It's Nappy Hour!

You’ve just learned that you can potty-train babies and want to know if it’s too late to begin with yours.  Or, you’ve known for a while that you want to do Elimination Communication, but life happened and you haven’t gotten started yet.  Either way, we’ve got the tools you need to begin! Is it too late to start EC? It is never too early or too late to introduce the potty!  The only thing that changes with your baby’s age is how you approach EC.  This guide includes the best approach for babies that are past the newborn stage but still under a year old. EC sounds like a lot of work.  Is it? A lot of people hear about EC and think that it must be time-consuming.  They imagine that EC parents sit around all day watching their babies, waiting to put them on the potty.  Or that you must have to put your baby on the potty hundreds of times to get lucky enough to catch anything. Fortunately, it doesn’t work like that!  EC is very easy to build into your baby’s routine; most parents don’t try to catch everything, and they use a diaper backup for “misses” (a fun EC word for accidents).  Here’s a typical EC schedule: Potty first thing in the morning Potty after breakfast Potty between lunch and nap time Potty right after waking up from the nap Potty before bath/bed Notice anything about this schedule?  ALL of those pottytunities (another fun word!) happened when you were probably changing your baby’s diaper anyway.  An easy way to begin with EC is just to offer the potty during diaper changes!  Your baby is already bare-bottomed, and diaper changes tend to happen at times babies naturally need to go.  Once you start doing this, you’ll also pick up on your child’s cues (behaviors that precede or coincide with pee/poop), which will help you better predict the ideal times to offer the potty.  It quickly becomes second-nature, and poops are MUCH easier to clean up when they go straight into the toilet rather than smeared all over your baby’s bum.   If you’re using cloth diapers, you’ll ease your laundry burden tremendously by starting EC.  If you’re not using cloth diapers, you cut down significantly on your diaper trash and cost.  Many babies prefer to poop outside a diaper (don’t we all?) and will quickly start to hold it or signal to their parents that it’s time to go. EC also gives you a massive head start on potty-training.  If you start EC now (even part-time or laid-back) you’ll go into potty-training already knowing your child’s timing and cues.  Also, the longer your child poops in a diaper, the more conditioned he will become to that feeling.  Some of the most common issues in potty-training toddlers stem from poops:  Poop withholding, demanding diapers to poop in, fear of pooping in the potty, etc.  All of these can be lessened or prevented by introducing the potty for poops as young as possible. How to Start There are two ingredients to EC:  Natural Timing and Diaper-Free Time.  Both of these ingredients will help you learn your child’s unique elimination pattern and cues. Natural Timing All humans have natural times that they need the bathroom; the most obvious example is first thing in the morning.  The following are some optimal times to offer the potty.  Note that your child might not need to go potty at all of these times; these are simply suggestions for you to get started.  You’ll figure out which times work for your baby very quickly! After Waking.  Offer the potty first thing in the morning and after every nap. After (or in the middle of) a Meal:  Eating can get things moving, so to speak.  For example, some babies poop right in the middle of nursing or right after having a meal of solid foods. During Transitions Between Activities:  Try the potty after riding in the car, swing, or stroller, before a bath, during a diaper change, etc.  Try a few transitions and see if they work for you. Watch for Cues:  You might already know when your kid is pooping.  She might make a "poop face" or have really smelly farts right before.  These are “cues”—body language or behaviors that precede or coincide with peeing or pooping. All 3 of my babies went through phases when they needed to poop mid-meal! The first step of EC is adding the potty to your routine during these key moments.  Pottytunities offered during natural times, like waking or feeding, are what we call “prompts”, because you initiated the pottytunity, not your child.  A prompt may be initiated by you in one of two ways: You prompt your child based off natural timing (like after a meal) You prompt your child when you notice body language cues Every time you take your baby potty, use a cue noise:  A sound that you make that your baby will associate with going potty.  The idea is to build a sound association for your child so that he will go when prompted by the noise.  Most parents use a sound like “pss pss” or “shh shh” for pee and/or poop, or by blowing raspberries or grunting for poop. A word about cues We call this method Elimination Communication because, at it's core, EC is a conversation between parent and child.  The parent signals that it's time to go potty using the sound association ("pss pss pss") and the child signals the she needs the potty with cues.  These cues can be divided into two categories:   Body Language Cues and Intentional Cues. Body language cues are not intentional.  They are behaviors that your child tends to adopt right before or during pee/poop.  Almost all children have body language cues to a certain extent, but some are extremely subtle.  The best way to pick up on these cues is by doing diaper-free time (more on that in a bit) so that you can prompt your child when you notice them going forward. An example of a "poop face" Here are some examples of body language cues that parents have observed in babies aged 5-11 months:  Squatting Passing gas (or especially stinky toots) Squirming Straining (poop face) A certain look (often a blank look) or facial expression Sudden change in behavior (sudden fussiness, suddenly getting still and quiet, seeming suddenly unsettled) Pee shivers Popping on and off the breast or bottle  In boys:  Ballooning of the foreskin Parental intuition:  Once you start taking baby potty, you might start getting a “feeling” like baby needs to go (my husband calls it his “Spidey Sense”).  This can even be a “phantom pee” where you feel like baby is peeing on you even though he’s not. “Warning pee”:  Small amount of pee comes out, then baby holds it A certain vocalization or sound your baby makes.  This might be a grunt, blowing raspberries, a cry, or other noise Intentional cues are when your child deliberately indicates to you that she needs to go potty.  Newborns do not intentionally cue, all cues are body language.  An older child can self-initiate by saying "I need to go potty".   Can mobile babies intentionally cue?  That depends!  Many babies in the 5-11 month age range will start intentionally signaling, although it may not be with words yet. Here are some examples of intentional cues for mobile babies: Patting the diaper in an indicative manner Crawling towards the potty Looking at you and vocalizing or fussing Using the ASL sign for “toilet” Saying “poop”, “poo poo”, “pee pee”, “potty”, etc. The ultimate potty-training goal is a child that consistently self-initiates the potty by either telling you she needs to go or independently taking herself to the potty. When this happens depends on the child and the method of potty-training, but EC'd children will get there younger than those who aren't introduced to the potty until after age 2.  Once you introduce the potty to a child, older kids will start self-initiating faster than younger babies.  Regardless of your child's age, though, you'll mostly be working with body language cues in the beginning.  The good news is that there's one EC tool that can help you and your child learn both types of cues:  Diaper-free time!   Diaper-Free Time Diaper-free time is exactly what it sounds like:  You observe your naked (or bare-bottomed) child.   There are two objectives to this EC tool: Observe your child to learn his body language cues.  Provide opportunities to teach your child cause/effect (I started to go pee + mom put me on the potty = Pee goes in the potty) to encourage intentional cues. Choose a time for diaper-free observation when you can dedicate your whole focus to your child for at least an hour or two.  Your only job is to watch your baby.  Do not scroll your phone, don’t fold the laundry.  Do nothing but watch your child (you can play and interact with her, of course!). As soon as she starts to go pee or poop, transfer her immediately to the potty and use your designated cue noise (again, this is usually "pss pss", but some parents grunt or blow raspberries for poop).  Keep the potty close so that it’s easily accessible.  Yes, you will probably leave a trail of pee or poop during the transfer (more on that in a bit), but do the transfer anyway, even if nothing makes it to the potty.  Talk to your child about what’s happening, too.  “Oh!  You’re going pee.  Let’s go to the potty.”  Use the ASL sign if you’d like.  If there’s a mess on the floor, you can also matter-of-factly say, “Uh-oh, pee got on the floor.  Pee goes in the potty, not the floor.  Let’s clean up.”  The ASL sign for "toilet" When your baby goes in the potty, you can acknowledge it (“You went pee in the potty, where it belongs”) or praise it (“Good job!  You made it to the potty!”), depending on your parenting philosophy on praise.  Afterwards, be sure to take note of any body language cues you noticed prior to the pee/poop (you can use this potty log here). The immediate transfer to the potty is extremely important (even if nothing makes it into the potty) because that is how your child connects the potty to pee and poop.  Instead of prompting your child, like with natural timing above, this type of pottytunity teaches your child to self-initiate.  The more diaper-free opportunities you give your child to learn cause and effect, the quicker your child will connect the dots, start to hold it, and begin intentionally signaling (which, after all, is the ultimate goal of potty-training!). When your baby will start intentional signaling is unique to your child, and there is a wide range of normal.  Some babies start signaling well before their first birthday, others won’t do this until closer to age 2.  It might not be consistent in the beginning, either; you’ll likely still have to prompt your child based off body language cues or timing for a while. You can encourage intentional cues by using the ASL sign for “potty”, consistently talking to your child about the process, and immediately responding to intentional cues when they happen. Do I need to do diaper-free time? When you are just starting out with EC or have suddenly hit a potty pause (more about this later), diaper-free time is an effective way to get started and/or overcome a sudden difficulty.  Some parents try to block out diaper-free time every day or every week.  Other parents have plenty of success with natural timing alone and don't bother with diaper-free time at all!  Diaper-free observation is less important for younger babies, but is crucial for toddlers when wrapping up EC. My recommendation is to do at least a few hours of diaper-free time when you’re just starting out.  From there, if you’re having success with the potty from timing and cues alone, you don’t need to do more diaper-free time until you either hit a potty pause or you’re ready to ditch diapers altogether with your toddler. The important takeaway here is that diaper-free time is a tool. If you aren't using the tool effectively, you will gain nothing from it.  Don't misinterpret diaper-free time as just "naked play time".  If baby just plays naked on the kitchen floor while mom is busy cooking dinner, baby just pees on the floor and no one learns anything. Only do diaper-free time when you can dedicate your whole focus to your child and transfer her immediately to the potty as soon as she starts to go. How do I contain the mess? The easiest way to keep diaper-free time mess-free is to take your child outside.  If this is not possible due to weather or other concerns, contain her to a room with tile floors or line your carpet with waterproof pads and towels. To summarize diaper-free time Watch your bare-bottomed child closely for at least an hour or two As soon as she starts to go pee or poop, transfer her to the potty and make your cue noise Take note of any body language cues (you can use this potty log here) Talk to your child about the process to reinforce the connection and encourage self-initiation Minimize mess by doing diaper-free time outside, on tile flooring, or by protecting surfaces with towels or puddle pads How do I actually take my child to the potty? If your child can sit unassisted, simply set your child on the floor potty or toilet seat reducer.  If your child is mostly able to sit up but not quite stable yet, you can hold your child on the potty or toilet seat or use the classic EC hold.  No matter how stable your child is on the toilet, DO NOT leave him unattended on the toilet until he is capable of climbing on and off unassisted, usually well into toddlerhood. Keep one hand on baby until she's stable enough to sit unassisted. The classic EC hold, or newborn EC hold, is the default position parents use to assist a young baby to use the toilet.  Grasp your baby in your arms by the thighs so that he is in a squat position with his back supported by your chest.  If you have a boy, free up a finger to help him aim.  You can hold him like this over a little potty or sit backwards on the toilet with him. The classic EC hold Keep a stack of wipes near the potty (and a changing pad, if you need one for easier cleanup).  It’s also never too early to work with your child on washing his own hands! Be sure to use your chosen cue noise every time your baby goes potty.  Again, most parents use “pss pss pss" or grunt/blow raspberries for poop. Putting it all together Offer the potty to your child as much or as little as you like.  These pottytunities will usually be made in one of the following four ways: You prompt your child based off natural timing You prompt your child when you notice body language cues You transfer your child to the potty when you notice him start to go Your child self-initiates the potty How frequently these happen, if at all, depends on how you approach EC and your child's development.  Your goals at this stage include: Giving your child lots of practice using the potty before it becomes a full-time thing Cutting down on messy diapers Giving your child autonomy and encouraging self-initiation Learning your child’s timing and cues so that you’re well prepared to ditch diapers with your child later What this looks like will vary from family to family and from child to child.  There are no rules!  Just have fun with your child and enjoy the process. What kind of potty do I need and how do I clean it? Most potties are designed for toddlers aged 3-4 (that’s the average potty-training age, after all), and will be much too large for your baby.  Brands that sell mini potties include Baby Bjorn, IKEA, and Tiny Undies. You can also use a toilet seat reducer over your actual toilet for easy cleanup.  Baby Bjorn makes a great seat with a good splash guard, or you can buy a new toilet seat for your toilet with a mini seat attachment built in. I also recommend the following items: A foldable toilet seat reducer and/or foldable potty for outings Waterproof pads for diaper-free time Step stool for the toilet and/or the sink Soap dispenser that your child can use To clean the potty: Pee:  Dump the pee in the toilet (or a bush, car tires, etc. on outings when a toilet is not accessible), rinse with water, and dry with a towel.  Pee is sterile, so sanitizing is not necessary. Poop:  Dump the poop into the toilet, rinse, clean with a disinfectant of your choice, rinse again, and dry with a towel.  If you’re out and about without access to a toilet, line the potty with a plastic bag or diaper for easy cleanup. Poop hack:  Put a square of toilet paper into the potty beforehand so that the poop doesn’t stick to the potty and is easier to dump. What is a potty pause? A potty pause is the term for any kind of EC regression, similar to a sleep regression or a nursing strike.  They can happen at any time, but there are ages where they commonly occur.  Crawling, teething, starting solid foods, learning to walk or talk, and sickness are all common culprits for a potty pause. Sometimes a potty pause is characterized by your child suddenly protesting or refusing the potty.  Other potty pauses are the result of natural changes in your child’s elimination patterns, which cause a string of misses until you figure out your child’s new timing and cues. Like nursing strikes and sleep regressions, you don’t have to give up your EC goals when a potty pause hits.  Read this article for some ideas on how to tackle a potty pause. General Tips for EC The following are general tips for Elimination Communication. Model the potty for your child and be matter-of-fact about all things pee and poop.  Have an open door policy when you're using the bathroom.  If you're weird about pee and poop, your kid will be weird about pee and poop, and you don't want that.  There's nothing weird about it!  We all go pee and poop.  Get big siblings on board.  My kids loved going potty with their baby siblings and demonstrating how everything is done.  This also helped prevent potty regressions after the birth of a new sibling--many kids see the new baby wearing diapers and want to go back to diapers, too.  But if baby also uses the potty, big siblings are less likely to regress. Change your baby's diapers immediately when wet or soiled.  Remember, the goal of EC is to avoid a "diaper-trained" baby.  You want your baby to get used to feeling dry, not wet.  Changing diapers as soon as possible prevents your baby from being conditioned to the feeling of urine and poop against her skin. Cloth diapers are better for EC than disposable.  Disposable diapers wick moisture away too well, so baby doesn't get the immediate feedback of wetness when she goes pee.  You'll also be more likely to leave her in a wet diaper longer, because throwing out a barely-peed-in diaper feels wasteful.  Disposable diapers have also been linked to bedwetting past age 5.  Lastly, disposable diapers are buried underneath layers of clothes and pants, but if you use drop-flap diapers designed for EC like Flappy-Nappies®, the potty is always easily accessible (read more on this below). Some common Concerns Should I potty my baby in the same place every time? Where do you want pee and poop to go?  The potty.  That doesn’t mean you have to use the exact same potty in the exact same place every single time, though. Even as adults, we use the bathroom in different places:  We use public toilets when out and about, we use grandma’s toilet at grandma’s house, we might pee in a bush while we’re hiking or camping, and we might use one of several toilets in our own homes. It’s not as important where you put the potty, so long as it’s the potty your child is peeing and pooping in.  I personally like to keep a potty in my child’s living/play area, by the bed (for nights), in the car (for on the go), and I’ll also take the baby to the toilet using a toilet seat reducer.  I’ve also used a car tire or a bush in a pinch. Baby sits on potty but doesn’t go. Then pees/poops on the floor (or diaper) right after! Your child needs help making the connection between pee/poop and the potty.  Next time she sits on the potty for a while without any action, let her off the potty… but DON’T put a diaper back on.  Leave her bare-bottomed and watch her closely.  As soon as she starts to go, put her straight back on the potty.  Keep repeating this until she makes the connection.  You can help her make this connection faster by doing a good long diaper-free session.  She will pick up the association very quickly! Baby won’t poop even though I know he needs to (or stops pooping after you transition him to the potty) This is very common when you’re just starting EC after using diapers exclusively.  Some ideas to help: He might need a deeper squat:  Get a very low potty that puts him into a deep squat or stack books or blocks under his feet to assist with this position. He might need help relaxing:  See “baby suddenly resists the potty” above for ideas on how to distract a baby so that he’ll relax. He might need privacy:  Try looking away while he goes potty or (if he’s old enough), turn your back or even leave the area or room to let him potty alone.  CAUTION:  Only leave if he’s in a safe, baby-proofed room and using a little potty that he can safely get off of by himself.  Always stay within sight and earshot.  NEVER leave your child alone on the toilet or in the bathroom. You might need to reinforce the connection between poop and the potty:  See “Baby sits on potty but doesn’t go. Then pees/poops on the floor (or diaper) right after!” above. He might just not need to poop:  Has your child’s regular poop schedule suddenly shifted? That can happen!  Try offering later. He might be constipated:  Discuss the possibility and treatment options with your pediatrician. He may be uncomfortable with the feeling of going poop outside of a diaper.  The longer you wait to start the potty, the worse this problem will become, so definitely don't delay EC any longer.  Your best bet is to try a full day or two of diaper-free time to give him plenty of opportunities to go without a diaper on.  Going forward, poops in the potty should be a priority so that he doesn't fall back on old habits. How do I dress my baby? At this age, you will almost certainly be using a diaper backup most of the time.  The best diaper backups are ones designed for EC that can be removed quickly when it’s time to go potty.  Flappy-Nappies® drop-flap diapers pop open from the front or back and can be changed while your baby stands. Flappy-Nappies® open from the front or back to go potty!  The diaper snaps to a separate waist belt. Pair them with t-shirts or dresses and a pair of Chappy-Nappies (crotchless pants) for warm legs and easy potty access.  You can also layer regular diapers over the Chappy-Nappies! Attach the Flappy-Nappies® diaper to the crotchless Chappy-Nappy pants for warm legs and easy pottytunities all year round! My baby boy sprays pee everywhere You can help him aim by choosing a potty or toilet seat reducer with a good splash guard.  Discourage him from playing with his private parts during urination, as that can cause a big mess.  Show him how to aim by using a finger to point his penis where you want the urine stream to go. Have a question that you don’t see here?  Need more guidance on EC? My full book on EC includes how to start, how to navigate common challenges, how to ditch the diapers for good (and how to tell it's time), plus other important topics such as daycare, travel, bedwetting, and more.  Click below to snag your copy now! Watch the video series Do you prefer to watch a video?  I've got you covered!  Click below to start watching the video tutorials on my YouTube channel.  I'm always adding more content, so don't forget to hit "subscribe" so you don't miss out. 

