Potty Training: 2025
Hi Family ! I missed you all so much ! I needed to take a break because I have to pay for this website and I felt like no one was looking or really cared about what I had to say or teach. During the past couple months I have realized that success doesn’t come just because we want it, it comes with discipline, consistency and putting in the work even when others aren’t looking. With that being said, not matter if no one is looking I will keep going because one day my voice will matter. Fortunately, this is the last post about potty training because my boy has gotten the hang of this thang!! applause***
We had a brief issue with him pooping on the floor next to the toilet but step 5 helped with that. It is all trial and error, never give up ! These children have autism not a learning disability. All they need is an extra push and little help making connections.
I remained consistent and I did not let up! Let me tell yall everything I have learned through out this process.
The autism spectrum is diverse in its own way, everyone does something different, but some things are the same. For example, most autistic people love water, and to come crashing down. So, I made it my business to figure this out for me and you!
So Here you go sis !
Step 1:
Choose a language
For example, potty and toilet, we know they are the same but this may be confusing to someone with limited language, or mixed expressive and receptive language disorder. So, I suggest choosing one and sticking with that. Same with the many ways to say poop, choose one. Last thing, through out this process it is important no to deviate from the language u choose to use because it may confuse the little one.
Step 2:
Choose a Toilet
I suggest using one toilet in the house. and make it a real one not a potty. Using one toilet in my opinion helped my baby process faster than he was when we went out and tried to potty. I say don’t use a potty because that may end up being another lesson within itself. For example, you teach your baby to use the pot you bought from Walmart and they now are potty trained. Great! But now you have to teach them about the real toilet and that they have to use it there. That not only is hard work, but can cause regression and maladaptive behaviors because baby don’t understand. I hope that makes sense.
Step 3:
Avoid Aversion and Burnout
To avoid aversion and burnout on both ends choose 2-3 days out of the week to train. For Example, Wednesday and Friday from 5p-9p. Also, try not to get upset. An accident is just that, and accident. Teach that baby to clean it up and where to go next time they may feel and urge. I would also look to my other potty training post for more details for Pee and Poo identification.
Step 4:
Training Pants or no Training Pants
No training pants, it provides security and that’s not what we need right now. Underwear or naked is fine so they can feel the wetness of the pee and the squishiness of the poo. Naked helped for me because I could hear the stream hit the floor and react. He had to wear pullups during school, so I bought the cheapest ones I could find. Poor baby booty was itching lol ! I believe making him uncomfortable also sped up this process.
Step 5:
Rewards and Consequences
This is an important step and it is essential not to skip it because you might not get the results you need. There were so many cookies! Celebrate , Celebrate , Celebrate !!! Help them make the connection that they are doing a wonderful job. Just like we need to celebrate so they know they did something good by using the restroom, we need to implement consequences to ensure they know that using it on themselves or on the floor is wrong and nasty. An example of a consequence is making them clean up the mess. this not only helps them learn that if they pee or poop on the floor they have to clean it up vs if they pee or poop in the toilet they can just flush and wash their hands but it helps them make the connection that the mess is coming from them and gives the ability to identify the difference between pee and poo. My son has texture issues so cleaning pee and poo was disgusting for him and it only took 2 week of this before he got it together.
I really hope this helps. Peace and Love,
Marijmama
