Sensory Kidz Universe

 If your child screams, runs away, or completely melts down at the mention of the toilet — you’re not alone. For many children (especially sensory-sensitive ones), toilets aren’t “no big deal.” They’re loud, cold, unpredictable… and honestly terrifying. This doesn’t mean you’ve failed potty training. It means your child’s nervous system needs support — not pressure. 🚽 Why do some children hate the toilet? 1. Toilets are loud and unpredictable Flushing, echoing bathrooms, sudden noises — all can trigger overwhelm. 2. The toilet feels uncomfortable Cold seats, dangling legs, slippery surfaces. If it doesn’t feel safe, the body won’t relax. 3. They don’t feel toilet signals clearly (interoception) Some children don’t recognise the urge to go until it’s urgent — which leads to panic and meltdowns. 4. One bad experience can create fear Pain, constipation, accidents, or being rushed can make the toilet feel unsafe long-term. 5. Pressure makes it worse Well-meaning encoura...

 If you’ve ever thought “It was just the wrong cup… why has my child completely lost it?” You’re not dramatic. And your child isn’t overreacting. Meltdowns over “small” things are incredibly common — especially for sensory-sensitive children. And there’s always a reason, even if it doesn’t look logical from the outside. Let’s talk about what’s actually going on. First: it’s not about the small thing When a child melts down over: the wrong socks toast cut the “wrong” way a tiny change of plan The trigger looks small — but the cause is usually much bigger . Meltdowns are not tantrums. They’re a sign that your child’s nervous system is overloaded . The most common reasons this happens 🟣 1. Their nervous system is already full Think of your child like a cup. Noise. Light. School. Transitions. Demands. By the time you say “we’re leaving in five minutes”, their cup is already overflowing — and the “small thing” is just the final drop. 🟣 2. Sensory ...

“Why does my child only poo in a nappy?” is one of the most common questions parents of sensory children ask — and it’s far more normal than you think.  If you’re here because your child will happily wee on the toilet… but will only poo if they’re in a nappy, hiding behind the sofa like a tiny criminal — you are not alone . This is one of the most common issues parents of sensory kids face. And no — it does not mean you’ve failed at potty training. Let’s break it down in a way that actually makes sense. First: this is VERY normal (especially for sensory kids) Children who only poo in a nappy are often: highly body-aware sensitive to sensations anxious about change very in tune with control and safety For them, pooing isn’t just a physical thing — it’s sensory, emotional, and psychological . The main reasons this happens 🟣 1. The toilet feels unsafe The toilet can feel: cold loud echoey unstable A nappy feels: warm contained fami...

 If your child was doing fine with potty training and then suddenly… wasn’t? Accidents. Refusal. Fear. Total nope. First things first — this is not a failure . And it definitely doesn’t mean you’ve gone “back to square one”. For sensory kids, potty training regression is often a nervous system response , not a skill issue. And once you understand why it happens, everything feels a bit less terrifying. If potty training has felt impossible from the start, this explains why traditional methods often fail sensory kids -  Why Potty Training Fails Sensory Kids (And It’s Not Your Child) Let’s Say This Clearly (Because Parents Need to Hear It) Regression does not mean: your child forgot how to use the toilet they’re being lazy you rushed them you messed it all up It usually means: 👉 something tipped their sensory or emotional load over the edge. Potty skills are often the first thing to wobble when a sensory child feels overwhelmed. Why Potty Train...

 Let’s clear something up straight away. If potty training has been: painfully slow full of regressions working one week and exploding the next making you question everything …it’s not because your child is lazy, stubborn, or “just not ready.” For sensory kids, potty training doesn’t fail because of behaviour. It fails because their nervous system is overwhelmed . And nobody tells parents that. Potty Training Advice Is Built for Neurotypical Kids Most potty training advice assumes a child can: notice bodily signals tolerate new sensations handle pressure cope with noise, cold, echoey rooms perform on demand Sensory kids often can’t do those things consistently. Not because they won’t — but because their bodies are processing the world differently. So when parents follow the advice perfectly and it still doesn’t work, the blame quietly shifts onto the child… or worse — the parent. The Sensory Reasons Potty Training Breaks Down 🚽 1. The Bathroom Is ...

  Let’s just say it. Reward charts look great on Pinterest. They sound logical. They promise structure, motivation, and calmer behaviour. But for sensory children? They often don’t work . And when they fail, parents are left thinking they are the problem. They’re not. Reward Charts Assume Children Are Calm Enough to Choose Reward charts are built on one big assumption: 👉 That a child can pause, think, and choose different behaviour. Sensory children often can’t do that in the moment. When a child is overwhelmed: their nervous system is in survival mode logic shuts down motivation disappears future rewards mean nothing A sticker tomorrow cannot override a body that feels unsafe right now . That’s not defiance. That’s biology. Sensory Overload Kills Motivation Here’s the bit nobody talks about. Reward charts rely on dopamine (motivation and reward). Sensory overload floods the body with stress hormones instead. Stress and motivation don’t play...