You’ve just learned that you can potty-train babies and want to know if it’s too late to begin with a toddler between 12-17 months old.  Or, you’ve known for a while that you want to do Elimination Communication, but life happened and you haven’t gotten started yet.  Either way, we’ve got the tools you need to begin! Should I do Full-Time EC or Part-Time? The 12-17 month age range is kind of an in-between period for EC.  You’re heading into toddlerhood, and some babies in this age range are ready to go fully diaper-free (read my 16-month old’s potty-training story here).  Other babies still need time for their bladders to get bigger or for physical or cognitive skills to develop.  Most babies are ready to ditch diapers completely by about 18-24 months. This guide assumes you want to begin with Elimination Communication on a part-time basis, but if you feel that your child is ready to jump straight to full-time potty-training, click here instead.  There’s absolutely no harm in trying to ditch diapers with a toddler in the 12-17 month range!  If things aren’t really clicking after a couple of weeks, you can do a “reset”:  Go back to part-time EC and try again in a month or two.  It’s quite amazing how much your child will develop physically and cognitively in a few short weeks! If I can potty-train completely at 18 months… Is there a point to starting EC earlier? Absolutely!  Especially for poops.  The longer your child poops in a diaper, the more conditioned he will become to that feeling.  Some of the most common issues in potty-training toddlers stem from poops:  Poop withholding, demanding diapers to poop in, fear of pooping in the potty, etc.  All of these can be lessened or prevented by introducing the potty for poops as young as possible. There’s also the mess.  The older your child gets, the more unpleasant those poopy diapers become.  If you’re using cloth diapers, you’ll ease your laundry burden tremendously by starting EC.  If you’re not using cloth diapers, you cut down significantly on your landfill waste by starting the potty now rather than later. You’ll also give yourself a massive head start with potty training if you start learning your child’s timing and cues ahead of time.  Phase one of potty training involves “naked days”, where you do nothing but watch your naked child and put him on the potty when he starts to go.  Part of the naked phase is to learn your child’s natural pattern and behaviors around pee/poop so that you can better predict when they’ll happen.  If you start EC now (even part-time) you’ll go into the naked phase armed with this information ahead of time. Young toddlers are smart and copy everything you do.  Giving him this task is an excellent way to satisfy his desire for more responsibility.  You will be amazed at what he’s capable of! How to Start There are two ingredients to EC:  Natural Timing and Diaper-Free Time.  Both of these ingredients will help you learn your child’s unique elimination pattern and cues. Natural Timing All humans have natural times that they need the bathroom; the most obvious example is first thing in the morning.  The following are some optimal times to offer the potty.  Note that your child might not need to go potty at all of these times; these are simply suggestions for you to get started.  You’ll figure out which times work for your baby very quickly! After Waking.  Offer the potty first thing in the morning and after every nap. After (or in the middle of) a Meal:  Eating can get things moving, so to speak.  All three of my kids went through periods as toddlers when they would need to poop right after we sat down for a meal! During Transitions Between Activities:  Try the potty after riding in the car, swing, or stroller, before a bath, during a diaper change, after watching a show, etc.  Try a few transitions and see if they work for you. Watch for cues:  You might already know when your kid is pooping.  She might make a poop face or have really smelly farts right before.  These are “cues”—body language or behaviors that precede or coincide with peeing or pooping.   The first step of EC is adding the potty to your routine during these key moments.  Pottytunities (a fun EC word for potty time!) offered during natural times, like waking or feeding, are what we call “prompts”, because you initiated the pottytunity, not your child.  A prompt may be initiated by you in one of two ways: You prompt your child based off natural timing (like after a meal) You prompt your child when you notice body language cues Again, you don’t have to do ALL of the suggested times here.  Use what you already know about your child to start the potty at times you suspect will be successful. Since your child is still quite young, it’s also a good idea to use a cue noise.  A cue noise is a sound that you make every time your baby goes potty.  The purpose of the cue noise is to build a sound association for your child so that he will go when prompted by the noise.  Most parents use a sound like “pss pss” or “shh shh” for pee and/or poop, or by blowing raspberries or grunting for poop. A word about cues We call this method Elimination Communication because, at it's core, EC is a conversation between parent and child.  The parent signals that it's time to go potty using the sound association ("pss pss pss") and the child signals the she needs the potty with cues.  These cues can be divided into two categories:   Body Language Cues and Intentional Cues. Body language cues are not intentional.  They are simply behaviors that your child tends to adopt right before or during pee/poop.  Almost all children have body language cues to a certain extent, but some are extremely subtle.  The best way to pick up on these cues is by doing diaper-free time (more on that in a bit) so that you can prompt your child when you notice them going forward.   Here are some examples of body language cues that parents have observed in young toddlers: Squatting Passing gas (or especially stinky toots) Squirming Straining (poop face) A certain look (often a blank look) or expression Sudden change in behavior (sudden fussiness, suddenly getting still and quiet, seeming suddenly unsettled) Hiding (such as in a corner, under a table, in a play tent or tunnel, etc.) Pee shivers Absently grabbing the crotch or diaper Pee-pee dance:  Hopping from foot to foot or wiggling a lot In boys:  Ballooning of the foreskin Parental intuition:  Once you start taking baby potty, you might start getting a “feeling” like baby needs to go (my husband calls it his “Spidey Sense”).  This can even be a “phantom pee” where you feel like baby is peeing on you even though he’s not. “Warning pee”:  Small amount of pee comes out, then baby holds it A certain vocalization or sound your baby makes.  This might be a grunt, blowing raspberries, a cry, or other noise Squatting is a very common body language cue, especially for an impending poop! Intentional cues are when your child deliberately indicates to you that she needs to go potty.  Newborns do not intentionally cue.  A three-year-old can intentionally cue by saying "I need to go potty.”  A 12-17 month old may not be capable of saying a full sentence, but many (although not all) do start intentionally signaling in other ways.  For example: Patting the diaper or crotch in an indicative manner Crawling or walking towards the potty Looking at you and vocalizing or fussing Using the ASL sign for “toilet" Saying “poop”, “poo poo”, “pee pee”, or “potty” The ultimate potty-training goal is a child that consistently self-initiates the potty by either telling you she needs to go or independently taking herself to the potty. When this happens depends on the child and the method of potty-training, but EC'd children will get there younger than those who aren't introduced to the potty until after age 2.  Once you introduce the potty to a child, older kids will start self-initiating faster than younger babies.  Regardless of your child's age, though, you'll mostly be working with body language cues in the beginning.  The good news is that there's one EC tool that can help you and your child learn both types of cues:  Diaper-free time!   Diaper-Free Time Diaper-free time is exactly what it sounds like:  You observe your naked (or bare-bottomed) child.   There are two objectives to this EC tool: Observe your child to learn his body language cues.  Provide opportunities to teach your child cause/effect (I started to go pee + mom put me on the potty = Pee goes in the potty) to encourage intentional cues. Choose a time for diaper-free observation when you can dedicate your whole focus to your child for at least an hour or two.  Your only job is to watch your baby.  Do not scroll your phone, don’t fold the laundry.  Do nothing but watch your child (you can play and interact with her, of course!). As soon as she starts to go pee or poop, transfer her immediately to the potty.  Keep the potty close so that it’s easily accessible.  Yes, you will probably leave a trail of pee or poop during the transfer (more on that in a bit), but do the transfer anyway, even if nothing makes it to the potty.  Talk to your child about what’s happening, too.  “Oh!  You’re going pee.  Let’s go to the potty.”  Use the ASL sign if you’d like.  If there’s a mess on the floor, you can also matter-of-factly say, “Uh-oh, pee got on the floor.  Pee goes in the potty, not the floor.  Let’s clean up.”  When your child goes in the potty, you can acknowledge it (“You went pee in the potty, where it belongs”) or praise it (“Good job!  You made it to the potty!”), depending on your philosophy on praise. The ASL sign for "toilet" The immediate transfer to the potty is extremely important (even if nothing makes it into the potty) because that is how your child connects the potty to pee and poop.  Instead of prompting your child, like with natural timing above, this type of pottytunity teaches your child to self-initiate.  The more diaper-free opportunities you give your child to learn cause and effect, the quicker your child will connect the dots, start to hold it, and begin intentionally signaling.  When your baby will start intentional signaling is unique to your child, and there is a wide range of normal.  Some babies start signaling well before their first birthday, others won’t do this until closer to age 2.  You can encourage intentional cues by using the ASL sign for “potty”, consistently talking to your child about the process, and immediately responding to intentional cues when they happen. How much diaper-free time you do is up to you.  If you’ve never done any EC before, though, I recommend a minimum of a couple hours for the first day or two that you introduce the potty.  You’ll get the most bang for your buck if you do a full day (or two) of nothing but diaper-free time.  Once you’ve gotten into a good potty rhythm and are having some success, you don’t need to do any more diaper-free time (unless you want to) until it’s time to ditch diapers completely closer to 18 months. The easiest way to keep diaper-free time mess-free is to take your child outside.  If this is not possible due to weather or other concerns, contain her to a room with tile floors or line your carpet with waterproof pads and towels. To summarize diaper-free time Watch your bare-bottomed child closely for at least an hour or two As soon as she starts to go pee or poop, transfer her to the potty and make your cue noise Take note of any body language cues (you can use this potty log here) Talk to your child about the process to reinforce the connection and encourage self-initiation Minimize mess by doing diaper-free time outside, on tile flooring, or by protecting surfaces with towels or puddle pads Should I Give Rewards? Many modern potty-training techniques involve rewards, like stickers, candy, or reward charts. Most parents in the EC community do not use this technique with their children for three reasons.  First, a 12-17 month old probably doesn’t have the cognitive ability to understand the reward system.  Second, it goes against the EC philosophies about communicating cause and effect and incorporating the potty as part of normal life.  Lastly, treats can be hard to stop once you’ve started them. There are times, however, that EC parents have used rewards with success.  Some parents find that a little treat, like a raisin, M&M, or sticker, is just enough motivation to help a toddler overcome a potty pause.  This is especially true if your child is older (18+ months), has a treat-motivated personality, and is just struggling with something small, like making it to the potty on time without dribbling.  You can phase out treats by either setting the limit from the start (“you get an M&M out of the jar until all of the M&Ms are gone”) or slowly phasing them out. Putting it all together Offer the potty to your child as much or as little as you like.  These pottytunities will usually be made in one of the following four ways: You prompt your child based off natural timing You prompt your child when you notice body language cues You transfer your child to the potty when you notice him start to go Your child self-initiates the potty How frequently these happen, if at all, depends on how you approach EC and your child's development.  Your goals at this stage include: Giving your child lots of practice using the potty before it becomes a full-time thing Cutting down on messy diapers Giving your child autonomy and encouraging self-initiation Learning your child’s timing and cues so that you’re well prepared to ditch diapers with your child later What this looks like will vary from family to family and from child to child.  There are no rules!  Just have fun with your child and enjoy the process. General Tips for EC The following are general tips for Elimination Communication. Model the potty for your child and be matter-of-fact about all things pee and poop.  Have an open door policy when you're using the bathroom.  If you're weird about pee and poop, your kid will be weird about pee and poop, and you don't want that.  There's nothing weird about it!  We all go pee and poop.  Get big siblings on board.  My kids loved going potty with their baby siblings and demonstrating how everything is done.  This also helped prevent potty regressions after the birth of a new sibling--many kids see the new baby wearing diapers and want to go back to diapers, too.  But if baby also uses the potty, big siblings are less likely to regress. Change your baby's diapers immediately when wet or soiled.  Remember, the goal of EC is to avoid a "diaper-trained" baby.  You want your baby to get used to feeling dry, not wet.  Changing diapers as soon as possible prevents your baby from being conditioned to the feeling of urine and poop against her skin. Cloth diapers are better for EC than disposable.  Disposable diapers wick moisture away too well, so baby doesn't get the immediate feedback of wetness when she goes pee.  You'll also be more likely to leave her in a wet diaper longer, because throwing out a barely-peed-in diaper feels wasteful.  Disposable diapers have also been linked to bedwetting past age 5.  Lastly, disposable diapers are buried underneath layers of clothes and pants, but if you use drop-flap diapers designed for EC like Flappy-Nappies®, the potty is always easily accessible (read more on this below). Some common Concerns Should I potty my baby in the same place every time? Where do you want pee and poop to go?  The potty.  That doesn’t mean you have to use the exact same potty in the exact same place every single time, though. Even as adults, we use the bathroom in different places:  We use public toilets when out and about, we use grandma’s toilet at grandma’s house, we might pee in a bush while we’re hiking or camping, and we might use one of several toilets in our own homes.  It’s not as important where you put the potty, so long as it’s the potty your child is peeing and pooping in.  I personally like to keep a potty in my child’s living/play area, by the bed (for nights), in the car (for on the go), and I’ll also take the baby to the toilet using a toilet seat reducer.  I’ve also used a car tire or a bush in a pinch. Should my son sit or stand to pee?  And how do I help him aim? When you’re just starting out with EC, your son should sit to pee. You can help him aim by choosing a potty or toilet seat reducer with a good splash guard.  Discourage him from playing with his private parts during urination, as that can cause a big mess.  Show him how to aim by using a finger to point his penis where you want the urine stream to go. Baby sits on potty but doesn’t go. Then pees/poops on the floor (or diaper) right after! Your child needs help making the connection between pee/poop and the potty.  Next time she sits on the potty for a while without any action, let her off the potty… but DON’T put a diaper back on.  Leave her bare-bottomed and watch her closely.  As soon as she starts to go, put her straight back on the potty.  Keep repeating this until she makes the connection.  You can help her make this connection faster by doing a good long diaper-free session.  She will pick up the association very quickly! Baby won’t poop even though I know he needs to (or stops pooping after you transition him to the potty) This is very common when you’re just starting EC after using diapers exclusively.  Some ideas to help:: He might need a deeper squat:  Get a very low potty that puts him into a deep squat or stack books or blocks under his feet to assist with this position. He might need help relaxing:  Give him toys on the potty, read him a book, sing songs, or set his potty beside an activity table he can busy himself with. He might need privacy:  Try looking away while he goes potty or (if he’s old enough), turn your back or even leave the area or room to let him potty alone.  CAUTION:  Only leave if he’s in a safe, baby-proofed room and using a little potty that he can safely get off of by himself.  Always stay within sight and earshot.  NEVER leave your child alone on the toilet or in the bathroom. You might need to reinforce the connection between poop and the potty:  See “Baby sits on potty but doesn’t go. Then pees/poops on the floor (or diaper) right after!” above. He might just not need to poop:  Has your child’s regular poop schedule suddenly shifted?  That can happen!  Try offering later. He might be constipated:  Discuss the possibility and treatment options with your pediatrician. He may be uncomfortable with the feeling of going poop outside of a diaper:  The longer you wait to start the potty, the worse this problem will become, so definitely don't delay EC any longer.  Your best bet is to try a full day or two of diaper-free time to give him plenty of opportunities to go without a diaper on.  Going forward, poops in the potty should be a priority so that he doesn't fall back on old habits. Baby doesn’t want to stop playing to go potty Bring the potty to her or allow her to bring what she’s playing with to the potty with her.  You can also offer the potty directly to her toy—or ask her to show her toy how to use the toilet (you might even buy a doll toilet for her toys to use!).  You can also set a timer—tell her she can keep playing for one more minute, and then it’s time to go potty. Should I switch to training pants or underwear? A lot of people wonder if training pants or underwear will make EC easier.  The short answer is:  Probably not. If your baby isn’t fully potty-trained, pee will just go right through underwear or training pants.  They’re also not very easy to manipulate until your child is capable of pulling his own pants up and down. Once you DO decide to go diaper-free, the best way to begin is with naked days followed by clothes WITHOUT underwear or diapers (commando).  Use loose pants, skirts, or dresses with nothing underneath.  Underwear and training pants feel too much like a diaper and can trigger accidents from muscle memory.  Have your child go commando until you’re solidly dry all day for at least a couple weeks; then you can add underwear. EC is easiest with clothes designed for potty learning, like Flappy-Nappies® drop-flap diapers and Chappy-Nappy pants shown here Prior to officially potty-training, I recommend using EC-friendly cloth diapers like Flappy-Nappies®.  These drop-flap diapers pop open from the front or back and can be changed while your baby stands.  If you don’t want to buy completely new diapers, try layering the diapers you already have over a pair of Chappy-Nappies (crotchless pants).  You can also use Chappy-Nappies alone to keep baby's legs warm during diaper-free time! The Flappy-Nappies® diaper snaps to the waist of the Chappy-Nappy crotchless pants.  Pop it open from front or back to go potty! What kind of potty do I need and how do I clean it? Most potties are designed for toddlers aged 3-4 (that’s the average potty-training age, after all), and will be much too large for your 12-17 month old.  Brands that sell mini potties include Baby Bjorn, IKEA, and Tiny Undies. You can also use a toilet seat reducer over your actual toilet for easy cleanup.  Baby Bjorn makes a great seat with a good splash guard, or you can buy a new toilet seat for your toilet with a mini seat attachment built in. I also recommend the following items: A foldable toilet seat reducer and/or foldable potty for outings Waterproof pads for diaper-free time Step stool for the toilet and/or the sink Soap dispenser that your child can use To clean the potty: Pee:  Dump the pee in the toilet (or a bush, car tires, etc. on outings when a toilet is not accessible), rinse with water, and dry with a towel.  Pee is sterile, so sanitizing is not necessary. Poop:  Dump the poop into the toilet, rinse, clean with a disinfectant of your choice, rinse again, and dry with a towel.  If you’re out and about without access to a toilet, line the potty with a plastic bag or diaper for easy cleanup. Poop hack:  Put a square of toilet paper into the potty beforehand so that the poop doesn’t stick to the potty and is easier to dump. What is a potty pause? A potty pause is the term for any kind of EC regression, similar to a sleep regression or a nursing strike.  They can happen at any time, but there are ages where they commonly occur.  Crawling, teething, starting solid foods, learning to walk or talk, and sickness are all common culprits for a potty pause. Sometimes a potty pause is characterized by your child suddenly protesting or refusing the potty.  Other potty pauses are the result of natural changes in your child’s elimination patterns, which cause a string of misses until you figure out your child’s new timing and cues. Like nursing strikes and sleep regressions, you don’t have to give up your EC goals when a potty pause hits.  In fact, a sudden potty pause right around 18 months is often the sign that it's time to jump into full-time potty training:  Go here if you think that's the case.  If you don't think your child is quite there yet, this article has suggestions for one-year-olds and potty pauses.  Have a question that you don’t see here?  My full book on EC includes how to start, how to navigate common challenges, how to ditch the diapers for good (and how to tell it's time), plus other important topics such as daycare, travel, bedwetting, and more.  Click below to snag your copy now! Watch the video series Do you prefer to watch a video?  I've got you covered!  Click below to start watching the video tutorials on my YouTube channel.  I'm always adding more content, so don't forget to hit "subscribe" so you don't miss out. 

