Alexis Irazoque, M.S., CCC-SLP
Occupational therapy (OT) helps with potty training by supporting the physical, sensory, communication, and daily living skills children need to use the bathroom on their own. Potty training involves many pieces of a puzzle, including body awareness, coordination, routines, and confidence. In this guide, you’ll learn what skills children need for toileting success, sensory strategies that may help, how OT can support potty training challenges, and when to consider getting help.
Key takeaways
Occupational therapy (OT) can help children develop the physical, sensory, communication, and self-care skills needed for successful potty training.
Potty training depends on many developmental skills, including body awareness, motor skills, following routines, communication, and emotional readiness.
Sensory differences can make potty training harder by affecting how children respond to bathroom sounds, sensations, routines, or internal body signals.
Occupational therapists can provide personalized strategies to help children learn to use the toilet on their own.
Children may need OT if they struggle with toilet refusal, accidents, sensory issues, or dressing themselves.
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Get startedCan OT help with potty training?
Occupational therapy (OT) can help children develop the many skills needed for successful potty training. Some children simply need more time to master this milestone. But for others, toileting is made harder because of challenges with movement, sensory processing, communication, or daily routines. These kids may benefit from extra support through OT.
Occupational therapists look beyond accidents or potty refusal to understand what may be making potty training tough. They evaluate the whole child, including physical abilities, sensory needs, routines, and environment, to create personalized strategies that build confidence and independence.
OT can support children who have a hard time:
Knowing when they need to use the bathroom
Managing clothing and hygiene tasks, like wiping and washing hands
Following the steps of the toileting routine
Feeling comfortable and regulated in the bathroom
With the right support, potty training can become a more positive experience for children and their caregivers.
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What skills does a child need for successful potty training?
“Potty training is much more than learning to use the toilet,” says Lauren Galipp, OTR, OTD, a licensed occupational therapist at Expressable. “It's a developmental skill that depends on many abilities working together.”
Your child doesn't need to master every skill before potty training begins. But the more prepared they are, the smoother the process is likely to be.
Body awareness
One of the first potty training skills is recognizing when it's time to go! This relies on interoception, which is the body's ability to notice internal signals like a full bladder or bowel.
Children develop this awareness gradually. Some early signs that a child is learning interoception include:
Pausing during play
Tugging at a diaper
Hiding before a bowel movement
Telling a caregiver they need a change
These behaviors show that a child is beginning to notice their body’s signals that they need to use the bathroom.
Motor skills
Using the toilet involves more movement than many parents realize. Children need enough balance, coordination, and strength to do each step safely.
These motor skills include:
Walking to the bathroom
Sitting safely on the toilet or potty
Pulling clothing up and down
Wiping (when appropriate for the child’s age)
Washing and drying their hands
There are simple ways to make these tasks easier for young children. For example, your child can wear easy-to-remove clothing, or use a step stool or toilet seat insert.
Fine motor skills are the small hand and finger movements we use for everyday tasks. Learn examples, activities, and how to support your child’s development at home.
Cognitive skills
Children have to remember and follow the steps needed to use the potty. They need to understand what the toilet is for, recognize when it's time to stop playing, and know what comes next in the routine. These skills develop gradually, and some children need lots of repetition and practice to make the toileting routine easier to remember.
Communication skills
Children also need a way to let someone know they need to use the bathroom. This might be through spoken words, gestures, sign language, pictures, or an AAC device.
Kids also benefit from understanding simple directions, like "Let's go potty" or "Pull your pants down." Strong communication skills help children participate more independently in the toileting routine.
Emotional readiness
Potty training can bring excitement, frustration, and everything in between. Children are often more successful when they can tolerate transitions, try new skills, and feel confident during the process.
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Can sensory issues affect potty training?
For some children, potty training is hard because of sensory differences. The bathroom is full of sights, sounds, smells, and sensations that can feel overwhelming or distracting. Sensory processing affects how children receive, understand, and respond to information from both the world around them and their own bodies.
