Teaching your child to use the toilet may be one of the biggest challenges you face as a parent.

We use the toilet multiple times a day, often without thinking about the complexity of this task. But for a child, learning to use the toilet independently requires a range of skills—physical, emotional, and sensory. Without the right approach, toilet training can lead to tears, frustration, and outright refusal.

As a paediatric occupational therapist, I love talking about toileting! Let me guide you through how to know if your child is ready, where to start, and what to do if you're struggling with toilet training.

In this article, we’ll cover:

• Is my child ready for toilet training? - Key factors to assess readiness

  • Emotional readiness

  • Sensory readiness

  • Physiological readiness

  • Motor readiness

• Are you ready for toilet training? – The family’s commitment and patience

• What to do if toilet training isn’t progressing – Strategies to overcome challenges.

• When to seek professional support – Signs an occupational therapist can help.

• Additional resources & support – Recommended video and how to reach out to Neuronaut.

Is my child ready for toilet training?

Every child develops at their own pace, and readiness for toilet training varies. While many children begin around age two, it’s essential to consider their sensory, emotional, and motor skills to ensure a smooth process. Here are some key factors to assess:

• Emotional readiness

  Believe it or not, emotions play a big role in toilet training. Stress and anxiety can interfere with a child's ability to recognise when they need to go. Ensuring your child (and your family) can manage emotions effectively will set the stage for success (KidsHealth, 2023).

• Sensory readiness

  Did you know sensory differences can impact toilet training? Our sensory system helps us notice and process internal cues like needing to use the toilet—a skill known as interoception - our "eighth sense" (Mahler, 2016).

  Some children struggle to recognise these signals, while others may find the bathroom environment overwhelming. Bright fluorescent lights, the loud sound of flushing, the feeling of falling into the toilet, or strong bathroom smells can all make toilet training feel impossible.

• Physiological readiness

  If your child is urinating less frequently and in a more predicatbale way, this indicates that their body is now able to retain urine and give your child cues when they need to make their way to the bathroom to use the toilet (Raising Children Network, 2023).

• Motor readiness

  Toilet training also requires a variety of motor skills, including:

  • Getting on and off the toilet

  • Sitting upright without support

  • Engaging muscles to urinate or have a bowel movement

  • Tearing the right amount of toilet paper and wiping properly

  • Washing hands effectively

  • Pulling pants up and down

Phew! That’s a lot to master before even flushing the toilet!

Are you ready for toilet training?

Toilet training isn’t just about your child, it’s about you, too!

Did you know it takes an average of 3 to 6 months to fully toilet train a child!?

That’s why it’s important to ensure your family has the time and emotional bandwidth to support the process. The best time to start is when both you and your child feel well-rested, patient, and ready to adapt.

Help! We’re struggling with toilet training

If you’ve been trying and feel stuck, don’t worry—you’re not alone! At Neuronaut, we specialise in helping children overcome toileting challenges. Our experienced occupational therapists can provide strategies tailored to your child's unique needs.

Your child may benefit from OT support if they:

• Experience pain while toileting

• Have strong emotional reactions related to toilet use

• Refuse to sit on the toilet

• Have been trying for over six months with little to no progress

• Struggle with dressing and undressing

• Have sensory differences making the process difficult

• Are falling behind their peers in toileting independence

• Are over 2 years old but don’t notice bladder or bowel movements

• Avoid using the toilet because they don’t want to stop playing their favourite game

• Have trouble wiping properly after using the toilet

If any of these sound familiar, we’re here to help!

Need support? Get in touch!

Have questions? Feel free to reach out or drop them in our question block below—we’d love to help!

If you think your child would benefit from working with an occupational therapist for toilet training, fill out our referral form, and we’ll be in touch to support you on this journey.

Watch this Instagram video to discover key things you should know before starting toilet training!

Join the conversation

If this article has inspired you or raised questions, we’d love to hear from you. Share it with others who might also benefit from these ideas and help us spread the message further.

Together, we can celebrate differences and build a society that embraces neurodiversity in all its forms.

References

• Di Collis. (2021). Talking toilet training. Occupational Therapy Australia.

• KidsHealth. (2023). Toilet training: Teaching your child to use the toilet. Nemours KidsHealth.

• Mahler, K. (2016). Interoception: The eighth sensory system. AAPC Publishing.

• Raising Children Network. (2023). Toilet training: A guide for parents. Raising Children Australia.

This content has been created for informational purposes only and should not replace professional evaluation. The article has been reviewed by our editorial team.

Do you have a comment?