You’ve being doing Elimination Communication (EC) with your baby for all or part of the first year, and now your baby is walking!  This important milestone in your baby’s life, usually around 10-14 months, often impacts your potty-training progress significantly.  Read on to learn more!  The One Year Potty Regression  I’ve seen it a hundred times.  Maybe you’ve had great success with EC for months, but then your baby starts walking and suddenly resists the potty.  Maybe you’ve had a steady decline in EC success for a while, but at one year old things really spiral downward.  This nearly universal potty pause might take you by surprise, but it really shouldn’t!  Your baby is quickly becoming a toddler and her newfound mobility has awakened her to the fact that she can now say “no” to things.  She might resist being put in the highchair or car seat, being put down for a nap, transitioning from a fun activity to something else, and, of course, being placed on the potty. The good news is that the One Year Potty Regression can be overcome!  Read on for tips. Giving Choices Toddlers want to be in charge, and the best way to overcome this potty pause is by handing them choices.  Note that the choice you’ll be offering is NOT “Do you want to go potty?”  Why?  If you ask IF your child wants to go potty, the answer will almost always be NO! Instead, TELL your child it’s time to go potty, and then offer a choice about HOW that happens.  Here’s some examples that have worked for me and other parents: Do you want to pee standing up or sitting?  (Great for boys) Do you want to use your little potty or the big toilet? Do you want me to read you a book or sing you a song while you go potty? Do you want me to go potty first, or do you want to go potty first? Do you want to bring your dinosaur or your car to the potty? Do you want your doll to go potty first, or you? Do you want to go pee inside or outside? (I’ve found my boys loved going pee on a tree in the back yard) Do you want Mama or Daddy to take you potty? Now that he’s got an important decision to make, your child will likely forget all about resisting the potty! My children all loved being read to while they pooped.  My middle child also really liked to go potty in his bathroom at the same time that I went potty in my bathroom (we would “race”).  My third child loves to race her big brothers to the toilet and “win”. When in a public restroom, I usually use “Do you want me to go first or you?”  My oldest, who was always wary of public bathrooms, always wanted me to go first (I think he wanted me to prove it was safe).  My middle kid always wanted to go first (competitive much?). Lots of babies love to go potty with their toys, like the baby shown here!  You can buy a little doll toilet like the one in this picture here.  Be creative with the choices you offer your child and see what works! Change Things Up Resistance is often a sign that your child needs something to change.  Here are suggestions: Change your potty:  Try a floor potty if you’re using the toilet (or vice versa), change the location of the potty (move it to a different room or put it outside), or try using a potty cozy (especially if resistance began with chilly weather).  For boys, you can try a urinal or see if he likes standing to pee using a step stool at the big toilet. Hold and comfort him on the potty if he seems to have separation anxiety, or potty him by placing the potty on your lap. Change your timing:  Pees and poops may become less frequent as your child ages or happen at different times.  It’s possible you’re offering too frequently, or you’ve become out of sync with your child’s new rhythms. Make the Potty a Part of Your Day Toddlers thrive on routine and do best when you set their expectations ahead of time.  If you take your child abruptly away from an interesting activity without warning, you’ll get an instant tantrum.  On the other hand, if you give warnings (“we’re leaving the park in 5 minutes … one more minute, then we’re leaving … Okay, it’s time to go”), your child is more likely to cooperate. Build the potty into your day just like meals, nap time, running errands, bath time, etc.  To your toddler, the potty will become just another Thing We Do.  For example: After lunch, we’re going potty and then we’ll read stories. When we get to Grandma’s house, we’ll go potty first and then play. After you go potty, we will get into the bath. When you’ve gone potty, we can watch a show. This fits well into EC timing, as many children need to go potty during transitions between activities. Should I Give Rewards? Many modern potty-training techniques involve rewards, like stickers, candy, or reward charts. Most parents in the EC community do not use this technique with their children for three reasons.  First, a 12-17 month old probably doesn’t have the cognitive ability to understand the reward system.  Second, it goes against the EC philosophies about communicating cause and effect and incorporating the potty as part of normal life.  Lastly, treats can be hard to stop once you’ve started them. There are times, however, that EC parents have used rewards with success.  Some parents find that a little treat, like a raisin, M&M, or sticker, is just enough motivation to help a toddler overcome a potty pause.  This is especially true if your child is older (18+ months), has a treat-motivated personality, and is just struggling with something small, like making it to the potty on time without dribbling.  You can phase out treats by either setting the limit from the start (“you get an M&M out of the jar for dry undies until all the M&Ms are gone”) or slowly phasing them out. When will my baby start intentionally signaling? Many first-time EC parents wonder when their baby might start self-initiating, especially if your baby does not have obvious body language cues.  There is this feeling that if only your baby could TELL YOU that he needs to go potty, then he WOULD tell you, and then your life would be easier.  Unfortunately, it doesn’t work like that!  Like any other milestone, consistent self-initiation happens for different babies at different ages and the learning process does not improve linearly.  Some babies intentionally cue consistently before a year, making EC very easy.  Some don’t tell you they need to go at all until closer to age two.  Keep in mind, also, that even if your child is capable of saying “poo poo” or signing “potty”, it doesn’t mean he’ll do it consistently.  You will probably need to prompt your child based off timing for quite some time—even older kids still sometimes need prompting, especially before bed or a long car ride. The best way to encourage self-initiation is to incorporate diaper-free time regularly into your routine.  Schedule it for a 1-2 hour period where you can dedicate your whole focus to watching your child and transferring him to the potty immediately when he starts to go.  This immediate transfer is how your child will connect “pee and poop” to “potty” and is the best way to encourage your child to start holding it and signaling to you that it’s time to go.  The more regularly you do constructive diaper-free time, the faster he will learn. Keep in mind that intentional signaling might not be verbal.  Babies this age might look at you and pat the diaper, vocalize, or fuss.  They also might start crawling or walking to the potty.  You can encourage verbal signaling by using the ASL sign for “potty” (see picture below) and consistently using the words “pee” and “poop” when using the potty.  Encourage more signaling by immediately responding to self-initiation when it happens! When can we stop using diapers completely? EC babies are ready to go diaper-free much earlier than exclusively diapered babies.  On average, EC babies are ready to wrap up right around 18 months (although the range of normal is 12-24 months).  Compare this to the USA national average of 3 YEARS! For EC babies, wrapping up EC is usually a separate “potty-training” process where you switch from doing part-time potty use to full-time potty use.  Like traditional potty-training, you’ll begin with a couple naked days, followed by adding clothes without diapers, followed by outings without diapers.  Because your child already goes potty regularly, this process is usually quite smooth and takes about 3-7 days. When to do this is totally up to you.  The younger your child is when you ditch diapers, the more responsibility is on you to make sure everything ends up in the potty.  The process can also take weeks instead of days if you begin too early, especially if your child’s bladder is still very small or your child is not cognitively capable of self-initiation. If you try to ditch diapers with a very young toddler and aren’t having a lot of success after a week or two, there’s no harm in doing a “reset”:  Return to part-time EC for a month or two and try again when your child is older.  It’s quite amazing how much your child will develop physically and cognitively in a few short weeks! Is it ever too late to ditch diapers?  Jamie Glowacki, author of Oh Crap! Potty Training, cites 20-30 months as the ideal age for potty training exclusively diapered children.  After 30 months, potty training becomes exponentially harder, so I absolutely recommend wrapping things up during the day by age 2.5.  When you're ready to wrap up EC, go here. Should I switch to training pants or underwear? If you’re having a lot of misses or feel like you want to switch to full-time pottying, you might be wondering if underwear or training pants could help.  The short answer is:  Probably not. If your baby isn’t fully potty-trained, pee will just go right through underwear or training pants.  They’re also not very easy to manipulate until your child is capable of pulling his own pants up and down. Once you DO decide to go diaper-free, the best way to begin is with naked days followed by clothes WITHOUT underwear or diapers (commando).  Use loose pants, skirts, or dresses with nothing underneath.  Underwear and training pants feel too much like a diaper and can trigger accidents from muscle memory.  Have your child go commando until you’re solidly dry all day for at least a couple weeks; then you can add underwear. EC is easiest with clothes designed for potty learning, like Flappy-Nappies® drop-flap diapers and Chappy-Nappy pants shown here. Prior to officially potty-training, I recommend using EC-friendly cloth diapers.  Flappy-Nappies® pop open like a flap when it’s time to go potty and offer excellent backup for misses.  They’re also much easier to put on and take off than training pants or underwear—they can be changed while your baby stands or one-handed in your arms. The Flappy-Nappies® diaper snaps to the waist of the Chappy-Nappy crotchless pants.  Pop it open from front or back to go potty! If you don’t want to buy completely new diapers, try layering the diapers you already have over a pair of Chappy-Nappies (crotchless pants).  You can also use Chappy-Nappies alone to keep baby's legs warm during diaper-free time! Need more guidance on EC? My full book on EC includes how to start, how to navigate common challenges, how to ditch the diapers for good (and how to tell it's time), plus other important topics such as daycare, travel, bedwetting, and more.  Click below to snag your copy now! Watch the video series Do you prefer to watch a video?  I've got you covered!  Click below to start watching the video tutorials on my YouTube channel.  I'm always adding more content, so don't forget to hit "subscribe" so you don't miss out. 

