My daughter was a month away from turning 5 and still refused to poop on the toilet- she would only go in a pull up. I had gone over it with my pediatrician many times who couldn't offer any real advice besides " she will go when she's ready" she referred us to a therapist who was no help at all. My daughter was withholding her poop everyday - waiting for a pull up.. she would be crying some days when I picked her up from school saying she was "holding it" all day and waiting for me to come. it was heart breaking... I spent hours scouring the internet for tips and advice-- all of which left me even more confused as to how to handle the situation.. I took her to a pediatric GI from a MAJOR New York City hospital who said because she was withholding her bowel movements- her colon had stretched out and that she needed to be cleaned out with a laxative over a number of days to a month, to allow her colon to shrink back down to normal size.... We tried to explain that should would not poop on the potty and she acted like she had never heard of the problem, and she couldn't help us behaviorally, nor could she recommend anyone. Desperate, finally I found Samantha... I was at my wits end- literally losing my mind out of frustration and exhaustion. Samantha was the light in my moment of darkness. In times of such stress and hopelessness one may wish that someone would just TELL them what to do and exactly how to do it.. well that is what Samantha did. I had an hour consultation with her. She already knew exactly what was going on because of her experience - she laid all of the info out on the table in plain and simple terms.. she opened my eyes to things I hadn't even considered related to my daughters withholding.. I have to say during and after our call I was petrified of what I was signing up to do.. I never thought it would work.. my daughter was so set in her ways. The next day I woke up with a newfound strength and confidence- a determination! We followed Samantha's plan exactly and on the second day my daughter was proudly, independently pooping on the toilet. I still can't believe it as Im typing this review. Samantha is a god sent.. I wish more pediatricians were aware of how to properly address this vexing situation and could guide their patients to people like Samantha for literal 48 hour relief ! I will be referring everyone I know to her! she is a miracle worker! read more

If you are thinking about booking Sam, do yourself a favor and book her immediately! We had the most amazing experience. Not only did Sam get our daughter to use the potty on the first day but her bedside manner is fantastic. My little one loved Sam so much. Usually it takes her awhile to warm up to people but Sam was able to win my daughter over immediately and it felt like we were hanging out with a friend but my daughter was really getting potty trained without even realizing it, so the process was smooth and seamless. From the first contact I had with Sam, I was very impressed. She asked so many questions to get to the root of the problem. She's such a guru! She is also very caring and compassionate and has impeccable follow up. Sam helped us with a two pronged approach. First helping us with the medical issue by recommending a great GI and being there with us every step of the way so we didn't feel alone. Second, Sam's mastery of behavioral science is invaluable. She was able to put my daughter at ease and speak to her in a sweet yet effective manner. I also learned so much from Sam just by being present during the training in terms of how to speak to my daughter, what signs to look for and how to cope and succeed moving forward that I can honestly say I feel like a better parent. Just for that alone it was worth every penny! We did the two day process. By day two my daughter was asking for Sam (because she missed her ) and was using the bathroom like a pro. Sam also helped her with a few other things which I can't thank her enough for. This experience has literally changed our lives as parents but most importantly has given our daughter independence and improved her health which you can't put a price tag on. Trust me if you are having any problems potty training Sam will fix them, she's a potty legend! Thanks again Sam. read more

Words can't express how grateful I am for Samantha Allen! For years, I've struggled with my 5-year-old daughter's refusal to poop on the toilet, a challenge made even more difficult by chronic constipation. It was a constant source of stress and worry for our entire family. Honestly, I was a bit anxious about bringing someone into our home to tackle such a sensitive issue. However, from the moment Samantha arrived, my worries melted away. She spent three days with us, and the progress I witnessed was extraordinary. Samantha has a true gift with children. She engaged my daughter with fun games and activities that made the whole process feel less daunting. What impressed me most was Samantha's ability to balance a playful approach with a straightforward and clear focus on toilet training. She was able to connect with my daughter and be silly at times, but was firm, clear, consistent about bathroom routines. She knew exactly how to communicate with my daughter, making her feel comfortable and empowered. I learned so much just by watching Samantha interact with her. I now feel confident in my ability to continue the positive momentum and am even optimistic about toilet training my younger daughter. Samantha also went above and beyond by offering helpful strategies for our daughter's picky eating. She is truly a holistic and compassionate specialist. If you are struggling with toilet training, especially with unique challenges, I wholeheartedly recommend Samantha Allen. She is an absolute miracle worker and has brought so much peace and relief to our family. read more

