Welcome back to the Autism Little Learners Podcast. I’m Tara, and I’m so glad you’re here today. If you’ve been following along, this is Part 2 of our series on potty training autistic children with compassion.

In our last episode, we talked about why potty training can be harder for autistic kids, how to prepare the environment, and how to build comfort and readiness before we ever expect a child to actually use the toilet. We also talked about some of the common pitfalls to avoid—like forcing kids to sit on the toilet every 10 minutes, or relying on outdated “3-day potty training” advice that just doesn’t work for many of our kids.

If you missed that episode, I highly recommend going back to listen first, because it really sets the foundation for everything we’ll talk about today.

In this episode, we’re moving into the “how.” We’ll go over practical strategies for implementation, how to track progress and make adjustments, and we’ll spend some time troubleshooting common challenges—things like fear of flushing, withholding, resistance, and nighttime dryness.

This episode is going to be full of tips you can use right away, so let’s dive in.

Takeaways

• Potty training is not linear—setbacks are normal, and small steps forward are worth celebrating.

• Visual supports like cue cards, schedules, and step-by-step sequences give structure and predictability.

• Pairing bathroom trips with natural routines (after meals, before leaving the house, before bed) helps build consistency.

• Incorporating a child’s special interests into social stories, visuals, or play makes potty training more engaging.

• Tracking data helps you see patterns and know whether strategies are working or need to be adjusted.

• Fear of flushing can be reduced by covering sensors on automatic toilets or using noise-reducing headphones.

• Resistance behaviors like excessive flushing or playing in toilet water can be redirected to alternative sensory activities.

• Withholding urine or bowel movements is often about anxiety or routine preference—focus on relaxation, stability, and medical checks if needed.

• Nighttime dryness is a separate developmental milestone and often comes much later—don’t let it overshadow daytime progress.

Resources & Links:

Free Potty Training Guide: www.autismlittlelearners.com/toilet

Potty Training Course: www.autismlittlelearners.com/pottycourse

Potty Training List In Tara’s Amazon Shop: https://amzn.to/45TD6lX

You may also be interested in these supports:

1. Visual Support Starter Set 

2. Visual Supports Facebook Group

3. Autism Little Learners on Instagram

4. Autism Little Learners on Facebook