The key to success is quite simple. Have the child naked from the waist down! This is going to help parents catch an accident as soon as they begin! You will want to select one toilet to start with. Ideally, one that has a bedroom attached, because that is where the parent and child will be hanging out for most of the day, especially in the early phases. Choose a room that is comfortable, has plenty of space to move around and is stocked with moderately preferred toys and activities to keep your learner entertained between potty breaks. Since our learners are going to be naked from the waist down, it might be a good idea to lay down a shower liner/tarp on the floor and bedding because things are about to get messy!

Depending on the needs of the child, the toilet training process can be divided into 8 phases:

1. Voiding with prompts – On the first day, parents should take their child to the toilet immediately after waking. After that, go every 30 minutes, allowing them to sit for 3 minutes at a time and reinforcing any voids, no matter how small.
2. Increasing interval times – Gradually start extending the time between toilet breaks from 30 minutes to 2 hours, taking it slow and steady.
3. Faded verbal prompts – start reducing verbal prompts while continuing to lengthen toilet intervals up to 4 hours. Ensure all verbal prompts are completely phased out before moving on.
4. Spontaneous initiations – Replace verbal prompts with gestural prompts and differentially reinforce spontaneous initiations.
5. Generalization to other toilets in the home – Limit the use of the previously trained toilet naturally (e.g., locked door, someone else is using it, bulky things blocking the doorway etc). When they head to the previously trained toilet, prompt your learner to use the other available toilet. Introduce each one at a time, and don’t forget to differentially reinforce!
6. Re-introduction of clothing and washing hands – Use chaining to reintroduce clothing and wiping themselves after using the toilet. Next, work on washing hands using forward or backward chaining. Remember to fade out any physical, verbal, or gestural prompts (to a developmentally appropriate level) before moving on to the next phase.
7. Communication training – Ensure all toilets are blocked in natural ways. Identify a communication method suitable for your learner (words, signs, PECS, AAC) to teach requesting. Remember to use culturally and developmentally appropriate language! Remember to gradually fade prompts using a time delay to allow for spontaneous requesting.
8. Generalization in the community – Begin with generalization in one community setting by frequently asking the learner if they need to use the toilet. Gradually fade reminders by giving reminders further apart, while making sure to stay within a developmentally appropriate range. Target generalization across different locations, one at a time.