Our son was about to turn five and still refused to poop on the potty. He was just about to enter kindergarten and we knew this would be an issue. Needless to say, we had to act fast. I had a phone consultation with NYC Potty Training and, well, it was just one of those miracle phone calls. A) It was great to have someone outside the situation take an objective look at the situation and B) have that person be an incredibly experienced, insightful guide. Honestly, it was one of the greatest, most helpful, optimistic phone calls I've ever had. NYC Potty Training asked all the right questions, LISTENED and took-in our answers, and gave us invaluable advice. That advice wasn't just an abrupt "change his diet" or "give him laxatives." The advice was thoughtful and compassionate, sensitive to the fact that it wasn't US having the problem-- it was our child. My wife and I immediately implemented the suggestions and, two days later, our son pooped on the potty. It was his own decision. Of course we were incredibly proud of him, but the more important thing was that he was proud of HIMSELF. He's been a "professional pooper-on-the-potty" ever since. This all happened through a single phone consultation-- a single phone call that obviously helped solve a major problem, but also helped alleviate our worries and boosted our child's confidence tremendously. Forever grateful. read more

Amazing! Samantha Allen is the Mary Poppins of potty training and I would hire her again in a second. No one believed my 28-month-old boy could be potty trained in two days but Samantha Allen did it. There is nothing better than seeing my sons proud smile and hearing him tell me "I did it". I never thought I would hire a professional potty trainer because I had successfully potty trained my two older children, however both of them wore pull-ups overnight for years and those first months post potty training were filled with accidents. I want to clean poop out of a toddlers underwear said no one ever. Additionally, I ended up saying "do you have to use the potty" a million times a day. Enter Samantha Allen and my son tells me he has to go to the bathroom, lifts the seat (yes you read that correctly), stands or sits to urinate, flushes the toilet, puts the seat down (again you read that correctly) and washes his hands. At first, there were some tears but then again he also cries when I say he can't play with the stove. He is so proud of himself, which means the world to us. Samantha Allen helped my son acquire the skills to transition from a baby in diapers to a big boy wearing underwear who uses the toilet independently. If you are even considering hiring her - do it! You will not regret it. read more

When I potty trained my son at just 24 months, everyone was so impressed, and frankly so was I! But little did I know underlying issues of constipation and stool withholding were developing and getting worse. 9 months later and we were still having poop accidents, that were seemingly getting worse, and I was at my wits end! Samantha has gone above and beyond to help me solve my sons issues. She suggested a number of great pediatric GIs (and we love the one we now see) and it was determined that we needed a combination of both medical and behavioral intervention. We did the 2 day in-home training session with Samantha, although truthfully she helped us way beyond just those two days. We determined a plan that was specific to my son - his needs, his behavior, and his personality - and she set us up on the right track to success. Both my son and my 4 year old daughter loved having Samantha over and she is a pleasure to work with. Without Samantha I would still helplessly be trying my own methods to try and fix our issues. I recommend her to anyone struggling like I was! read more