What do baby sleep, baby feeding, and Elimination Communication all have in common?  Just when you think you’ve got things figured out, everything changes!  If you did EC with your newborn, big changes could be coming your way between 5-12 months.  A LOT starts happening for your baby during this time period, which can create a perfect storm for a potty pause.  The following are some of the big factors at play: Baby starts sitting up The newborn hold used to be your go-to, but now your baby is getting H E A V Y and it’s no longer comfortable for you or her.  She might squirm to try to escape the hold or vocally protest being constrained.  This is your cue to start experimenting with a floor potty or toilet seat reducer.  By about 4-8 months, your baby will be able to sit up unassisted, but until you are confident that she won’t fall, you should keep one hand on her the whole time she is sitting on the potty.  This is especially important if you are using a toilet seat reducer; ALWAYS remain within arms’ reach of your child until she is fully capable of climbing on and off the toilet independently (usually well into toddlerhood). Always keep a hand on your baby until she can sit confidently on the potty without assistance. Baby becomes mobile Rolling, scooting, and crawling are milestones that can disrupt EC:  Baby may be so focused on learning a new skill that he won’t signal like usual.  He might also become too busy to sit still on the potty or suddenly resist potty time. Baby starts teething Teething is known to cause crankiness and pain, both of which can reduce baby’s tolerance for the potty. Language skills are emerging Babies as young as 6 months old might start using the ASL to sign for milk, more, or even potty (although many babies won’t intentionally signal for the potty for quite some time yet).  Many babies start saying their first words well before their first birthday, too. For EC, this means your baby’s signals and cues might be disrupted.  This can be a good thing if baby starts intentionally signaling!  Or, it can cause a setback because you need to re-learn your baby’s new cues. Baby starts solid foods This is the big one.  The introduction of solid foods around 6 months of age causes physical changes in your child’s digestion.  As your child switches from an all-liquid diet to one supplemented by solid food, your child’s stools will transition, too.  They will change color, smell, and consistency.  Those mild-smelling milk poops on your cloth diapers that could just be tossed in the wash are now half liquid, half partially digested food, and 100% unpleasant. Starting solids can throw a wrench into EC. If you miss a solid-food poop while using cloth diapers, you’ll need to either dunk the diaper in the toilet or use a diaper sprayer to clean it out before laundering.  Flushable or biodegradable liners can help make cleanup easier.  Unfortunately, starting solids seems to completely upend your child’s timing and cues for poop and many parents experience a lot of misses right when poop is the grossest. What is a potty pause? All of the above factors can contribute to a potty pause for your mobile baby.  A potty pause is the term for any kind of EC regression, similar to a sleep regression or a nursing strike.  They can happen at any time, but there are ages where they commonly occur.  Sometimes a potty pause is characterized by your child suddenly protesting or refusing the potty.  Other potty pauses are the result of natural changes in your child’s elimination patterns, which cause a string of misses until you figure out your child’s new timing and cues. The combination of newfound mobility, teething, language milestones, and solid foods creates a perfect storm for a potty pause right around 4-9 months old.  This potty pause can last anywhere from a few days to several months, but most parents find that it lasts a couple of weeks. Like nursing strikes and sleep regressions, you don’t have to give up your EC goals when a potty pause hits.  The following are some suggestions for getting you through the 4-9-month potty pause. Try Distractions Everything in the world is new and exciting to your baby, and she’d much rather be exploring than sit still on the potty!  The best way to help her cooperate is to hand her a distraction the instant you put her on the potty.  Be creative—a distraction could be any of the following: Toys.  Create a “potty toy box” full of interesting things that she only has access to while she’s on the potty.  Hand her one after the other while she’s on the potty or just give her the whole box and let her dig through it herself.  They don’t need to be toys, either—sometimes a random object like a crinkly water bottle is the best distraction. Books.  Similar to the potty toy box, you can also keep a selection of special potty books to read to your child while on the potty. Calm Jar.  Create a mesmerizing distraction by filling an old water bottle full of water, food coloring, oil, glitter, seashells, small toys, beads, etc.  Make sure the lid is on securely. Music.  Play music for your baby or sing songs on the potty. Potty Activity Desk.  Get a low table, stool, or play table and set the potty at it like a chair by a desk.  Put something entertaining on it, such as a sensory bag, water play, finger paint, etc., that will keep your child busy while she goes.  Line the floor with a washable puddle pad if the activity is messy. A baby play table with removable legs is a perfect potty desk!  Take two legs off so that the table is angled towards your baby as she sits on the potty. Make a change. Sudden resistance is often a signal from your baby that something isn’t working and needs to change.  Here are some ideas: Change your potty.  If you’re still using the EC hold, switch to a floor potty or toilet seat reducer and assist your child in sitting upright on it.  Try a floor potty if you’re using the toilet (or vice versa), change the location of the potty (move it to a different room or put it outside), or try using a potty cozy (especially if resistance began with chilly weather). Change your timing.  He’s not a newborn anymore and might need more space between pottytunities. Starting solids may also have changed up his “poop schedule”. He might need a deeper squat:  If baby is having trouble getting newly solid poops out, try holding him in the classic EC hold over the toilet or get a very low potty that puts him into a deeper squat.  You can also stack books or blocks under his feet to assist with this position. He might need help relaxing:  Hold and comfort him on the potty if he seems to have separation anxiety, or potty him by placing the potty on your lap. He might need privacy:  Try looking away while he goes potty or (if he’s old enough), turn your back or even leave the area or room to let him potty alone. Or, stay in the same room but busy yourself with something, like folding towels. CAUTION:  Only leave the room if your baby is in a safe, baby-proofed room and using a little potty that he can safely get off of by himself.  Always stay within sight and earshot.  NEVER leave your child alone on the toilet or in the bathroom. Try Some Diaper-Free Time It’s always a good idea to circle back to diaper-free time whenever you feel like you and your baby have fallen out of sync.  If you find yourself having a big string of misses, take a day or two to observe your bare-bottomed child and see if you notice new cues.  If your child is mobile, you’ll need to either go outside, confine her to a room with no carpet, or line the carpet with towels, mattress pads (a king-sized one can cover a big area), or puddle pads. Remember, there are two goals of diaper-free time:  First, you are learning your baby’s cues right before/during a pee or poop so that you can better predict them in the future.  Second, you are helping your baby make the connection between pee/poop and the potty.  You can accomplish both of these goals by closely observing your naked child and transferring immediately to the potty as soon as she starts to pee or poop. The transfer is critically important to making the connection for your child.  Do not just let your child pee on the floor! When will baby start intentionally signaling? There are two types of cues in Elimination Communication:  Intentional cues and body language cues.  When babies are really young, they cue exclusively with body language.  These are behaviors that tend to precede or accompany pee/poop such as passing gas, getting suddenly fussy, popping on and off the breast, or making a “poop face”.  Babies of all ages have body language cues, which you may have already picked up on for your child.  If not, adding some diaper-free time to your routine can help you learn them. As your child’s language skills develop, he will start intentionally asking for things with signs (such as ASL), gestures (patting the diaper or crawling to the potty, for example), or words (such as pee pee, poo poo, or potty).  These are deliberate attempts by your baby to communicate his elimination needs. When babies start intentional cueing is unique for every child and there is a wide range of normal.  Some babies start intentionally signaling well before their first birthday, others won’t do this until after age 2.  You can encourage intentional signaling by using the ASL sign for “potty” (see picture below), consistently talking to your child about the process, and immediately responding to intentional signaling when it happens.   The ASL sign for "toilet" How do I dress my baby? At this age, you will probably be using a diaper backup.  Most parents do not try to catch everything in the toilet at this age, focusing mainly on catching poops and easy pees, like after a nap.  It’s definitely possible to catch all or most poops, but pees will still be very frequent and your baby might not cue consistently for pee yet.    This baby is wearing pink Chappy-Nappies (crotchless pants) with an matching Flappy-Nappies® cloth diaper.  The diaper attaches to the waist of the pants so that it can be popped open to go potty.  The diaper is draped over the potty in this picture. The best diaper backups are ones designed for EC that can be removed quickly when it’s time to go potty.  Flappy-Nappies® drop-flap diapers provide excellent backup for misses and easy potty access.  They pop open from the front or back to go potty and can be changed while your baby stands.  Pair them with a t-shirt or dress and a pair of Chappy-Nappies (crotchless pants) for warm legs and easy potty access year-round. This baby is wearing a Flappy-Nappies® diaper without Chappy-Nappies.  The diaper attaches to the waist belt so that it can be opened like a flap to go potty. Do I need to potty my baby in the same place every time? When you did EC with a newborn, it didn’t really matter where your baby went pee/poop.  The toilet was fine, or a potty, or even a prefold diaper on the changing pad or your lap.  Now that your baby is getting older, however, it is crucial that you be more consistent with where your baby goes potty. Remember the end goal of potty-training:   Your child pees and poops where it is socially acceptable to do so (the potty!).  A newborn is not cognitively capable of understanding this concept; newborn EC is just about learning your baby’s elimination cues and honoring her instinct to eliminate outside of a diaper.  A mobile baby, however, can start learning that it’s good to pee in the potty and not good to pee on the floor. This doesn’t mean you need to punish your baby for peeing outside the potty!  It just means that you need to be consistent with communication.  If you’re doing diaper-free time and your baby starts to go on the floor, transfer immediately to the potty.  You can even say something like, “Uh-oh, some pee got on the floor.  Pee goes in the potty, not the floor.  Let’s clean it up.” You don't need to use the exact same potty in the exact same place every single time, though, and it's also fine to use diaper backups for most or all of the day.  Even as adults, we use the bathroom in different places:  We use public toilets when out and about, we use grandma’s toilet at grandma’s house, we might pee in a bush while we’re hiking or camping, and we might use one of several toilets in our own homes. You can potty baby anywhere--just make sure it's in a potty! It’s not important what potty you use or where it is, so long as it’s a potty, specifically, that your child is peeing and pooping in. Is now the time to move to full-time EC? A lot of parents are doing great—catching some poops here, some pees there—but want to up their EC game to “full time”.  I would first ask you to decide what “full time” means to you.  Does it mean that you catch every (or almost every) pee and poop in the potty and can put your baby in underwear?  This isn’t very realistic prior to 12 months; it’s almost impossible to catch every single pee when they go so frequently. Elimination Communication is about learning, not perfection, and progress is not necessarily linear.  For the first year or two, there will be periods where you’re catching a lot and periods where you catch less (and unfortunately, age 4-10 months is a period where many parents catch less). Becoming hyper-focused on catching everything before your child is developmentally capable of taking on some of the responsibility can lead to frustration for you and unnecessary stress for your baby.  If you’re attentive to your baby throughout the day and taking her potty with regularity and success, then that could be considered “full-time” EC.  If you aren’t happy with how much pee/poop you’re catching, some constructive diaper-free time can always help.  Just be sure to do diaper-free time when you can dedicate your whole attention to your child to learn timing/cues and transfer immediately to the potty as soon as she starts to go. General Tips for EC The following are general tips for Elimination Communication. Model the potty for your child and be matter-of-fact about all things pee and poop.  Have an open door policy when you're using the bathroom.  If you're weird about pee and poop, your kid will be weird about pee and poop, and you don't want that.  There's nothing weird about it!  We all go pee and poop.  Get big siblings on board.  My kids loved going potty with their baby siblings and demonstrating how everything is done.  This also helped prevent potty regressions after the birth of a new sibling--many kids see the new baby wearing diapers and want to go back to diapers, too.  But if baby also uses the potty, big siblings are less likely to regress. Change your baby's diapers immediately when wet or soiled.  Remember, the goal of EC is to avoid a "diaper-trained" baby.  You want your baby to get used to feeling dry, not wet.  Changing diapers as soon as possible prevents your baby from being conditioned to the feeling of urine and poop against her skin. Cloth diapers are better for EC than disposable.  Disposable diapers wick moisture away too well, so baby doesn't get the immediate feedback of wetness when she goes pee.  You'll also be more likely to leave her in a wet diaper longer, because throwing out a barely-peed-in diaper feels wasteful.  Disposable diapers have also been linked to bedwetting past age 5.  Lastly, disposable diapers are buried underneath layers of clothes and pants, but if you use drop-flap diapers designed for EC like Flappy-Nappies®, the potty is always easily accessible (see above). Dealing with frustration or burnout Frustration is so common in all areas of parenting!  EC involves walking a very thin line:  On the one hand, EC is important to you, and you want to make an effort to succeed.  On the other hand, getting too obsessed or stressed about the process can be counterproductive.  My advice is to always take a laid-back approach.  Focus mainly on poops and easy-to-predict pees.  Don’t set goals or deadlines like “my child will be out of diapers by walking.”  EC should be making your life easier, or at least not making it harder.  When you get too frustrated or obsessed, your child can pick up on that and resist the potty.  It’s OK to take a step back or even take a break.  EC is a two steps forward, one step back process that’s full of ups and downs.  It’s impossible to quit the potty forever—sooner or later, you and your child will come back to it, and everything you worked on before will be a huge benefit to the process.  Need more guidance on EC? My full book on EC includes how to start, how to navigate common challenges, how to ditch the diapers for good (and how to tell it's time), plus other important topics such as daycare, travel, bedwetting, and more.  Click below to snag your copy now! Watch the video series Do you prefer to watch a video?  I've got you covered!  Click below to start watching the video tutorials on my YouTube channel.  I'm always adding more content, so don't forget to hit "subscribe" so you don't miss out.     

Let’s Build your Cloth Diaper Registry! Jump to FREE checklist We’ve done the research for you so that you can build your registry with confidence. Read on for our expert cloth diaper recommendations. Feeling overwhelmed? Pockets.  All-in-twos.  Fitteds.  Flats.  Wool.  PUL.  There seems to be infinitely many types of cloth diapers these days—and just as many resources advocating for different styles.  Many parents just give up and go with a popular favorite, like pocket diapers.  Unfortunately, these parents often run into a couple of problems down the line. Problem 1:  Lots of leaks.  Especially at night. Structurally, a pocket diaper has an outer waterproof layer (PUL) and an inner “wicking” layer like microfiber or suede.  These two layers form a pocket into which you insert an absorbent pad.  In short:  baby pees, the pee goes through the microfiber and gets absorbed by the pad, and the outer layer keeps the liquid contained.  Easy, right? Until that microfiber layer starts causing problems. Microfiber and suede tend to pill after repeated washes.  They’re also susceptible to “build-up” from detergents and diaper creams, which causes them to start to repel liquid instead of wicking it away.  The result?  Lots of leaks. Problem 2:  Alligator Ninja Rolls. Picture this:  You’ve been cloth diapering your baby with success for months.  Diaper changes are a fun time to play with your sweet, cooing, immobile baby.  Fun, right? Until that baby learns to roll over. And now you’ve got a little escape artist on your hands.  Every diaper change quickly becomes a massive battle to get your child to lie still.  Baby tries to roll, crawl, or run away while you’re struggling with a million snaps, pants, and onesie.  Complete, utter chaos ensues. Problem 3:  Poop. When you’ve got a sweet little breastfed newborn, poop is no problem!  Liquid poops can simply be thrown in the wash without fuss.  Simple, right? Until your baby starts solids. Suddenly those meek little liquid poops turn into hellacious mixtures of chunks and foul-smelling mush.  You either need to line your diapers with disposable liners, invest in a diaper sprayer, or dunk the diaper in the toilet to remove the poop before washing.  This is about the time that a lot of cloth diapering parents stumble on the concept of Elimination Communication (EC). EC, also known as baby potty-training, is a great way to jump-start the potty and keep poop out of your diapers.  Except… remember the point above about your alligator ninja?  Normal cloth diapers and pants really inhibit the EC process because of how many layers you’re constantly putting on/taking off. Don’t make that mistake! At Flappy-Nappies®, we’ve made it our mission to solve these common cloth diapering issues, and we also have a FREE digital guide to Elimination Communication, Diapers Stink!, so that you can get started right away.  This guide includes age-based how-to's, comprehensive troubleshooting FAQ, and free online workshops.  Create a free account to access the guide HERE. Flappy-Nappies® diapers have completely scrapped mainstream designs and come up with a revolutionary drop-flap cloth diaper.  The secret?  A separate waist belt that goes on your baby first, then you snap the diaper to the belt.  This simple change makes a HUGE difference in how the diaper can be used and changed. Problem 1:  SOLVED. Flappy-Nappies® come in three styles:  Pockets, all-in-twos, and wool.  NONE of these have microfiber or suede against your baby’s skin.  Instead, our pocket diapers are lined with 100% cotton and our all-in-two and wool styles only use 100% cotton pads. Cotton is superior to synthetic fibers because it retains its absorbing powers even after repeated washings and contact with diaper creams.  Problem 2:  SOLVED. Here’s where the real magic happens.  Flappy-Nappies® can be changed while your baby STANDS.  Or crawls.  Or one-handed with your baby in your arms. Flappy-Nappies® are the only cloth diapers that can be effortlessly changed without a changing pad.  Yep, public bathrooms without changing pads are a problem of the past! Problem 3:  SOLVED. Flappy-Nappies® were designed with EC and potty-training in mind.  No one wants to have to change more poopy diapers than necessary, and Flappy-Nappies® can dramatically reduce them from as young as birth, especially if you're using our FREE comprehensive EC guidebook, Diapers Stink!, to get started with EC. Since Flappy-Nappies® can pop open easily from the front or back like a flap, the potty is more accessible than ever.  Best of all, they can be paired with Chappy-Nappies, which are crotchless pants that you can use instead of the belt for warm legs and easy diaper changes all year long! Types of Cloth Diapers Cloth diapers in general can be broken down into three categories:  Two-part diapers, one-part diapers, and wool. Two-part diapers consist of an outer waterproof cover and a separate inner absorbent diaper.  You may have heard of prefolds, flats, and fitteds; these are all inner absorbent diapers that must be covered with a separate PUL cover.  All of them require a lot of pinning, folding, and layering, which makes them a major pain to use.  Wool diaper covers are a natural alternative to synthetic PUL covers. One-part diapers go on baby in one piece, similar to a disposable diaper.  Examples include pockets (which need to be stuffed with an absorbent pad) and all-in-ones. At Flappy-Nappies®, we have an option in all three categories.  Keep in mind, ALL Flappy-Nappies® have a separate waist belt and can pop open easily from the front or back to go potty!  Many Flappy-Nappies® are also adjustable from newborn to toddlerhood; take a look at our product comparison chart or video demonstrations to learn more. Pockets (one-part diapers) Flappy-Nappies® pocket diapers are the easiest diapers on the market to use and change.  Unlike other brands, our pockets are lined with a cotton training pad.  This means that they can be used by themselves as training pants (ideal for EC or potty-training).  If you need more absorbency, simply insert a soaker pad into the pocket. Changing a Flappy-Nappies® pocket diaper is ridiculously easy.  Just pop the used diaper off the belt and replace it with a fresh one.  Your baby can stand or sit on all fours, or you can scoop your kid up with one hand and change the diaper with the other.  As long as the belt isn’t soiled with poop, you can re-use it all day.  Toss the used diaper straight in the hamper—just be sure to remove any extra pads before washing. All-in-Twos (two-part diapers) Flappy-Nappies® PUL all-in-twos consist of a waterproof diaper cover and snap-in pads.  The cover can be re-worn between changes as long as it is not soiled with poop—simply swap out the wet pad for a fresh one. Unlike other types of two-part diapers, Flappy-Nappies® all-in-twos require ZERO folding or pinning.  Since the pad snaps straight into the cover, the whole diaper can pop open quickly for standing diaper changes or potty trips.  Wool Flappy-Nappies® wool diaper covers work just like the PUL all-in-two system.  They are belted and have separate snap-in pads.  The only main difference is that the cover itself is made of wool instead of PUL. Wool is a natural and eco-friendly material.  It is soft and breathable, antimicrobial, ventilating in summer, and insulating in winter.  Although it does require special care, once you get the hang of it, washing your wool is a breeze.  Read more about washing instructions here and benefits of wool here. What about cloth diapering at night? We’ve established that Flappy-Nappies® are the ideal choice for daytime diapering, and they might also be your go-to nighttime choice if you’re also offering the potty at night. Many parents, however, want the most absorbent and leak-proof option for nighttime diapering.  In that case, your best bet is a full-coverage wool diaper like the Disana cover pictured here:   Wool is THE choice for nighttime diapering for many reasons.  It outperforms even the most absorbent disposable diaper!  We’ve got an entire article discussing nighttime diapering here. Building your registry Be sure to check out our product comparison chart here for a breakdown of the three types of cloth diapers to determine which type will be right for you.  Keep in mind that, while some parents strongly favor only one type of diaper, many parents still prefer to try out multiple styles.  For reference, as a cloth diapering mom of three, my go-to diapers are as follows: Flappy-Nappies® pocket diapers at home and daycare for effortless diaper changes For outings, I pack a Flappy-Nappies® PUL all-in-two cover and a couple spare pads (they take up less room in my bag than pockets) At night, I use the Disana wool cover over fitted diapers until we introduce the potty—then I switch to the Flappy-Nappies® wool drop-flap cover with snap-in pads Once you decide which types are right for you, use this cloth diaper registry checklist to build out the perfect registry.  Then head to the Flappy-Nappies® bundling page so that you can save up to 20% when you purchase your diaper stash in bulk:  Click for Bundles. Need more guidance on EC? My full book on EC includes how to start, how to navigate common challenges, how to ditch the diapers for good (and how to tell it's time), plus other important topics such as daycare, travel, bedwetting, and more.  Click below to snag your copy now! Watch the video series Do you prefer to watch a video?  I've got you covered!  Click below to start watching the video tutorials on my YouTube channel.  I'm always adding more content, so don't forget to hit "subscribe" so you don't miss out.  Download Printable Version Have suggestions for our checklist that we didn't think of? Let us know in the comments!

