A Parent’s Guide to Potty Training (+ Sticker Chart Download)

Potty training is an important milestone in your child’s life. It’s normal to wonder if you’re starting too soon, too late, or doing it the “right” way. If you’re feeling unsure, you’re not alone. Potty training is a process. It takes patience, consistency, and compassion for both you and your child.

For children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), toilet training can come with additional challenges. The good news is that with individualized support through applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy, autistic children can build these skills over time.

Does autism affect potty training?

Autism spectrum disorder is a developmental condition that affects communication, social interaction, and how a child experiences the world. Many children are diagnosed between the ages of 2 and 4, though signs may appear earlier or later.

When it comes to potty training, children diagnosed with autism may experience challenges such as:

• Communication differences that make it harder to express bathroom needs
• Sensory sensitivities to sounds, lights, water, or clothing changes
• Strong preferences for routine, making transitions more difficult
• Motor skill delays, such as pulling down pants or sitting safely on the toilet

→ Learn more: Q&A with a Psychologist: Common Autism Questions Answered

Is my child ready for potty training?

There is no perfect age to begin potty training. It’s easy to look around and compare. Maybe another child in your family was trained at 2 or 3. Maybe friends are sharing success stories. But readiness isn’t based on age alone; it’s based on your child.

Many children will begin to show small signs that they’re ready:

• Squirming, hiding, or pausing before going
• Showing discomfort in a wet diaper
• Pulling at their diaper or trying to remove it
• Curiosity about the toilet
• Wanting to change clothes right away when wet

Some children may notice the bodily sensation but not yet connect it to the toilet. Others may sit comfortably but need help managing clothing. A child can be ready for one step without being ready for all of them at once.

Does ABA therapy help with potty training?

In applied behavior analysis, Board Certified Behavior Analysts^® (BCBAs^®) develop individualized teaching strategies to help your child reach family-identified goals, which may include potty training, among other things. 

BCBAs partner with parents to identify early signs of body awareness at home. Together, you may discuss:

• When your child typically urinates or has a bowel movement
• Whether they show physical signs beforehand
• How they respond to being wet
• Whether they will walk toward the bathroom independently

If your child feels discomfort but doesn’t yet connect it to the toilet, ABA therapy focuses on bridging that gap through teaching functional communication, such as:

• Labeling body sensations in simple ways
• Practicing walking to the bathroom on a routine
• Sitting on the toilet comfortably
• Connecting “I feel this” to “I go here.”

→ Learn more: Tips For Teaching Your Autistic Child At Home (+ Skill Tracker Download)

Are we ready to potty train? Considering timing and life changes

Potty training isn’t just about your child being ready. Parents need to be ready, too. If your family is going through a move, welcoming a new baby, or navigating major schedule changes, it might not be the right time to start. It’s important to pay attention to what your family needs right now. What works one month may need adjusting the next. 

Before starting or restarting potty training, it can help to observe first. Notice:

• How often you’re changing diapers
• When your child is more likely to be dry
• Whether accidents tend to happen at certain times of day

Some families begin potty training with simple steps, such as trying the toilet first thing in the morning or during natural windows throughout the day. From there, the routine can shift and grow based on what’s working.

How BCBAs support families through life changes

In ABA therapy, potty training is never viewed in isolation. BCBAs consider the full picture of a child’s life, including family routines, stressors, and upcoming changes.

Through twice-a-month Family Guidance sessions, clinicians partner with parents to:

• Decide whether the timing is right to start or pause potty training
• Review patterns and data together to guide decisions
• Adjust expectations during periods of transition
• Problem-solve challenges that come up in real-life situations
• Celebrate progress, even when it looks small

Family Guidance sessions provide a space to talk through what’s working, what isn’t, and what may need to change. Potty training can take up entire conversations, and that’s okay. It’s a big milestone!

When potty training feels frustrating or overwhelming

Potty training can quickly become overwhelming. You may start with the best intentions, offering frequent bathroom trips throughout the day, only to feel exhausted by constant accidents and laundry. If it starts to feel like a power struggle, it may help to scale back. 

One strategy some families use is limiting how often they try in a single day. For example, you might offer the potty twice during a specific time of day. If both attempts are unsuccessful, you pause and try again another day. Every child is different. What works for one may not work for another. 

What if my child won’t leave play to use the bathroom?

Some children are so focused on play that they don’t want to stop, even if they need to go. They may wait until the last minute or ignore early body signals. This leaves many parents wondering: Should I force it? Outside of hygiene or safety situations, forcing can create resistance.

