Sensory Challenges with Toileting

For some children, using the toilet isn’t just about learning a new skill — it’s a full sensory experience. The sounds, smells, textures, and sensations involved in toileting can feel overwhelming, causing fear, avoidance, or resistance.

At OWN Pediatric Therapy, we understand how sensory processing differences can affect potty training, bowel and bladder habits, and overall comfort. We help children and families navigate these challenges with compassion, expertise, and a whole-child approach that looks beyond the toilet.

Understanding Sensory Processing and Toileting

Toileting involves multiple sensory experiences — the feeling of the toilet seat, the sound of flushing, bright lights, and even internal sensations like pressure or fullness. For children with sensory sensitivities or sensory processing disorder (SPD), these sensations can feel confusing, uncomfortable, or even painful.

Common Sensory-Related Toileting Challenges

  • Fear of sitting on the toilet or falling in

  • Aversion to bathroom noises, smells, or lighting

  • Discomfort with wiping, clothing changes, or handwashing

  • Difficulty sensing when they need to go (under-responsiveness)

  • Overreacting to the urge to go (over-responsiveness)

  • Withholding stool or urine due to sensory discomfort

When the body’s sensory and motor systems aren’t working together, children may develop constipation, stool withholding, or frequent accidents.

How Pediatric Pelvic Floor Therapy Helps

At OWN Pediatric Therapy, we combine pelvic health expertise with an understanding of sensory integration and nervous system regulation to help kids feel safe and successful using the toilet.

Pelvic floor therapy helps children:

  • Build awareness and tolerance of sensory input related to toileting

  • Improve interoception (understanding internal body signals)

  • Learn calming strategies to regulate their nervous system

  • Coordinate pelvic floor and core muscles for effective voiding

  • Develop consistent, comfortable bathroom routines

Through play-based, child-centered sessions, we help kids experience toileting in a positive, empowering way — never rushed or pressured.

Signs Sensory Challenges May Be Impacting Toileting

  • Fear or refusal to use the toilet

  • Hiding to poop or holding stool

  • Extreme distress with wiping or handwashing

  • Accidents or constipation without medical cause

  • Overreaction to sounds, smells, or sensations in the bathroom

  • Difficulty recognizing the urge to go

Supporting Kids from the Inside Out

Every child experiences the world differently, and toileting success starts with understanding those differences.

At OWN Pediatric Therapy, we help kids overcome sensory barriers so they can feel calm, capable, and confident in their own bodies.Serving families in Denver, Colorado, and virtually across the U.S., we empower children to thrive — in their OWN way. Learn more today!

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