Let’s talk about some of the ways sensory differences can impact potty training:
Difficulty knowing when they need to go. Some children have a hard time noticing body signals from their bladder or bowels. Galipp says, “This may lead to accidents, needing lots of reminders, or waiting until the last minute to use the bathroom.”
Bathroom sensitivities. For children with sensory sensitivities, the bathroom itself can feel uncomfortable or even scary. They may be bothered by loud flushing or hand dryers, bright lights or echoes, and strong smells. This can make children avoid using the toilet, even when they're physically ready.
Sensory-seeking behaviors. Other children may seek sensory input or become deeply focused on activities, making it harder to notice their body’s cues that they need to use the bathroom. They may not realize that they are wet, delay bathroom trips, or struggle to sit still long enough to finish the routine.
Sensory strategies for potty training
Small changes can make potty training feel more comfortable and successful. Depending on your child's sensory needs, you can try:
Creating a consistent potty routine with visual schedules for your child to follow
Letting your child wear noise-reducing headphones in loud bathrooms
Dimming bright lights or reducing visual clutter
Using timed potty breaks if your child has trouble knowing when they need to go
Not every strategy will work for every child. An occupational therapist can help identify your child's unique sensory needs and what will help them.
OT tips to make potty training easier
Potty training is a process. Most children learn through repetition, encouragement, and practice. If potty training feels challenging, these tips from OTs can help it feel more manageable.
1 Build a consistent routine
Children often learn best through predictable routines. Try offering potty breaks at the same times each day, such as after meals, before leaving the house, or before bedtime. You can also use a timer or visual schedule (see below) to help your child know what to expect.
2 Practice dressing outside of the bathroom
Pulling pants up and down is a big part of toileting. Try practicing dressing skills during playtime or while getting ready for the day. Elastic-waist pants or shorts are usually easier for young children to manage on their own.
3 Make the bathroom feel safe and comfortable
The right bathroom setup can make potty training easier. It helps children feel stable, comfortable, and independent. Helpful tools may include:
A step stool for foot support
A child-sized toilet seat insert
Easy-to-reach soap and towels
Comfortable, easy-to-remove clothing
4 Use visual supports
Many children benefit from seeing each step of the toileting routine. Picture schedules, “first-then” boards, or simple potty charts can help children remember what comes next and feel less anxious.
5 Keep practice positive
Praise your child when they try to use the potty! Even small wins count, like sitting on the potty or telling you they need to go. Many occupational therapists also recommend using a sticker chart, tokens, or small rewards. These positive incentives can help your child build their toileting habits until they become a routine.
Try not to punish your child or show frustration if they have an accident. Accidents are a normal part of learning.
6 Follow your child's pace
Every child learns potty training differently. “Some children are ready quickly, while others need more time and support. If your child becomes overwhelmed, it's OK to pause and try again later,” Galipp reassures us. A calm, low-pressure approach typically leads to better long-term success.
Signs your child may need extra support with potty training
Every child learns to use the potty at their own pace, and an accident now and then is a normal part of learning. But if potty training feels very challenging or stressful, or your child just isn’t making progress, they may benefit from extra support.
An occupational therapist can identify why potty training is hard for your child and provide strategies to help. Your child may benefit from OT if they:
Have accidents often or wait until the last minute to use the bathroom
Don't seem to notice when they need to pee or poop
Avoid sitting on the toilet or seem afraid of using it
Have strong reactions to bathroom sensations, such as flushing, smells, wiping, or certain textures
Have a hard time pulling their clothes up or down
Need help to follow the steps of the toileting routine
Become overwhelmed or frustrated during potty training
These signs don't always mean something is wrong. But they may mean your child needs extra support to learn to use the potty.
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When to talk with your child’s pediatrician
In some cases, potty training challenges may be related to medical concerns or require support beyond therapy. Talk with your child's pediatrician if your child:
Feels pain when they pee or poop
Has constipation or regularly “holds” pee or poop
Often has urinary concerns, such as possible urinary tract infections
Seems to be learning to use the potty, but then goes back to refusing or having accidents
Becomes very anxious or upset during toileting
Has developmental delays that affect their ability to use the toilet on their own
Your pediatrician can help rule out any medical concerns and recommend the right next steps. Depending on your child's needs, they may suggest occupational therapy, speech therapy, early intervention services, or another specialist.