Instead, try:

• Invite them to walk with you toward the bathroom
• Turn the transition into a simple game
• Gently point out body cues, like “It looks like your body might need the potty.”
• Model going to the bathroom by yourself

The idea is to show your child that using the bathroom is a normal, everyday activity. When children see trusted adults calmly respond to their own body cues, they can begin to recognize their own!

What if my autistic child is nonverbal?

One of the most common concerns parents share is this: “What if my child can’t tell me they need the bathroom?” A child may be nonverbal or have limited expressive language. Some children may also not show clear body cues before needing to use the bathroom, which can make progress feel slow or confusing.

You’re not alone. Many children diagnosed with autism need additional support connecting body sensations and toileting skills with communication.

How ABA therapy supports functional communication skills for toileting

In ABA therapy, communication is not limited to spoken words. BCBAs help children learn functional ways to request the bathroom using methods that work best for them.

Support may include:

• Teaching gestures, signs, or picture exchanges
• Using visual schedules or bathroom icons
• Practicing routine-based bathroom visits
• Tracking patterns to identify likely bathroom times
• Praising any attempt to communicate needs

If body awareness is still developing, clinicians may begin with scheduled bathroom trips. Over time, children learn to connect the routine with physical sensations and build greater independence.

→ Learn more: 9 Tips for Communicating with Children Diagnosed with Autism

What if my child wants to play in the toilet?

It can catch you off guard. Your child finally sits on the toilet, and instead of focusing on the task, they reach into the water to splash or explore.

Before feeling frustrated, take a step back. Curiosity is natural. Many children love water play. If your child enjoys splashing in the bath or playing at the sink, the toilet may simply feel like another new water experience to explore.

The goal isn’t just to say “no.” It’s important to think about what’s driving the behavior and how to guide it safely. Here are a few strategies parents can try:

• Keep hands busy. Offer a small item to hold immediately after they finish. This could be a safe and washable item to keep their hands occupied.
• Move quickly to the next step. As soon as they’re done, guide them right into flushing and washing their hands.
• Provide enthusiastic praise. Reinforce the successful step before redirecting: “You went potty! Great job. Let’s flush!”

How ABA therapy teaches potty training replacement behaviors

In ABA therapy, clinicians examine why a toilet-training behavior, such as water play, occurs and may ask: “Is it sensory-related? Is the child seeking attention? Is it simple curiosity?”

Once the function is understood, BCBAs help families teach a replacement behavior that meets the same need more safely. Parents can try:

• Teach a clear sequence: sit → go → stand → flush → wash hands
• Provide alternative sensory activities throughout the day
• Use visual supports to show “first potty, then wash hands.”
• Redirecting calmly and consistently

Instead of focusing solely on stopping the behavior, ABA therapy teaches what to do instead. Over time, children learn that the bathroom has a clear purpose and involves a predictable routine.

Should I use rewards for potty training?

Many parents wonder: Should I use rewards for potty training? Is candy okay? Will my child expect something every time?

Positive reinforcement can be very helpful during potty training. When children are learning a new skill, immediate praise or a small reward can increase motivation and confidence. At the same time, you don’t want the bathroom to become a place your child visits only for a prize.

For some families, sticker charts work well. Others may use small toys, extra playtime, or enthusiastic praise. Some children may initially respond best to a small edible reward. There isn’t one “right” answer. What matters most is choosing something that motivates your child and fits your family’s values.

How ABA therapy uses positive reinforcement for potty training

In ABA therapy, reinforcement is used thoughtfully and strategically. BCBAs help families:

• Identify what truly motivates their child
• Decide whether to use food, tokens, stickers, or other rewards
• Break potty training into teachable steps

At first, children are reinforced for small successes, and expectations are gradually increased as their skills improve. The ultimate goal is independence and meaningful outcomes, and positive reinforcement is simply a tool to help children reach it.

Parent resource: Potty training reward chart

To help families support their child at home, we’ve created a printable potty-training resource that breaks the toilet training process into small, achievable steps. Each step can be tracked with a sticker or check mark.

→ Download the Potty Training Sticker Chart

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Potty training support for families at Action Behavior Centers

Toilet training is a meaningful milestone, and it often comes with big emotions for both children and parents. There will be days when everything seems to click, and other days when it feels like you’re starting over. That’s normal. It’s common to take a few steps forward and then need to revisit earlier skills. 

At Action Behavior Centers, we use evidence-based ABA therapy to help autistic children build new skills, like potty training, in ways that fit your family’s unique needs. Contact an ABC center near you today to get started.