FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
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What age is too early to start potty training?
There isn’t a single age that’s “too early” — but there is an important difference between potty training and potty readiness.
Some children show interest in the toilet as early as 18–24 months, while others aren’t developmentally ready until closer to age 3 or beyond. Readiness depends less on age and more on a child’s ability to notice body signals, tolerate brief pauses in play, and emotionally manage a new learning process.
Starting before those systems are ready doesn’t mean you’ve done anything wrong — but it can increase the likelihood of resistance, anxiety, or later challenges. My work focuses on identifying readiness through a developmental lens rather than external timelines or pressure.
Is it ever too late to potty train?
No — it’s never too late to support a child through potty learning.
Older children often bring more awareness, stronger preferences, and sometimes past negative experiences into the process. That means the approach needs to be more thoughtful and emotionally informed — not more forceful.
I regularly work with children ages 3–6 and older who need help rebuilding confidence, reconnecting with body cues, and releasing anxiety around the bathroom. With the right pacing and support, meaningful progress is absolutely possible at any age.
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What if my child had a bad potty training experience?
A difficult or rushed potty training experience can leave a lasting impression — especially for sensitive, strong-willed, or anxious children. This may show up as resistance, fear of the potty, accidents, or poop withholding that doesn’t resolve with reminders or rewards.
The good news is that a setback doesn’t mean failure.
In these cases, the goal isn’t to push through or “start over harder.” It’s to repair the experience, rebuild trust, and help your child feel safe listening to their body again. My approach focuses on reducing pressure, removing power struggles, and reintroducing the potty in ways that support emotional safety and confidence.
Do you help with poop withholding and bathroom anxiety?
Yes — poop withholding and bathroom anxiety are a central focus of my work.
Withholding often develops when a child feels unsure, pressured, or afraid of the sensation of pooping. Over time, this can become a cycle of fear, discomfort, and loss of trust in their body.
Supporting a child through withholding requires more than sit schedules or reminders. It involves understanding how anxiety and control play a role, supporting comfortable stooling, building body awareness, and rebuilding confidence gradually. I work with families to create structured, compassionate plans that help children move out of avoidance and back into confidence — without force.
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What makes your approach different?
Potty training is often treated like a checklist or a race. My work approaches it as a learning process shaped by development, temperament, and emotional safety.
Rather than relying on rewards, pressure, or one-size-fits-all timelines, I focus on developmentally appropriate language, clear structure without force, emotional regulation and co-regulation, and helping children understand and trust their body cues.
This approach is especially effective for children who are sensitive, anxious, strong-willed, or who have had previous setbacks.
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What is your background and experience?
I’m the founder of Kiddish, a boutique potty training consultancy based in the San Francisco Bay Area. I’ve spent over a decade working closely with young children and families as a teacher, caregiver, and potty training specialist.
My work is grounded in hands-on experience with hundreds of families, with a particular focus on more complex cases — including anxiety, withholding, and children who didn’t respond to traditional methods. I combine structure, observation, and relationship-based support to help families move forward with clarity and confidence.
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How do I know which service is right for my family?
If you have one or two specific questions and things are mostly on track, a one-time consult may be enough. If your child is experiencing anxiety, withholding, or ongoing resistance, remote coaching typically provides the level of support needed. In-person work is reserved for families who need intensive, hands-on guidance.
If you’re unsure, an introductory call can help clarify the best next step.
Is a one-time consult enough for poop withholding?
In most cases, no. Poop withholding usually requires ongoing support, observation, and adjustment over time. I’ll always be honest if a one-time session isn’t the right level of care and will guide you toward the support that’s most likely to help.
Do you work with families outside the Bay Area?
Yes. I work with families nationwide through remote coaching and offer limited in-person support for Bay Area families.
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Do you take insurance?
I don’t accept insurance directly, but I can provide documentation for families who wish to pursue out-of-network reimbursement.
How involved do parents need to be?
Caregiver involvement is essential. My role is to guide, support, and structure the process — but lasting progress comes from consistent, aligned support at home.
What if progress feels slow?
Slow progress doesn’t mean something is wrong. Many children need time to build confidence, body awareness, and emotional safety. We adjust the plan based on what your child is showing us — not a preset timeline.
Reflections from families:
Many families say the biggest shift wasn’t just their child’s progress, but their own confidence in knowing how to respond, adjust, and keep going.
“Cara is truly a life saver. She was not only able to potty train our non verbal autistic kid but was also able to make him independent which was such an important goal for us. She truly treated my son as her own family. My wife has spent countless hours in trying to potty train our son but because he is non verbal autistic we just lost hope but Cara literally potty trained him in just few days.
For anyone who is reading these reviews and considering Cara. I would say just go for it you won’t regret.”
— Assad U., Parent
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“The remote coaching was an incredible help, not only with potty training but with communication as well. Our 2 year old was going through a potty training regression, and after working with Cara we're back on the right track, with great ways to make the potty a positive experience and how speak to our daughter in a way that makes sense and connects with her on her level.”
— Logan W., Parent
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“Cara came to my house and literally saved me. My daughter is autistic and was 4 at the time. I tried every single method possible on my own. After 6 months of failing I decided to look into getting professional help. She was so calm and patient. The whole thing took 3 days. I would NEVER have been able to do it on my own. And I kept having visions of my daughter a teenager and still in diapers. I’m beyond grateful for Cara and the days she spent with me and my family. She is AMAZING.”
— Elizabeth N., Parent
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Ready to get support?
The inquiry form is how we begin. It gives you a chance to learn more about my services and share what’s been going on so I can thoughtfully guide you toward the type of support that will be most helpful for your child and family.