I have sensitive skin.  I always have!  If I don’t use sensitive, fragrance-free products my skin feels itchy.  I’ve even broken out in hives from certain products.  Even worse, my eyes will get itchy and watery when I’m exposed to a strong fragrance.  This is true of “natural” fragrances like essential oils, too—they bother me almost more than the fake smells.  Everything in our house, from the shampoo/conditioner, to the soap, to the cleaning products is fragrance-free. You can imagine my surprise when I started shopping for my first baby back in 2015 and discovered that almost every baby product was full of fragrances.  Baby oil, soap, lotion, diaper cream, even disposable diapers and wipes were all scented. This shocked me.  Considering how delicate a baby’s skin is, why is “scented” the default?  And why did all these products for babies have a mile-long list of other questionable ingredients? I knew my son would likely have sensitive skin like me, so I worked on a strategy to keep his skin as clear as possible.  The following are some tips and tricks that have worked for us over the years. Use products with minimal ingredients. If your child has a reaction to an ingredient, you’ll have an easier time singling out the culprit if you start with as few ingredients as possible.  When I first went shopping for baby soap, I tried Aveeno, Burt’s Bees, and BabyGanics brands because they all carried a fragrance-free option. Burt’s Bees seemed to dissolve too quickly to do much cleaning.  Aveeno was way too thick and viscous and was difficult to squeeze out of the bottle.  BabyGanics foamed up nicely and was my favorite of the three, but it was hard to find in stock.  And all three brands had too many ingredients to untangle, ran out too quickly, and came in a wasteful plastic bottle. I was thrilled when I discovered a local shop that sold baby soap bars with only three ingredients!  By RKP handmade Everyday Baby Soap Bar is gentle, fragrance-free, vegan, and sustainably packaged (they ship throughout the USA!).  This is by far the gentlest, best cleanser I’ve found so far for my kids.  And the best part is that if you leave it to dry out between uses, it will last for weeks, making it the cheapest option in the long run. As soon as I tried the baby soap, I also switched my own soap over to by RKP’s Everyday Soap Bar for grownups.  They are also working on hand-crafted baby oils and other fragrance-free, gentle products to keep in stock.  Be sure to follow them to keep up with product launches and new releases. Switch to Cloth Diapers Here is a partial list of the kind of ingredients you’ll find in disposable diapers: Super absorbent polymer Chlorine bleach Dioxins Synthetic fragrances Artificial dyes Phthalates Volatile organic compounds Petroleum-based polypropylene Surfactants Wood fluff pulp Thermoplastic polymer Petrolatum lotions Persistent organic pollutants And a bunch of other undisclosed ingredients. If your baby has a reaction to any one of those ingredients, good luck finding out which one is the culprit.  You’ll have a hard time finding a disposable diaper brand that doesn’t use the ingredients on this list, either. On the other hand, you can buy cloth diapers that are made of purely natural ingredients like 100% cotton and wool.  Even the synthetic cloth diapers are less likely to cause a reaction on your baby’s skin than disposables. Make sure you wash your cloth diapers with enough detergent. The good news is that cloth diaper care is simpler than ever—many types are so easy to use that the only difference between them and a disposable diaper is that you put the cloth diaper into the hamper instead of the trash.  Laundry is easy, too—shake out any solid poop into the toilet (or use flushable liners), dump the diapers in the washing machine with detergent, add an extra rinse, and chuck into the dryer.  DONE! However, there is some bad advice floating around that you need to use minimal detergent on cloth diapers or the detergent will “build up” on the diapers and make them repel moisture.  Unfortunately, skimping on detergent will cause something else to build up—ammonia.  And a buildup of ammonia can cause a bright red diaper rash.  I found this out when my oldest was using cloth diapers.  As soon as I stripped the diapers and started using plenty of detergent (I started adding borax as well to make sure they were extra clean), the rash cleared up.  And I never had an issue with a “buildup” of detergent. Consider trying Elimination Communication All three of my kids had very little diaper rash once I figured out how much detergent to use on our cloth diapers.  But, if they pooped in their diapers, they’d develop an instant rash from contact with the poop. I say “if” they pooped their diapers, because they mostly pooped in the toilet from the time they were newborns.  We did Elimination Communication (EC) with them, which is the process of learning and responding to their need to pee and poop and offering the toilet instead of a diaper.  Basically, I learned to anticipate when they needed to poop (watch for a poop face!), which typically happened after naps or car rides, and held them in a squat over the toilet. Using this laid-back method, we were catching 90% of their poops and a few pees a day in the toilet by the time they were 2-3 months old.  In fact, poopy diapers became so few and far between that we almost didn’t know what to do when one ended up in the diaper! This saved our babies a lot of pain and irritation from poop-induced diaper rash.  If your baby tends to rash up instantly from a poop, seriously consider giving EC a try.  Poops are so easy to anticipate (you probably already have an idea of when they happen!).  You’ll also find that the overall time your kid uses diapers is way less than average—most EC babies are diaper-free by about 18 months old. See a doctor for persistent problems. To this day, my oldest son still suffers from multiple dermatological issues.  We see a dermatologist regularly, who has helped immensely with his eczema and other skin problems.  Natural, at-home remedies are our first line of defense—until a problem persists or worsens.  Then we turn to the experts to help our kids find relief! Did your babies have sensitive skin? What products or tips can you recommend?  Ket us know in the comments! Learn about Elimination Communication My full book on EC includes how to start, how to navigate common challenges, how to ditch the diapers for good (and how to tell it's time), plus other important topics such as daycare, travel, bedwetting, and more.  Click below to snag your copy now! Watch the video series Do you prefer to watch a video?  I've got you covered!  Click below to start watching the video tutorials on my YouTube channel.  I'm always adding more content, so don't forget to hit "subscribe" so you don't miss out. 

You’ve successfully potty-trained your toddler—congratulations!  Now you’ve got an upcoming vacation.  How do you handle bringing the potty, dealing with accidents, public restroom fears, and other logistics? My family recently traveled to the beach with our 17-month-old daughter, who had just been potty-trained about a month prior to our trip.  She is my third child that I’ve potty trained before age two, and I traveled with them all.  If you’ve just potty-trained your child or are wondering whether you should attempt potty-training before an upcoming trip, read on for some awesome traveling hacks! Tip 1:  Bring a Portable Potty. Newly trained toddlers are just getting used to responding to their bladder and bowel needs.  When they need to go, they need to go NOW.  There isn’t always time to find a restroom, so it’s best to have a travel potty on hand until your child can reliably hold it for longer intervals. The ideal potty should fit into your backpack or the basket of a stroller.  A compact potty with a handle that can clip to your backpack/stroller works great.  My mom traveled all over Europe with me when I was a year old and kept this small white potty clipped to her backpack for me and my sister to use: You can also find foldable potties; some great options include the Potette Plus and the My Carry Potty. I recently purchased this collapsible potty from Amazon: I chose this one because it collapses completely flat and fits into a cloth diaper wet bag.  It fits into my backpack or stroller with ease, and it comes with plastic bags to line it with so that you can easily dispose of messy contents when out and about. If you don’t like wasting a plastic bag each time the potty is used, I found that I could open the potty halfway and insert a collapsible doggy bowl inside to serve as a reusable insert (the potty itself is not water-tight due to the way it collapses).    Both the doggy bowl and the plastic liners fit neatly inside the potty when it is fully collapsed.  I also recommend storing a few baby wipes inside a Ziploc bag in or near your potty just in case you need to wipe a poopy butt on the go.  Once while at the beach, our daughter surprised us with a poop in the potty and we had to go all the way back to our beach house to clean her! Tip 2:  Bring a Foldable Toilet Seat Reducer Public restrooms can be scary for little ones.  Loud flushes and hand driers, gigantic toilets that they could fall into, sinks they can’t reach… Public restrooms in the USA were not made with children in mind!  When my first child was freshly potty-trained at 18 months old, he was terrified of public toilets.  I tried hovering him over the toilet or sitting him on the edge of the seat and holding him in place.  He could not relax and go like that. Then I bought a foldable toilet seat reducer, and it was a GAME CHANGER.  Once he felt stable sitting on the toilet, he could relax enough to go pee.  In fact, the foldable seat reducer is what I think pushed us from “potty-trained at home” to “completely potty-trained” and gave us the confidence to put diapers behind us for good. This is the seat I bought on Amazon over 7 years ago: Three kids later, it’s still in perfect working order.  It folds down plenty small to fit into a purse or backpack and is a must-have item for going out and about with your toddler. Do I need BOTH a travel potty AND a foldable toilet seat? That really depends on your needs.  If you're going to be at the beach, camping, hiking, or anywhere a public toilet will be inaccessible, a portable potty is a must.  If you don't plan to stray from civilization too much, though, you can probably get away with just the toilet seat reducer.  Some kids will refuse to use public toilets even with the reducer, however, in which case a small potty is probably your best bet. Tip 3:  Put a Sticky Note Over the Automatic Flush If your child is afraid of the sound of the toilet flushing, carry a pack of sticky notes in your purse and stick one over the automatic flush sensor.  This will keep the toilet from randomly flushing while your child sits on it.  Then, once she’s done her business, you can remove and dispose of the note so that the toilet will flush when you’re ready for it. Tip 4:  Offer the Potty at Strategic Times If you’re flying, offer the potty right before boarding and (for shorter flights) immediately after landing.  For longer flights, you’ll probably need to offer the potty while you’re in the air.  If you bring a portable potty, your child can use it in his seat.  Or, you can set up the foldable toilet seat reducer in the airplane bathroom. If you’re driving to your destination, be sure to offer regular potty stops along the way.  You can take your child into a public restroom or just have him use the potty in/near the car. When you’re sight-seeing, it’s best to offer the potty immediately upon arrival and then every hour or two.  While we were in Florida, we spent one morning at the zoo.  After 45-minute drive and waiting in line for our tickets to be scanned, my daughter used the potty.  Then she used it again after we got back to the car a couple hours later. Tip 5:  Protect the Car Seat (or airplane seat, train seat, etc.) It’s OK to put your child in a diaper during a long car ride or flight if it will keep your mind at ease.  However, this is not recommended for toddlers over the age of 3, who might take it as a signal that potty training is optional. When we flew to Florida with my daughter, we used diapers on the planes and on the hour-plus car trips to and from Universal Studios.  We treated the diapers as underwear and aimed to keep them dry by offering her the potty as usual.  On the planes, we kept the diaper dry!  In the car, we weren’t as lucky.  So, it was the right call to diaper her to protect the seat. If you don’t want to resort to diapers to protect the seat, there are other options.  One choice is to set a prefold cloth diaper into the car seat first, and then set your child on top of the diaper.  This is a safe way to keep your child from “wearing” the diaper but also protecting the seat.  You can also use chux pads.  The same advice applies to strollers. Whether to diaper your child or protect the seat with other means depends on your child's personality and age and your overall confidence.  How long it's been since you wrapped up diapers is also a big influence.  Since my daughter was so new to being diaper-free, it made sense to diaper her in the car/plane.  When I flew with my oldest, however, he was almost 21 months old and had been out of diapers for months.  Although I was allowed to bring a free carryon “diaper bag” for my child, I didn’t pack a single diaper in it!  We used the toilet seat reducer on the plane and in the airport.  I sat him on a puddle pad on my lap for the flight just in case, but he didn’t have a single accident on that trip—even at night! Tip 6:  Choose Clothes that are Easy to Remove Once you potty-train your toddler, onesies and rompers are no longer practical.  Dresses and shirts with loose shorts or pants are ideal as you and your child work on pulling pants up and down.  You can also use crotchless pants for very young diaper-free children. Be mindful of this when choosing swimsuits.  Full-body suits are great for protecting your child from the sun, but be sure to choose ones that snap open easily at the crotch.  Better yet, try a two-piece suit that allows your child to independently manipulate her own clothes. When we spent the day at the beach, we brought the collapsible potty and dressed my daughter in a long-sleeve suit that unsnapped at the crotch.  This made it easy to help her use the potty.  Although we never would have known if she had peed in the ocean, she still held it for the potty! Tip 7:  Be Prepared for Accidents Although we all hope to avoid accidents in public, it sometimes happens.  I always carry a prefold diaper in my bag to clean up an accident or other spill.  You can also carry disinfectant wipes, a wet bag for anything that was peed on or soiled, and a change of clothes for the child. I also recommend bringing a change of clothes for yourself.  You don’t want to get accidentally peed on and then be stuck wearing soiled clothes for a long flight or a full day at a theme park.  And yes. I say this from experience! Tip 8:  Trust Yourself.  Trust Your Child. Going out into the world with a newly potty-trained toddler can be scary, especially if your child is relatively “young.”  Strangers can be very unforgiving for accidents and even shame you for potty-training before your child is “ready” (whatever that means). If you go into your trip expecting a disaster, or resort to diapers out of fear, you send the message to your child that you don't trust him.  He will likely respond accordingly, and you risk losing all the amazing progress you both have made.  But if your child has been doing great with the potty--why should that change during your trip?  When you set the expectation that your child will do well, he might surprise you by meeting or even exceeding those expectations. When we left for our trip, my daughter had been potty trained for just over a month.  She was 17 months old.  We ended up using exactly three diapers during our week-long vacation (two in the car, and one at night).  The rest of her pee and poop went directly in the potty. If you feel ready to potty-train your child, but an upcoming trip is giving you pause—go for it!  Think of how much money and space you’ll save in your suitcase if you don’t need to worry about bringing diapers.  You and your child can do this! Need more guidance on Potty-Training? My full book on EC includes a lot more information about potty-training, including how to do a reset (and whether or not you need to), how to handle daycare, how to potty train at night (and what to do if bedwetting persists), and more.  Click below to snag your copy now! Watch the video series Do you prefer to watch a video?  I've got you covered!  Click below to start watching the video tutorials on my YouTube channel.  I'm always adding more content, so don't forget to hit "subscribe" so you don't miss out. 