...well we had received the dreaded reminder letter from Pre-K that our 3 year old triplets had to be potty trained by the first day and now here we were one week before school anxiously hopeful that Samantha could solve the problem that we and our nanny after a Summer of effort had failed at rather miserably. We were worried that the Potty-whisperer we had heard so much about might be about to meet her match in a force of 3 entrenched 3 year olds...and it looked like that could possibly be the case after day one. However and fortunately, Samantha successfully through a policy of consistency, reinforcement, rewarding and praising, firmness, dedication, and a professional attitude and persevering nature together with a bubbly demeanor that the kids really appreciated, managed to excite the kids about using the potty and successfully trained them. Samantha also left us with written pointers and guidance specific for each kid. A terribly, messy process at times but a very successful outcome! read more

I cannot say enough about Samantha! I honestly was convinced my 3.4 year old daughter was never going to be potty trained, I had tried it all to no avail. I felt like I had failed. After convincing my husband (which was not an easy task) I hired Sam. She came and I was so nervous. I thought for sure I was paying all this money and there was no chance my stubborn daughter would "succeed" for lack of a better term. A day later it was done. I was amazed, but scared for her to leave.... It's been a few months now and we have had nothing but success! We went from soaking I mean soaking wet diapers to zero diapers in a day. No diapers, no sleep diapers, no pull ups... Just clean underwear ...even through the night! She truly is a miracle worker and I would vouch for Sam in a heartbeat!! She is kind, patient and had a way with the my daughter to make her feel calm and comfortable throughout the process! Sam is the best! read more

Samantha, in person, helped train our 2.5 year old whom we had previously tried to train with no progress. We have another baby due soon and were anxious about potty training our son before the baby comes. We were able to get him trained quickly and with minimal tears with her firm guidance. She gave us the confidence to get over the difficult first two days without caving in and giving him a diaper. I don't think we could have gotten through those first two toughest days of potty training (and possibly the toughest days of toddlerhood ever!) without her observations, support and expertise. If you want to work with her you have to really follow her advice. She also as a bonus really helped push me to get my son to eat by himself and transition out of a high chair. I didn't think he would accept me not feeding him but he did it and now eats most foods on his own. read more

This was a wonderful experience for us. Our son was 4, and very resistant to potty training. He would sit but not go. We tried several books, including the one day method, but made no progress on and off over a year. Samantha did it in one day, and our son was so proud at the end of it. There was nothing terribly mysterious about what she does, and we had tried much of it ourselves, but she knows when to push and how to keep things going at all the right times. Our son liked her a lot, and we went from diapers to not even nighttime in 2 days. We had accidents at night for a few days and since then nothing. She also emailed to check in a few times which was helpful during the nighttime training. She was a pleasure to have in our house as well. We debated the expense for some time, but in the end it was honestly the best money we have spent in years. read more

I have been a Pediatric Gastroenterologist for 35 years, and one of the most challenging aspects for parents is dealing with a child who, for a variety of reasons, is difficult to potty train. Samantha Allen of NYC potty has been able to potty train even the most difficult children within 2 days, often when every other prior attempt has failed. She is an absolute pro, who is experienced, intelligent and very compassionate. She can assess the difficulties parents have encountered and help them accomplish this milestone with their child. I have been amazed by her ability to potty train some of the most reticent kids in 1 or 2 days. Dozens of parents have told me that she makes herself available before and after the process to make sure that everything goes well, and that they have been extremely happy with her services. I highly recommend her. read more

I am a licensed child psychologist and have worked with everyone from children on the spectrum to bipolar kids and children with severe behavior problems and I still relied on Sam for help training two of my own girls. She is patient, knowledgeable, calm and fun! She relies on her extensive experience but tailors her approach to the individual child. She consider each child's health, diet, routines, and their unique personality when creating a plan and I have to say it worked! TWICE! My first was trained in a day and we are on day 2 with my younger daughter and she was dry over night last night and naps today. I could not be happier with Sam's support. She listened to my crazy rants and gave me the confidence to carry on. I recommend her to my own patients and I am so very grateful for her expertise! THANK YOU! read more

