Resources

Bathroom Strategies

For children who have a hard time accessing the bathroom comfortably and consistently, a bathroom kit can offer both sensory support and a motivating way to move through the process of toileting. Sensory tools can help them better manage the sounds, smells, and sensations in the bathroom while giving them something engaging to focus on.

We recommend packing two versions of the kit: a small container to use at home and a small backpack to keep in the car for bathrooms in the community. The home kit can be brought out when it’s time to use the potty, and the travel kit can help make unfamiliar restrooms feel more predictable and comfortable.

Below are ideas for what to include. These items should be available only during bathroom times so that they stay novel and tied to the toileting routine. Every few months, you can swap out some of the toys or fidgets to keep the kit fresh, while keeping core tools, like headphones and essential oil sticks, consistently available.