Yep, you read that right!  Not only is it totally possible to potty-train your child before age 2, but it's actually easier than you may have imagined.  In fact, I've done it three times now--my oldest two were done with daytime diapers at 18 and 19 months, respectively.  Read on to learn what we did with our third baby, who is now daytime trained at 16 months! Elimination Communication Our potty training experiences all went very smoothly thanks to Elimination Communication (EC).  EC is the practice of learning and responding to an infant's need to pee/poop and offering the potty instead of a diaper.  Newborns are born with an instinct to not soil themselves and will readily go in a toilet instead of their pants if given the opportunity. Baby A uses the potty at one month old wearing Flappy-Nappies® brand cloth diapers, which pop open quickly when it's time to go potty. We started each of our children on the potty as newborns and took a laid-back approach.  All of them wore drop-flap diapers as a backup and we mostly focused on catching poops and "easy" pees.  This simple, mess-free method was easy to build into our routine, and when the time came to officially quit diapers altogether, our kids had a solid foundation for potty-training. What's the difference between EC and potty-training? Potty training and EC are technically not the same thing.  There are two main differences: Age.  Most experts consider any potty use before 18 months to be EC and any potty use over 18 months to be potty-training.  However, parents who do EC commonly have diaper-free children before 18 months, and many other parents wait to potty train until age 2, 3 or even 4. Diaper Use.  Most parents who do EC use a diaper as a backup, at least before the infant can walk.  The focus is less on catching every pee and poop and more on gently building a connection between the potty and elimination.  To potty-train a child, however, usually means getting rid of diapers completely and using the potty 100% of the time.  Although, many parents split the potty training process into "day" training and "night" training, with night training coming later. If you want to introduce the potty to your child before 18 months, start your EC journey here.  Even part-time EC will give you a generous head start when it comes time to ditch the diapers completely. If your child is over 18 months or if you're ready to wrap up EC on a younger child, read on to see how we did things with 16-month-old baby A! How we knew she was ready After being EC'd since birth, baby A was showing readiness to be done with diapers by 16 months old.  We noticed all of the following: She often patted her diaper or brought us the potty to tell us she needed to go. She almost always woke up from her naps dry. She frequently woke up dry in the morning (stayed dry all night). Almost all poops went in the potty, and lots of pee… so why were we still bothering with diapers?? We picked a week where nothing much was going on and maintained a laid-back attitude.  I knew that if things didn't work out, I could re-diaper her and try again in a month or two.  But, I really felt like she could handle this, so we went for it! Potty-Training Step One:  Naked Phase The first step in potty-training is the naked observation phase.  It's quite simple:  Strip your child naked and spend the entire day watching her.  As soon as she starts to pee or poop, put her straight on the potty. Goals for YOU: Learn the child’s timing . When does she usually go? Learn the child’s cues. What does she usually do right before going potty? Goals for YOUR CHILD: Gain awareness of bodily functions. Start to associate the potty with going pee/poop. Once both of you gain these new skills, the following will happen: You can begin prompting your child to use the bathroom based off timing and cues learned during the naked phase. Your child will begin self-initiating, although she may not consistently self-initiate for quite some time. A word about cues "Cues" are behaviors or signals your child gives right before or during peeing and pooping.  We can divide cues into two categories: Body Language Cues and Intentional Cues. Body language cues are not intentional.  They are simply behaviors that your child tends to adopt right before or during pee/poop. Almost all children have body language cues to a certain extent, but some are extremely subtle.  The best way to pick up on these cues is with naked observation. Here are some examples of body language cues: Squatting Passing gas (or especially stinky toots) Squirming Straining (poop face) Grunting A certain look (often a blank look) or expression Sudden change in behavior (sudden fussiness, suddenly getting still and quiet, seeming suddenly unsettled) Hiding (such as in a corner, under a table, in a play tent or tunnel, etc.) Pee shivers Absently grabbing the crotch or bottom Pee-pee dance:  Hopping from foot to foot or wiggling a lot In boys:  Ballooning of the foreskin Parental intuition:  Once you start taking baby potty, you might start getting a “feeling” like baby needs to go (my husband calls it his “Spidey Sense”).  This can even be a “phantom pee” where you feel like baby is peeing on you even though he’s not. “Warning pee”:  Small amount of pee comes out, then your child holds it Intentional cues are when your child deliberately indicates to you that she needs to go potty, for example: Gesturing to you with intention (patting the crotch, pointing towards the bathroom, tapping you on the arm, etc.) Walking towards the potty Using the ASL sign for “toilet" Using words (poop, pee, potty) or sentences (I go potty, I need to go poop) The ultimate potty-training goal is a child that consistently self-initiates the potty by either telling you she needs to go or independently taking herself to the potty. When this happens consistently depends on the child's age, personality, and motivation. Do's and Don'ts DO NOT offer the potty "by the clock" at first, especially if you've never done EC.  Your child will have no idea why she's sitting on the toilet if you put her on there every 30 minutes for seemingly no reason.  When you wait until she starts to go and THEN put her on the potty, she learns the cause (I peed) and consequence (mom put me on the potty).  That is how she makes the connection. DO protect your floors.  Confine your child to tile flooring or keep her outside.  Or, line the carpet with puddle pads, towels, or use a washable rug. DO NOT take your eyes off your child.  Every time you completely miss a pee or poop, you miss a learning opportunity. DO prompt your child to use the potty IF you have already been doing EC and have a good idea of your child's timing and cues already.  But ONLY do so when you are 100% certain she has to go. DO NOT punish or reprimand your child for accidents.  Simply say something like, "Uh-oh!  Pee pee got on the floor and made a mess.  Pee pee goes in the potty, not the floor.  Let's clean it up." DO praise your child for going in the potty, if you desire.  Something simple like, "You did it!  Pee goes in the potty.  Well done."  Rewards are NOT usually necessary and should be avoided, if possible. Day 1 During day 1, I prompted her when I normally do (first thing in the morning, for example) and watched her like a hawk the rest of the day.  I noticed that she had two cues:  squatting and passing gas.  Almost all elimination, poop or pee, was preceded by at least one of those two tells. I also noticed that she needed to go about every hour.  We had two full accidents (none made it in the potty) and one partial accident (she started to go on the floor, we transferred to the potty for the rest).  You can read our full potty log for the whole week at the end of this article. All in all, day 1 was a success!  We learned a lot. Day 2 Day 2 was another Naked Day.  I could tell she was starting to "get it".  Not only did she climb onto the potty when I prompted her after I noticed one of her cues, but she also started showing distress when she had an accident.  She knows what to do! Day 3 I almost gave up because she had a stuffy nose and slept like crap, but preserved with a third naked day anyway in a very laid back way. We only had one accident, so I was VERY glad we decided to stick with it.  The moral of the story:  Don't quit for a minor illness.  Don't quit on a bad day. Potty Training Step Two:  Clothes Move on to this step by putting clothes back onto your child when one or both of the following happens: You are consistently able to prompt your child with success. Your child consistently self-initiates. Usually, it's a mix of the two, but you should feel confident that almost all pee and poop are making it into the potty in one of those two ways.  It usually takes 1-3 days to feel ready for this step. Your Strategy Put your child in loose clothing, like a dress or loose pants/shorts.  Have him go commando (NO underwear), because underwear feel tight like a diaper and can trigger an accident from muscle memory.  Continue putting him on the potty with well-timed prompts or allowing him to self-initiate.  Start working on pulling pants up and down. Day 4 We started putting her in dresses without undies and only had 2 partial accidents!   We moved to the potty both times and she finished going in the potty. Potty Training Step 3:  Outings Your strategy:  Start small, and start outside.  Outside is a great option because it won't matter if your child has an accident on the ground.  Outdoor suggestions include a walk to the park or a friend's backyard for a short visit.   When you're feeling more adventurous, try a longer outdoor trip like to the zoo.  Or, test out an indoor outing at a supportive friend or relative's house. Set yourself up for success by leaving for your outing immediately after your child uses the potty.  Bring a portable potty with you and keep it close, ready for use if you notice a cue. Most importantly, you need to put trust in both yourself and your child that the process will still work away from home.  At this point, you know your child's timing and cues extremely well--there's no reason why you won't have just as much success while out and about. Day 5 ZERO ACCIDENTS!!  We did a few outings on day 5, including leaving her and the older kids with the grandparents while my husband and I went out for dinner. We told them she’d had zero accidents so far (no pressure, right?). When we left, granddad asked our oldest kid how to tell when she needs to go potty (he is 8 and sometimes takes her potty). She heard her grandfather say that and brought her potty to him and went pee! HUGE WIN! Day 6 By day 6 I felt we were basically done potty training. By this point, we were catching almost everything with well-timed prompts or with her self-initiating. It took about a week to get to this point with my oldest as well (second kid was a little more complicated--a story for another blog). How do I know when we're DONE? You are done when you feel confident that you can catch almost all pee and poop in the potty either by prompting or self-initiation.  You can do this regardless of if your child is naked or clothed, if you're at home or if you're on the go, your child is with you or with another caretaker. Note that I didn't say you're done when you never have any more accidents.  It's absurd to expect your child to perform any new skill perfectly from now on.  Even after he learned to walk, he still sometimes fell, right?  Even big kids sometimes still have accidents.  The idea is that you are catching almost everything, and that's enough. This article covered how to potty train during the day; it's perfectly fine to continue to use diapers at night for a while.  I will write more blogs on other subjects, like nap/night training, tackling daycare, and a general potty training Q&A article, so stay tuned.  If you have any questions about the process that you would like addressed, don't hesitate to reach out. Our smooth, drama-free potty-training journey truly highlights the advantage of introducing the potty in infancy.  Since we laid the groundwork for the potty from birth, potty-training baby A was simply a matter of increasing from part-time potty use to full time.  Baby A, being the fearless and determined little girl that she is, stepped up to her new expectations beautifully.  Nothing stands in baby A's way! If your child is too old to try EC--don't fret!  You can still have success potty-training your child by jumping straight into the method outlined in this article.  But if your child is under 18 months and you haven't committed to EC yet, I can't emphasize enough how much I recommend getting started right away. If you're interested, our potty log below provides details of how things progressed from day to day.  You can also watch the video log of our potty journey by visiting our Instagram page and watching the story highlight "Potty Training". Need more guidance on Potty-Training? My full book on EC includes a lot more information about potty-training, including how to do a reset (and whether or not you need to), how to travel with a newly potty-trained toddler, how to potty train at night (and what to do if bedwetting persists), and more.  Click below to snag your copy now! Watch the video series Do you prefer to watch a video?  I've got you covered!  Click below to start watching the video tutorials on my YouTube channel.  I'm always adding more content, so don't forget to hit "subscribe" so you don't miss out.  Potty Log You don't need to keep a detailed potty log like this (I didn't bother with my first two kids), but if you want a potty log you can use this one here.  My only aim with this is to help others on their journeys.  If this is useful for you, then it was worth it! Day 1 6:15 am: woke up, we took off her diaper (wet), and she had big pee on the potty 7:35 Breakfast, then potty again (pee). 8:15am: Play time. Baby A squatted to play with blocks. Noticed her start to grunt for poop. Moved her immediately to potty. BIG POOP and pee in the potty. She was so proud!! We dumped it, flushed, and said bye bye to poop. Then she washed hands while I cleaned the potty. 9:05: she saw her brother go potty and wanted to go too. Another pee in the potty! We worked on wiping our own self. 9:48am: outdoor play. First accident of the day. As soon as she started to pee, transferred to the potty. None made it in. 10:30am-1:20pm: nap without a diaper. Woke up dry, no accidents. Big pee on the potty 4:23pm: Partial miss. Started to pee, immediate transfer to potty, most pee went in potty. 4:57pm: full accident while I was cooking dinner 6:20pm: pottytunity after dinner. Full pee in potty. 7:30pm: last potty opportunity before bed, pee in potty. Bed. FULL ACCIDENTS: 2.  PARTIAL ACCIDENTS: 1 Day 2 6:15am: Wake up with dry diaper. Big pee in potty. 6:48: start to pee on floor, immediate transfer to potty, most pee in potty 7:40am: after breakfast during playtime, she started tooting. I said “there’s your potty” and pointed at it. She climbed on herself and went pee! 9:15am: prompted her to use the potty and she went pee! 10:11am: started to get fussy in high chair, did not want more food. Then started to pee. We moved straight to the potty and she happily sat and peed more. 10:30-1pm: diaperless nap. Woke up dry, had a pig pee and poop on the potty! 1:58pm: pee on the floor during play time. She immediately gave me a worried look and I said “hurry go to your potty!” She went to the potty and sat, but none of the pee made it 3:45pm: offered the potty, she peed. 6:20pm: another successful pee prompt. FULL ACCIDENTS: 1.  PARTIAL ACCIDENTS: 2 Day 3 Runny nose/cold 7:15am: wake up (wet diaper) big pee and poop on the potty. 10:18am: pee on potty when prompted after outside play 10:45-12:50pm: diaperless nap, then big pee and poop on the potty. 4:00-4:45: nap in car, woke up dry, then peed in potty. 6:00pm: accident on floor 8:00: last potty before bed (pee) FULL ACCIDENTS: 1.  PARTIAL ACCIDENTS: 0 Day 4 7:00am: wake up, wet diaper, pee on potty. 9:10am: started to pee on ground outside, got upset, held it til we were on the potty and peed the rest. 9:48am: started to pee on floor during story time. Put immediately on potty; peed and pooped a lot more! She was upset that her shoes got wet. 10:30am: last potty opportunity before nap (successful pee) 10:45-1:05pm: diaper free nap, no accidents. Pee on potty. 3:00pm: successful prompt. Pee and poop. 6:20pm: successful prompt after dinner (pee). Attempted pre-dinner prompt, but she was starving and not having it. She held it through dinner. FULL ACCIDENTS: 0.  PARTIAL ACCIDENTS: 2 Day 5 7:15am: wake up (dry diaper) pee on potty 9:15am: successful pee prompt 10:55am: successful pee prompt 12:30pm: last potty before nap; pee! 3:09pm: woke up dry, peed in potty 5:30pm: told her grandparents she needed to pee by carrying her potty to them! 8:03pm: last pee on the potty before bed! FULL ACCIDENTS: 0.  PARTIAL ACCIDENTS: 0  Day 6 6:00am: wake up (dry diaper), pee and poop on potty. 7:20am: small accident while dad was watching her and cooking 8:35: patted her crotch and looked at me saying “eh, eh”. Offered the potty and she went! 10:15am: prompt before leaving for park (pee) 12:05pm: prompt after lunch at park (pee) 3:00pm: woke up from nap MAD (peed the bed) 6:34pm: took herself to the potty to pee and poop after dinner! 8:07pm: last potty before bed--pee. FULL ACCIDENTS: 2.  PARTIAL ACCIDENTS: 0  

My mom used to teach a college class on the environment and sustainability.  Every year, the class would visit the local landfill.  The woman giving the tour would ask, “Who grew up around here?”  A group of students would raise their hands.  Then she’d point to the landfill and say,  “Your diapers are over there.” Talk about an eye-opening moment.  With disposable diaper rates at about 90% in the 1990’s and early 2000’s, most of her students had left behind a significant heap of trash before they even had permanent memories. Do you ever think about that?  How much trash you generated as a baby?  The smallest people in our society are creating some of the biggest environmental footprints, and they have NO say in the choices that contribute to this problem. Consider the following facts:  A single disposable diaper will only be on your child for a matter of hours before it spends the next 500 years decomposing. On average, a baby goes through 6,500 disposable diapers before reaching toilet independence. That’s 2 TONS of waste, per child, in the landfill for the next 500 years. That’s 6,500 diapers that will require fossil fuels to transport to your home and then to the dump. 6,500 diapers whose manufacturing process uses non-renewable petroleum plastics and consumes ONE BILLION trees... Every. Single. Year.  This is assuming that the diapers are disposed of properly, and many of them are not.  Diapers that don't make it to the landfill often end up in our oceans and pose a significant threat to coral reefs and ocean life. Is the “convenience” of disposable diapers really worth this enormous environmental burden? A disposable diaper was found washed up on the beach by Rebecca Larsen.  Although is unclear how much time it spent in the ocean, it is still largely intact underneath the muck. If you’re on the fence between choosing cloth or disposable diapers, this is your wake-up call to choose cloth.  Still need more convincing?  Here’s another four reasons to ditch disposables: Cost Disposable diapers are very cheap on an individual level, and you buy them a little at a time, spreading out the cost.  Cloth diapers, on the other hand, are a fairly big up-front cost.  This disparity can create an illusion that disposables are cheaper than they really are.  Let’s break down how much it really costs. Say you’ll have 3 children.  On average, parents spend $1000 on disposable diapers per child, per year. The average potty-training age is 3 years during the day and 5 years at night. For 3 kids, you’re looking at about $4,000 per child, or $12,000 total. Contrast that with cloth diapers. A full set of cloth diapers that will grow with your child from birth to potty independence is a one-time cost of under $500.  Those diapers will last for all 3 kids and might even be in good enough shape to sell second-hand when you’re done with them. WOW. That’s a difference of about $11,500! But wait!  Don’t cloth diapers cost money to launder?  Yep.  It’s estimated that diaper laundry will cost you $7-9 per month, which is about the same as you would spend on disposable baby wipes.  If you’re using cloth diapers, though, you may as well also use reusable wipes.  They take up barely any room in your washer, clean baby more efficiently, and the money you’ll save on them more than makes up for laundering costs. Cloth diapers are even more affordable if you buy them second-hand or receive them as gifts or hand-me-downs.  Struggling families might also be eligible to receive free or discounted cloth diapers through a charity like the Cloth Option.  Some crafty parents even make their own cloth diapers! Don’t forget that the cost of disposable diapers is skyrocketing, and nearly HALF of American parents are struggling to pay for them.  What seems affordable today might not be tomorrow; investing in cloth from the beginning is the wiser financial choice. Potty-Training In the 1950’s, over 90% of babies were out of diapers by 18 months. Today, that figure has doubled to 3 YEARS. What happened? Disposable diaper companies want your kids in diapers as long as possible because it’s profitable for them. The phrase “wait ‘til they’re ready” was invented as a marketing strategy. It was promoted by a paid pediatrician spokesman who helped convince parents that they were “rushing” potty training if they “pushed it” too young, which could cause all kinds of physical or psychological problems. Ever since, the potty-training age has slowly crept up, and the “readiness” myth is now commonly accepted as fact. We go into more details on the rise of disposable diapers here. Meanwhile, cloth diaper companies have no monetary stake in when your child potty trains, and we’ll happily tell you that you can introduce the potty to your child as young as you want! You can even start as young as birth—it’s called Elimination Communication—and it won’t hurt your baby one bit. Even newborns can use the potty! In fact, cloth diapers help the potty-training process by feeling wet. Flappy-Nappies® brand diapers help the process even more by popping open quickly like a flap when baby needs to go. The Flappy-Nappies® website also has a FREE comprehensive potty-training guide HERE, which includes a comprehensive troubleshooting FAQ, age-based how-to's, and FREE online workshops.  All you need to do to instantly access the guide is create a free account! Parents who use cloth diapers have kids that are diaper-free at a biologically normal age (18-24 months). If you decide to use disposables, you risk doubling the time you’ll be using them! Curious about EC? My full book on EC includes how to start, how to navigate common challenges, how to ditch the diapers for good (and how to tell it's time), plus other important topics such as daycare, travel, bedwetting, and more.  Click below to snag your copy now! Convenience Yep, you read that right! Cloth diapers are more convenient than disposables if you pick the right brand. Flappy-Nappies® are the easiest diapers on the market to use and change. You can change them one-handed without a changing pad while your baby stands and plays. Flappy-Nappies® pop open like a flap, making it easier than ever to introduce the potty. Your diaper-changing days will be long behind you before you know it! You never need to worry about running out of Flappy-Nappies®, because you just wash and reuse them. The only difference between a Flappy-Nappies® cloth diaper and a disposable one is that you toss the Flappy-Nappies® in the hamper when you’re done instead of the trash. It takes about the same amount of time to toss diapers into the wash as it does to haul a bag of disposables to the dumpster. Why waste your money on a disposable product that isn’t even any more convenient than the reusable alternative?  Chemicals Have you ever looked into what’s ACTUALLY in the diapers you’re supposed to put on your baby’s most sensitive body parts? They are comprised of dozens of ingredients, such as: Super absorbent polymer Chlorine bleach Dioxins Synthetic fragrances Artificial dyes Phthalates Volatile organic compounds Petroleum-based polypropylene Surfactants Wood fluff pulp Thermoplastic polymer Petrolatum lotions Persistent organic pollutants And a bunch of other undisclosed ingredients. Many of these components are knowingly harmful to either humans, animals, the environment, or all three.  Some companies claim to make so-called biodegradable or chemical-free diapers, but all disposable diapers contain at least some of the above-listed ingredients. Oh--and "biodegradable" diapers are just diapers that you pay extra for so that you can feel better without actually being better.  They won't biodegrade if they're landfilled or incinerated, and most disposable diapers are not disposed of properly to begin with. On the other hand, you can get cloth diapers made almost completely of natural components.  Wool diapers in particular are as simple as it gets: They’re made from sheep’s wool and can be used with 100% organic cotton pads. What would you rather wear on YOUR bottom?   Wool diapers have amazing properties and are an excellent diapering choice for nights! Take the leap Disposable diapers are so universal, you may not know even a single person who uses cloth.  Disposables are familiar; cloth seems intimidating and hard (although I promise it’s not!). The good news is that this doesn't need to be an all-or-nothing choice.  You can use disposable diapers during the day and cloth at night, or vice versa.  You can use disposables during the busy week and cloth on the weekends.  Some parents use cloth at home and disposables while out and about.  Making potty-training a priority is also a great way to minimize diaper use altogether. ANY cloth diaper use is a victory for the Earth, and our babies are worth the effort.  Remember, our children will inherit the planet from us in whatever shape we leave it for them.  For them, we can do hard things. Curious about EC? My full book on EC includes how to start, how to navigate common challenges, how to ditch the diapers for good (and how to tell it's time), plus other important topics such as daycare, travel, bedwetting, and more.  Click below to snag your copy now! Watch the video series Do you prefer to watch a video?  I've got you covered!  Click below to start watching the video tutorials on my YouTube channel.  I'm always adding more content, so don't forget to hit "subscribe" so you don't miss out.     