What does occupational therapy for potty training look like?
Occupational therapy for potty training helps children become more independent with everyday routines, including using the bathroom. Instead of following a one-size-fits-all potty training method, therapists look at why toileting is difficult for the individual child, then work on those skills.
“Your child's therapist will first get to know your child's strengths, challenges, and daily routines. From there, they'll create a personalized plan based on your child's unique needs,” Galipp explains.
Occupational therapy may include:
Helping your child become more independent with dressing, hygiene, and bathroom routines
Addressing sensory challenges that make toileting uncomfortable
Teaching you strategies to help your child practice at home
Changing things in the bathroom to make toileting easier
Occupational therapists work closely with families and may partner with your child's pediatrician, speech therapist, physical therapist, or other providers as needed. Working together helps create consistent routines across home, school, and other places. The goal is to help your child feel confident, comfortable, and independent throughout the entire toileting process.
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Can speech therapy also help with potty training?
Speech therapy can play an important role in potty training, especially for children who have speech or language challenges. Speech therapists support the communication skills children need to use the bathroom on their own.
It's important to remember that children don't have to be able to talk to learn to use the toilet. They just need a reliable way to communicate their needs.
A speech therapist can help your child:
Ask to use the bathroom
Understand potty-related words and directions
Learn bathroom vocabulary, like "potty," "pee," and "wash hands"
Follow the steps of the toileting routine
Use signs, pictures, or an AAC device to communicate bathroom needs
Speech therapists can also help parents model, or demonstrate, communication during potty routines. Repeating simple phrases like "Let's go potty" and using the same words regularly helps children connect language with the activity.
How to potty train a child who's not yet using words, whether they're a young toddler, have a speech delay, or are autistic or nonverbal.
Need extra support? Expressable can help
Some children benefit from occupational therapy alone, while others make the most progress when OT and speech therapy are combined. At Expressable, our licensed occupational and speech therapists use a personalized, play-based approach to help children build the skills needed for potty training. Your therapist will identify why potty training is tough for your child and provide practical strategies to make it easier.
Because therapy is delivered online, caregivers participate in every session and learn how to support their child's progress between visits. This helps children practice new skills where they're used most (hint: in their own bathroom and daily routines).
If you're wondering whether occupational therapy is the right fit for your child, we're here to help. An evaluation is the first step toward creating a plan that helps potty training feel easier for the whole family. Start by getting matched with a therapist!
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Yes, an occupational therapist can help children build the skills needed for potty training, including body awareness, dressing skills, sensory regulation, and following bathroom routines. OT focuses on identifying what may be making toileting difficult and creating strategies that fit your child’s unique needs.
The length of potty training depends on the child’s development, readiness, and individual needs. Some children learn to use the potty within a few weeks. Others need several months of practice and support to become fully independent.
Yes, sensory differences can make potty training harder for some children. Sensitivities to sounds, smells, textures, or the feeling of sitting on the toilet may cause children to avoid or resist bathroom routines.
You can find an occupational therapist through your child’s pediatrician, an early intervention program, your insurance provider, or a therapy clinic. Look for an OT with experience supporting children’s daily living skills, sensory needs, and toileting independence.
Insurance coverage for occupational therapy depends on your specific plan, your child’s diagnosis, and your plan’s medical necessity requirements. Families can check with their insurance provider or an OT provider to learn what services may be covered.
How Expressable Can Help
Concerned your child isn't reaching age-expected milestones? Looking for communication support from a professional? Expressable is a national online speech and occupational therapy practice serving children and adults. We treat all major areas of communication, feeding, and developmental skills, offer flexible hours including evenings and weekends, and accept most major health insurance plans. We’re proud to have earned more than 4,500 5-star reviews from our clients (4.83/5 average).
Our therapy model is centered on parent and caregiver involvement. Research proves that empowering caregivers to participate in their loved one’s therapy leads to better outcomes. That’s why we combine live, 1-on-1 speech and occupational therapy with personalized education and home practice activities for faster progress.
