The repetitive motion soothes their sensory system and helps them focus. Make sure to choose something easy to clean!

3. Dress smart

Choose clothing for your child that is easy to pull up and down, to minimize frustration in the moment. Avoid zippers, buttons or tight waistbands that may pose a challenge. Wearing snug compression clothing can also provide grounding pressure that enhances body awareness and calms sensory overload.

4. Celebrate Progress

Any success is a success! Positive reinforcement can make a huge difference in a child’s toilet training journey. Acknowledge things such as recognizing the urge to use the bathroom or sitting on the toilet calmly. Depending on your child’s needs, you can use simple verbal praise or a sticker chart to motivate them.

When to Seek Professional Guidance

If you feel that your child is not making progress or you are at a loss how to help them, then it may be time to call an occupational therapist. They can work with you and your child to find strategies tailored to your child’s needs and routines. Occupational therapists can also recommend specific sensory tools and exercises that address interoceptive challenges, if that is needed.

Remember, all these issues do not need to be addressed at once. Be patient with your child while supporting their unique needs. Toileting is a significant developmental milestone, and with patience, consistency and sensory supports, children with sensory processing difficulties can make meaningful progress. Every child is different and finding the right approach may take time—but success is within reach.

Need support and strategies in other areas? Explore our range of sensory tools categorized by developmental goals to find the right ones for your child.