Are you expecting a baby and wondering what diapers are best to use at night?  Or, maybe you're experiencing leaks at night and are researching what might be a good option to switch to.  It might surprise you to know that the best, leak-proof diapering option available is NOT a disposable diaper.  It’s wool! Marvelous, magical wool Wool has been used for millennia as a protective cover for cloth diapers.  Your baby wears the water-repellant wool cover over an absorbent layer, such as a cotton fitted diaper or other cloth insert. Why is wool the best choice for nighttime diapering?  Let’s dive right in: Extra absorbing power All diapers have two basic parts:  A waterproof outer layer to keep both liquid and solid waste contained and an inner absorbent layer to soak the liquids up.  The outside of a disposable diaper is made of a waterproof plastic topsheet and the absorbent part is made of superabsorbent polymer gel.  The absorbent layer of a cloth diaper is usually cotton, bamboo, hemp, or microfiber.  Many modern cloth diapers have an outer layer of PUL, a synthetic waterproof fabric, but wool can also be used as the waterproof outer layer.  Unlike plastic or PUL, however, wool has both water-repellant and water-absorbing properties.  Wool absorbs about 30% of its weight without feeling wet, giving you a protective boost beyond the cloth diaper underneath. This ultra-absorbing power rivals even the thickest overnight disposable diapers! Powerful Leak Protection Wool is hand-washed with lanolin, the natural waterproofing oil in sheep’s wool.  Because wool both absorbs and repels, any “spillover” from your inner cloth layer will get absorbed by the wool.  In other words, no leaks!   The longer you use the wool, the more “coated” the fibers become from repeated lanolin baths.  This, plus the natural felting that occurs with the friction of use and washing, makes your wool cover powerfully protective against leaks. Natural and Eco-Friendly Let's face it:  Disposable diapers are wasteful and place a strain on the environment.  Even if you use disposable diapers during the day, you can reduce your environmental impact by switching to cloth at night.  This is a win-win choice, too--see the amazing properties of wool above! Unlike synthetic cloth diapers, wool diapers are extra eco-friendly because they are naturally derived and require minimal processing to manufacture.  They use very little water to wash and no electricity to dry.  Since they're made from such high-quality material, they will almost certainly last for all of the children you choose to have and might still be in good enough shape to sell second-hand when you're done.  Once they're too worn out for continued use, the fabric is biodegradable. Isn’t wool complicated to wash and use? Wool has a bit of a learning curve, but once you get the hang of it, it’s even easier than using regular cloth diapers.  It’s also simpler and cheaper than running to the store to buy disposables! A unique property of wool is its resistance to odor and bacteria.  The lanolin breaks urine down into mineral salts and water, which then evaporates quickly as the wool dries.  This makes your wool very hygienic!  In fact, it can be hung to dry in the morning without washing for up to four weeks.  Yes, you read that right.  Wool only needs to be washed ONCE a MONTH. At that point it will need to be hand washed with lanolin again (lanolized) to replenish the fibers with lanolin.  Additionally, if any poop escapes the diaper underneath the wool cover and ends up on the wool itself, you'll want to immediately rinse and hand wash the stain with wool wash.  This is fairly rare in my experience, though, as my babies usually didn't poop at night. Isn’t wool itchy?  Or hot? Nope!  Unlike your grandma’s sweater, wool diaper covers are soft and cozy.  Wool is also both ventilating in the hot summer months and insulating in winter, making it an ideal year-round choice. Okay, I’m convinced that wool is a great nighttime choice.  What style should I get? The main thing to consider when answering that question is this:  Are you doing Elimination Communication at night or not? If you’ve never heard of Elimination Communication (EC) before, start here immediately because you’re about to learn the best-kept secret to simplifying cloth diaper laundry.  In a nutshell, EC means you offer the potty to your baby at key times or when you notice he needs to go.  Most parents do part-time EC while using a diaper backup and mostly aim to catch poop and easy pees (like right after a nap). Some parents who do EC don’t bother with it at night, while others do.  For some babies, offering the potty at night disrupts their sleep.  Other babies toss and turn when they need to go potty or hate being wet.  In those situations, offering the potty improves sleep for everyone.  Whether or not to do nighttime EC is a personal decision that varies from baby to baby and might evolve with time.  This decision will affect which cloth diapers are right for your unique situation, as follows. Option 1:  You’re doing EC at night If you’re doing nighttime EC, you need a diaper that opens easily in the dark while you’re half-asleep.  You also don’t need the absorbing power you would if your baby was peeing in the diaper all night.  The best choice is the Flappy-Nappies® Merino Wool All-in-Two Diaper Cover and Belt.  This cover gives you the leak protection and extra absorbing power of Merino Wool in a buttery-soft wool interlock cover.  It also employs the patent-pending belted design of all Flappy-Nappies® cloth diapers, meaning it pops open like a flap from the front or back when baby needs the potty.  Since your baby uses the potty at night, you probably won’t need more absorbency than the Standard Snap-in Pads.  But if you need an extra boost, you can grab a pair of Insert Adapters to use with an extra-thick prefold or flat diaper.  The adapters will keep your insert in place while baby uses the potty, so that it doesn’t shift during sleep or slip out when the diaper opens. Option 2:  You’re NOT doing EC at night If you’re not doing EC at night, you may want more all-around protection, especially if your baby is a heavy wetter.  In that case, the Disana Merino Wool Diaper Cover may be a better choice than Flappy-Nappies®.  This diaper cover gives full coverage for your baby, including the upper legs and lower torso.  When properly lanolized, it is the most leak-proof option I have ever tried (including disposables!). Pair the Disana with a Workhorse fitted diaper and possibly some booster inserts if your baby tends to be soaking wet in the morning.  This setup will be good to go for years, until your little one starts waking up dry or you introduce the potty at night.  At that point, switch to the Flappy-Nappies® wool cover described under Option 1 for easy potty access and excellent backup protection. Want to learn more about EC? My full book on EC includes how to start, how to navigate common challenges, how to ditch the diapers for good (and how to tell it's time), plus other important topics such as daycare, travel, bedwetting, and more.  Click below to snag your copy now! Watch the video series Do you prefer to watch a video?  I've got you covered!  Click below to start watching the video tutorials on my YouTube channel.  I'm always adding more content, so don't forget to hit "subscribe" so you don't miss out.   

You’ve heard that you should wait until your toddler is ready to potty train, usually around age 2-3, although in some cases as late as 4 or even older.  But Great Grandma claims she had her babies out of diapers by 18 months. She's lying, right? Nope!  In the 1950's, the average age a child completed toilet training in the US was 18 months. Today, the average age has doubled to THREE YEARS OLD. How did this happen? Two words: Disposable Diapers. Of course, there’s the obvious reason parents who use disposables wait longer to potty train:  When every dirty diaper needs to be washed (by hand or machine), parents have motivation to quit using them entirely.  When diapers can simply be thrown away, it becomes easier to wait.  Cloth diapers also aid potty training because babies can feel when they're wet much better than in disposables. But there's a more insidious factor at play. Decades ago, disposable diaper companies realized they could double their profits if they convinced parents to wait as long as possible to introduce the potty. The "wait 'til they're ready" movement was born and man, did it work. They leveraged our mom guilt against us and now we're shaming each other for "rushing" potty-training if we start "too soon".  Any setbacks or resistance from the child are presented as evidence that we "pushed" the potty “too young”.  Well-meaning parents who wait and wait for "readiness" sometimes even end up with Kindergarteners who are not properly potty trained. Here’s a fact:  “Wait ‘til they’re ready” is a marketing strategy.  It was invented by disposable diaper companies to sell more diapers.  Potty training takes time and attention. So, Big Diaper created a product that was convenient and easy to use and then hired a pediatrician spokesman to give parents permission to put off potty training as long as they wanted. The result?  Millions of tons of waste end up in landfills every year, millions of tons of non-renewable resources are tossed in the trash, and potty training often gets even harder the longer you wait.  The only benefactors of “wait ‘til they’re ready” are the disposable diaper companies. The environment suffers at the expense of Big Diaper. Five Lies Big Diaper is Telling You Big Diaper may have invented "wait 'til they're ready" decades ago, but it has since become culturally ingrained.  However, many of the soundbites perpetuating the "readiness" myth are nothing short of lies.  Here's five of the big ones. 1.  Big Diaper says your baby can’t control her bladder or bowels until she’s two.  That’s a lie.  Babies are born with bladder and bowel control, and they have instincts to not soil themselves.  If you hold a diaperless newborn over the toilet in a squat position and say “pss pss”, she will instinctively pee or poop.  For millennia before disposable diapers existed, parents held their babies out at key moments over a chamber pot (potty!) to pee and poop. You can introduce the potty at any age, even as young as birth, and it won’t hurt her one bit.  Teaching your baby to associate elimination with the potty results in a smooth transition out of diapers at a much younger age (this is often called Elimination Communication or EC).   Newborn babies are capable of eliminating into a potty with assistance. Cultures all around the world still raise their babies successfully with minimal or no diapers.  Great Grandma managed to teach all her babies to use the potty just fine—you can, too! 2.  Big Diaper says that "rushing" potty training is bad. That's a lie.  It is true that punitive potty training methods were favored in the 1950's, but that does not mean "early" potty training is inherently harmful.  There is no age requirement for a potty training method to be abusive any more than there is an age requirement for potty training to be loving and gentle.   The potty can be introduced in an enjoyable way for baby! Big Diaper says your kid needs to be "emotionally ready" to give up diapers.  But, Big Diaper also says that your child needs to wear their diapers 24/7 for years, thus creating the emotional attachment to the diaper in the first place.  Kids who are introduced to the potty in infancy do not develop the same kind of dependency on the diaper that exclusively diapered children do. In fact, delaying potty training risks causing damage to your child's bladder and disposable diaper use has been linked to bedwetting past age 5. 3.  Big Diaper says that EC is too hard. That’s a lie.  Imagine having a baby and never needing to change poopy diapers—pure fantasy, right?  Nope!  Many EC parents are living this reality and loving it.  Even Pampers tells you that poops are simple to predict (except that their advice is to just sit there and watch your kid poop himself instead of putting him on the potty). Many parents do EC part time, as little as once a day.  And when it’s time to finish using diapers completely, EC kids are one step ahead of their exclusively diapered peers.  They already understand the association between elimination and the potty, and most are done with diapers around 18 months—exactly like Great Grandma claimed. There are no rules to EC!  Keep it fun and low stress for both you and baby. 4.  Big Diaper says that cloth diapers are gross, hard to use, and time consuming.  That’s a lie.  Cloth diapers have come leaps and bounds from the rectangles of cloth, giant safety pins, and plastic pants Great Grandma used.  Nowadays the only difference between a disposable diaper and an all-in-one cloth diaper is that you chuck the cloth one in the hamper when you’re done instead of the trash. All-in-one diapers and pocket diapers are the simplest to use! Many parents use cloth diapers in combination with EC to simplify their diaper laundry.  The child’s poop goes directly in the toilet where it belongs, keeping messy diapers to a minimum, while pee diapers go straight in the wash with no fuss.  Switching to cloth diapers means adding no more than an extra 10 minutes to your day, and you’ll save thousands of dollars down the line. 5.  Big Diaper says cloth diapers are just as bad for the environment as disposable diapers. That's the biggest lie of all.  Dumping 2,000-3,000 non-recyclable diapers per baby per year into a landfill each year sounds very bad.  So what did Big Diaper do?  They pointed the finger at cloth diapers and whined, "But they're just as bad!"  Then they sponsored biased studies to "prove" their point.  These studies spawned articles that, decades later, are still falsely reassuring concerned parents that disposable diapers aren't all that bad for the environment. Here's the problem:  Most of these studies focus exclusively on disposable diapers filling up landfills and on the water and energy requirements for laundering cloth and fail to take into account the following worrying facts about disposable diapers: They introduce feces into groundwater They have an enormous transportation emissions footprint They are made from petroleum plastics and their production contributes to oil drilling They are filled with synthetic perfumes, dyes, and phthalates They release greenhouse gasses in landfills They take 500+ years to decompose Disposable diapers often end up in the environment.  Photo credit:  Rebecca Larsen.  The studies also fail to take into account the following facts about cloth diapers: In the decades since many of the studies were done, washing machines have become more water-efficient and the electricity that powers washers/dryers has been greatly decarbonized. The studies focused exclusively on cloth diapers made of cotton, which requires a lot of water to grow.  Other natural materials, such as bamboo, wool, and hemp, require much less water to produce and wool requires minimal water for washing. The studies failed to take into account that cloth diapers can be used for many years, over multiple children in the home.  They can also be passed on to other families or repurposed as cleaning rags. The studies failed to take into account the enormous difference between the average age a child in cloth diapers is typically toilet trained verses one who wears disposables. In 2023, a rigorous study was published by the UK Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs that compared the environmental impacts of cloth vs. disposable diapers.  The conclusions from that study are as follows: Cloth diapers produce 25% less CO2 than disposables The environmental impact of production is over 90% lower for cloth diapers than disposables The environmental impact of trashing a disposable diaper is 9 times higher than that for a cloth diaper Disposable diapers use approximately 98% more resources to produce than cloth diapers If every child in the UK in diapers used cloth rather than disposable, it would save the equivalent of 700 million car miles of CO2 - that's nearly 3,000 journeys to the moon in a car! Even when factoring in the washing and drying, cloth diapers are still the best diaper choice for the environment Big Diaper's outrageous claim that disposable diapers are "just as bad" as cloth can now--hopefully--be put to rest. Have I Waited Too Long to Introduce the Potty? Big Diaper tells you to wait to introduce the potty until your child is “ready” with no concrete definition of what “ready” really means.  Signs of readiness are arbitrary and could occur at any age—in fact, many signs of “readiness”, such as being dry after a nap, are apparent in newborns!  You don't need to wait any longer!  It’s never too early or too late to introduce the potty.   My full book on EC includes how to start, how to navigate common challenges, how to ditch the diapers for good (and how to tell it's time), plus other important topics such as daycare, travel, bedwetting, and more.  Click below to snag your copy now! Watch the video series Do you prefer to watch a video?  I've got you covered!  Click below to start watching the video tutorials on my YouTube channel.  I'm always adding more content, so don't forget to hit "subscribe" so you don't miss out.  Disposable diaper companies want your kid in diapers for as long as possible because it’s profitable for them.  But it’s not profitable for you or your child—so why not do things differently?