Sam's coaching is a great investment! Sam coached us through all of the stages of potty training as well as the behavioral science behind it. Toddlers are a hard nut to crack, but Sam takes a holistic view towards potty training and behavioral development. She taught our 22 month old to use the adult sized toilet, wipe, wash, and dress in 2 days! Sam is also very creative about thinking how to adapt potty training to a young child's physical needs. She really draws upon her extensive career in education to create an individual plan for potty training. On a fun note: Sam is really fun to have around the house! She is whip smart and is really funny! Our little one really liked playing with her and she's really easy talk to for advice. Her whole heart goes into this so she's very responsive via email/text! read more

Samantha Allen is a miracle worker! We were very reluctant to hire a consultant both financially and out of pride but we were so frustrated with potty training our 3.5 year old son that we decided we had to try. She got it done in less than a day...in the week since Samantha worked with us, our son hasn't had a single accident. He is so happy and proud of himself and we couldn't be more thrilled. We live in a small apartment but it was still really easy to have her around. My son and I both enjoyed hanging out with her for a couple of days and she even got him to eat some sweet potato when we sat down for lunch which he has been refusing for months. She was also super supportive and responsive to the questions I had after she left. I cannot say enough good things about her. We are so grateful! read more

After months of trying to potty train our 3 year old, she was still not pooping in the toilet and would only go in her underwear. We had known about Samantha for a few months but kept waiting to see if our daughter would start to use the toilet on her own. After months without success we hired Samantha for a phone consultation and we got a detailed plan which we would implement over a 3 day weekend. We implemented the plan and in one weekend our daughter went from refusing to use the toilet to using it. Samantha provided support via text messages throughout the weekend and showed she really cared about us being successful! We're thrilled we hired Samantha and our only regret is not hiring her sooner! Highly recommend hiring Samantha if you want to quickly and easily potty train your child! read more

Our 4 year old daughter was a joy except when it came to potty training...We tried everything we heard of but nothing seemed to work and it was upsetting the dynamics of our otherwise wonderful family- confiding in a friend--she told us not to give up hope-she had the answer for us-She gave us the NYC Potty Training website-we quickly contacted them and contracted to hire Samantha- Within two days Samantha did her magic***not only was my daughter trained-but she thought it was her own idea to use the potty and my daughter hasn't had an accident since- We can't say enough of how much we appreciated the calm approach - her patience-and naturally-the results she produced- We definitely recommend for anyone struggling with potty training to use Samantha and New York Potty training** read more

We hired Samantha to potty train our son, we are so grateful that we did. I wish we would've had done it sooner she was so helpful so understanding she is truly a potty trainer whisper her personality is full of life and my son really liked her. Honestly don't wait this is an investment, our son was able to be potty trained in two days mean while we were trying for months. Since the time she has trained our son we haven't had any accidents I could finally go places with him without having to worry about changing a diaper or having any accidents. I honestly feel like I have a new child. He is very excited using big boy pants now. I'm telling everyone about Samantha she has made us so happy!!! A+++++++ read more

At 3 years old my daughter wouldn't even sit on the potty or allow you to mention it in front of her. I honestly did not believe that something like this could work....but after a good friend had amazing success I decided to try. After day one my daughter was peeing on the potty with no accidents. By the end of day 2 she was doing everything...including going over night totally dry. (Almost all the kids I know her age still wear night pampers so was pretty shocked this worked). It's been nearly one week and we haven't had any accidents. I totally would Recco Sam to everyone. She is also so kind and helpful later on in the process if questions or concerns come up. It was the best 2 days ever! read more

Samantha was so helpful to us when struggling with potty training. When my son was suffering from constipation and encopresis she knew exactly what to tell me to do to get over the hurdle. She was around at all hours of the day and night to give advice and suggestions, and everything she said was right on the money. She's always been patient and kind and still to this day answers my questions whenever I need her! She even recommended a great gastroenterologist who helped us with some serious GI issues. I can't thank her enough, because of her my son was able to go to camp (which required all kids to be potty trained) and have the best summer ever. I highly recommend NYC Potty Training! read more