  Cloth diapers have made a remarkable resurgence in recent years, with environmentally-conscious parents seeking sustainable alternatives to disposable diapers. Among the various options available, merino wool stands out as a remarkable choice for cloth diapers. Renowned for its natural properties and soft texture, merino wool brings a host of benefits to the world of cloth diapering. In this article, we will delve into the numerous advantages that merino wool offers for cloth diapers, highlighting its breathability, moisture-wicking capabilities, temperature regulation, hypoallergenic nature, and sustainability.   1. Breathability and Comfort: Promoting Healthy Skin Merino wool's exceptional breathability and comfort make it an excellent choice for cloth diapers. The fine, soft fibers of merino wool allow air to circulate freely, creating an environment that promotes healthy skin. Unlike synthetic materials, which can trap moisture and heat, merino wool actively facilitates air circulation, reducing the risk of diaper rash and irritation. This natural breathability ensures that your baby's skin remains dry, comfortable, and less prone to chafing, providing a soft and cozy diapering experience.     2. Moisture-Wicking Properties: Keeping Dry and Happy One of the standout benefits of merino wool for cloth diapers is its remarkable moisture-wicking capability. Babies generate a significant amount of moisture, and an effective diaper should efficiently manage and dissipate this moisture to prevent discomfort and potential skin problems. Merino wool's unique fibers can absorb moisture away from the skin and release it into the air, keeping the diaper area consistently dry. Whether during daytime activities or nighttime slumber, merino wool cloth diapers help maintain a dry and contented baby, reducing the chances of skin irritation. 3. Temperature Regulation: Cozy Comfort All Year Round Merino wool shines in its ability to regulate body temperature, making it an ideal material for cloth diapers. Babies require consistent body temperature for comfort and well-being, and merino wool acts as a natural insulator that adapts to their needs. Whether in hot summer months or chilly winter nights, merino wool helps regulate your baby's body heat, ensuring they stay cozy without overheating or becoming too cold. This adaptability ensures year-round comfort, providing a snug and optimal environment for your baby's delicate skin.   4. Hypoallergenic and Gentle on Skin: A Soothing Touch For babies with sensitive skin, merino wool is a hypoallergenic and gentle choice for cloth diapers. Unlike synthetic fabrics that can contain harmful chemicals or irritants, merino wool is a natural material that minimizes the risk of allergic reactions. Its gentle fibers are less likely to cause friction or chafing, reducing the chances of diaper rash and other skin issues. By choosing merino wool cloth diapers, parents can provide a soothing and irritation-free experience for their little ones, ensuring comfort and peace of mind.     5. Sustainability and Eco-Friendliness: A Greener Choice In an age of heightened environmental awareness, merino wool cloth diapers stand as an eco-friendly option. Merino wool is a renewable resource, sourced from the fleece of merino sheep that can be shorn annually. This sustainable harvesting process ensures a continuous supply of wool without harming the sheep or the environment. Additionally, merino wool is biodegradable, offering a solution to the landfill problem posed by disposable diapers. By opting for merino wool cloth diapers, parents can significantly reduce their ecological footprint, contributing to a healthier planet for future generations.   6. Durability and Longevity: An Investment in Comfort Investing in cloth diapers is not only a sustainable choice but also a cost-effective one in the long run. Merino wool cloth diapers boast exceptional durability and longevity. The natural fibers of merino wool are inherently strong and resilient, capable of withstanding frequent washing and extended use. This durability ensures that merino wool cloth diapers can be used for multiple children or even passed down to friends or family members, making them a valuable and enduring investment that provides comfort and convenience for years to come.   7. Effortless Maintenance: Embrace Simplicity Dispelling any misconceptions about wool care, merino wool cloth diapers offer an incredibly straightforward cleaning routine. Thanks to the latest innovations in wool processing, including "superwash" merino wool, worries about shrinking or felting upon water exposure have become a thing of the past.   Now, caring for merino wool cloth diapers is as easy as hanging them to dry, requiring attention only once a month. This hassle-free approach accommodates the demands of busy parents, ensuring a stress-free experience. Furthermore, the innate antimicrobial qualities of merino wool curtail the proliferation of odor-causing bacteria, further lessening the need for frequent washing and presenting a contemporary level of convenience. Feel confident in the simplicity of caring for your merino wool cloth diapers and savor the modern ease they bring to parenting.     8. Stylish and Versatile: Fashionable Diapering Merino wool cloth diapers offer more than just functionality – they also add a touch of style to your baby's wardrobe. With a wide range of colors, patterns, and designs available, merino wool diapers allow parents to express their personal taste and create fashionable diapering ensembles. Whether you prefer classic neutrals or vibrant hues, merino wool cloth diapers provide a stylish option that can be coordinated with your baby's outfits. This versatility not only adds fun to diaper changes but also enhances your baby's overall appearance.   9. Natural UV Protection: Shielding from the Sun Merino wool comes with an inherent ability to provide natural UV protection, making it an excellent choice for outdoor adventures. When used as a cloth diaper, merino wool can act as an extra layer of defense against harmful sun rays, helping to shield your baby's sensitive skin from potential sunburn during outings. This added sun protection is particularly valuable for families who enjoy spending time outdoors, as it offers an extra layer of safety while allowing your baby to explore and discover the world.   10. Biodegradable and Earth-Friendly: Leaving Minimal Footprint The eco-friendliness of merino wool extends beyond its sustainability. When it's time to retire your merino wool cloth diapers, you can rest assured knowing that they are biodegradable and won't contribute to long-term waste. Unlike disposable diapers that can take hundreds of years to decompose in landfills, merino wool diapers naturally break down over time, leaving a minimal ecological footprint. Choosing merino wool cloth diapers not only reduces your immediate impact on the environment but also ensures that your diapering choices contribute to a healthier planet for generations to come.   What's next? Merino wool cloth diapers offer an array of benefits that make them a natural and comfortable choice for babies. From their exceptional breathability and moisture-wicking capabilities to their temperature regulation and hypoallergenic properties, merino wool enhances the diapering experience for both parents and infants. The sustainable nature of merino wool aligns with eco-conscious values, while its durability ensures a long-lasting investment. As parents continue to prioritize the well-being of their children and the planet, merino wool cloth diapers emerge as a versatile and environmentally-friendly solution that combines comfort, convenience, and conscientiousness in every diaper change. Need more guidance on EC? My full book on EC includes how to start, how to navigate common challenges, how to ditch the diapers for good (and how to tell it's time), plus other important topics such as daycare, travel, bedwetting, and more.  Click below to snag your copy now! Watch the video series Do you prefer to watch a video?  I've got you covered!  Click below to start watching the video tutorials on my YouTube channel.  I'm always adding more content, so don't forget to hit "subscribe" so you don't miss out. 

Are you a cloth diaper user, but are struggling to thoroughly clean your diapers?  Are you interested in cloth, but are intimidated by cleaning up poop?  Or maybe cloth diapers were easy when your baby was exclusively breastfed, but now you’ve started solids and poops have become… interesting.  In any case, read on for the best cloth hack you’ll ever learn! “What do you do about poop in your cloth diapers?” This is the most common question I get asked when people find out I use cloth diapers.  I could respond about how exclusively breastfed poop is liquid and can go straight into the washing machine without fuss.  I could also talk about how to deal with solid poops—dunk the solids into the toilet and give the diaper a spray with water before throwing it into the pail.  But the truth is, I don’t respond with any of that, because—are you sitting down? My baby almost NEVER poops in her diaper. That’s right.  The honest answer to “how do you deal with poop in your diapers” is simply, “I don’t.”  How is that possible? Elimination Communication Before modern diapers and washing machines, keeping a baby in a diaper 24/7 for 3-4 years would not have been feasible.  Washing was laborious; pee diapers were usually simply left out to dry.  If a baby soiled his clothing, it needed to be boiled.  So, what did parents used to do? Newborn babies are born with instincts to not soil themselves.  Have you ever noticed how a newborn baby tends to pee and/or poop as soon as the diaper is removed?  Long ago, parents would “hold the baby out” and say “pss pss” to trigger a baby to instinctively pee or poop.  Once baby learned to walk, he was directed to an appropriate place to eliminate.  This kept diaper washing to a minimum, especially since most babies were completely toilet trained by about 18 months. You can introduce the potty to your baby as young as birth. This baby is wearing a Flappy-Nappies® drop-flap diaper, which makes potty access easier. The modern terminology for this timeless parenting technique is Elimination Communication (EC).  Babies tend to pee and/or poop at predictable times, such as after meals, after sleep, or after being worn in a sling.  They also often signal when they need to go by passing gas, making a “poop face”, getting still and quiet, or getting suddenly squirmy.  If you start to pay attention, learning to read these cues is no harder than learning when your baby is hungry or sleepy. Disposable diapers and the commercial incentive to delay potty training have all but eliminated EC from our society.  It’s making a comeback, however, as cloth diaper users realize how much less messy diaper laundry becomes when most of baby’s poops go directly into the toilet. You also don’t need to wash diapers for as long if you do EC, since most EC kids are usually diaper-free by around 18 months. What’s the point of EC? Back in the day, EC was a necessity.  But nowadays we have modern washing machines that clean and dry our diaper laundry for us, so you may be wondering what the point is. Better for the environment If you’re using cloth diapers, you’re already reducing your child’s environmental footprint by reducing landfill waste.  When your baby also uses the potty, you further benefit the planet by reducing the amount of laundry you need to do every day. The average potty-training age in the US is 3 years.  If you half the amount of time your child spends in diapers, the lifespan of your cloth diapers increases.  You also waste fewer resources, such as water and detergent, if you don’t need to do diaper laundry for 1-2 extra years. Better for your child Babies prefer to eliminate outside of a diaper! EC babies tend to have less contact with pee and poop, which reduces diaper rash.  Offering the potty can reduce fussiness and discomfort from needing to pee/poop or sitting in a wet/soiled diaper.  Babies don’t want to poop their pants any more than you or I would!  There have also been studies that suggest early introduction of the potty aids in bladder development and the ability to empty it. Long-term disposable diaper use has also been linked to bedwetting past age five.   Better for YOU Imagine if you could have a baby without having to change poopy diapers.  Pure fantasy, right?  Wrong! Parents who start EC usually find that poops are the easiest to catch.  They tend to be more obvious (even parents who don’t do EC usually know when their kid is pooping) and happen at predictable times.  In fact, I started EC with all three of my newborns and found that we rarely had poopy diapers once they were about 2-3 months old.  This is very common with EC! My babies pooped almost exclusively in the toilet from 2-3 months onward. On the other hand, parents who delay toilet training until age 2-4 often find that poops cause the most drama.  Kids that have been conditioned for years to poop in a diaper have a hard time unlearning the habit, and some will beg for diapers to poop in during potty training.  You can save yourself so much potty-training drama by investing in EC with your baby! Is it too late to start EC? EC is easiest to begin with a newborn because they have not yet been conditioned that the diaper is the toilet and they pee and poop very frequently, giving you lots of opportunities to practice.  In general, the younger your child is when you introduce the potty, the easier time you’ll have.   You can start an older baby on the potty whenever you're ready! However, EC can begin at any age!  The only difference is how you approach it.  No matter how old your baby is, we've got the resources you need to get started at Flappy-Nappies®.  Check out our FREE guide to Elimination Communication, Diapers Stink!  You can access the age-based guide, comprehensive troubleshooting FAQ, and digital workshops by clicking here.  This guide is FREE to use instantly when you sign up for our mailing list.  I’m still not sold on EC. There’s no law that says your baby must poop in a diaper.  If you know he has to poop, why make him go all over himself?  Why make yourself clean up after it?  If you’re still not sold on the concept of EC, I recommend you read our debunking of 10 common EC myths. It’s hard to wrap your head around EC when you live in an exclusively diapering society.  It’s even harder when big disposable diaper companies have thoroughly hammered in their “wait ‘til they’re ready” philosophy.  These companies want kids to wear diapers as long as possible because it’s profitable for them.  But you’ve already decided to do things differently by choosing cloth over disposables.   Why not approach potty training differently, too? Need more guidance on EC or cloth diapers? My full book on EC includes cloth diapers 101, how to start EC, how to navigate common challenges, how to ditch the diapers for good (and how to tell it's time), plus other important topics such as daycare, travel, bedwetting, and more.  Click below to snag your copy now! Watch the video series Do you prefer to watch a video?  I've got you covered!  Click below to start watching the video tutorials on my YouTube channel.  I'm always adding more content, so don't forget to hit "subscribe" so you don't miss out. 

If you’re traveling with cloth diapers, you’ll obviously need access to a washing machine while you’re gone.  But what else can make your trip go smoothly?  Read on to find out!

  Back when I was a new mom, I mentioned that I was doing Elimination Communication (EC) at a get-together with a bunch of mom friends.  Although a couple of them expressed interest in trying it, the rest dismissed it one by one.  With only my brief explanation to go on, they immediately found a reason for why it wouldn’t work for their family. My daughter uses the potty in a viral reel. Later, I made a reel demonstrating Newborn EC with my then one-month-old daughter.  The comments section quickly flooded with people who had never heard of such a thing before.  Based off only a 45-second video, many of these people rejected it as stupid, impossible, or damaging. “Be Curious, Not Judgmental” Regardless of your gut reaction to the idea of a newborn baby using the potty, I urge you to be curious.  You might learn that EC is an ancient parenting technique that is still practiced all around the world.  You might learn that EC is fun and easy to learn and reduces landfill waste and laundry.  You might also learn that EC can fit into your lifestyle, even if one of the situations below applies to you. The following is a list of soundbites I often hear for why EC won’t work.  However, many people who live with these situations fit EC beautifully into their lives.  So, if you’ve just heard about EC and are ready to be curious, read on. Soundbite #1:   EC won’t work because my baby only poops while breastfeeding OR my baby only poops once a week OR my baby only poops at night, etc.  Far from being a reason to not try EC, the fact that you are already so aware of your baby’s elimination patterns is a huge advantage!  If your baby only poops once a week, you are probably already wary of the impending poop because it will be a massive blowout.  When baby starts to go, take him or her immediately to the potty and be amazed at how much less mess you have to clean up! If your baby only poops while breastfeeding, or at night, or any other inconvenient time, you might be surprised that if you offer the potty during diaper changes that your baby’s elimination patterns start to change.  If not, keep in mind that how and when a newborn poops will evolve as your baby grows. For babies that poop during feeds, you can offer the potty before, after, or even during a feed.  You can also offer the potty at night for your night-pooper; offering the potty is no more disruptive at night than changing a poopy diaper.  For more tips on managing EC with typical newborn behavior, check out my troubleshooting FAQ sheet in my EC guide, Diapers Stink!  Soundbite #2:  I like the idea of EC, but I feel like it would be easier to wait until baby can sit up.  Although newborns need assistance using the potty, it's easiest to begin with a baby between 0 and 3 months old. I hear this one a lot.  For the most part, this is totally valid.  If life with a newborn is hectic and the idea of adding EC to your plate is stressing you out, then by all means wait a while before you begin.  However, do not plan to start later simply because you think that waiting until your baby is older means EC will be easier. EC is easiest to begin when your baby is between 0-3 months because babies this young have not yet been conditioned to use a diaper as a toilet and have instincts not to soil themselves.  They also pee and poop frequently, giving you plenty of opportunities to use the potty. The longer you diaper your child, the harder it will be to unlearn the habit.  This is why children who have been diapered 24/7 for 3-4 years often beg for diapers to poop in.  They’re so used to pooping into a diaper that they physically cannot do it without one! Soundbite #3:  You’d have to take baby potty 1,000 times a day for EC to work. The people who say this rightly understand that newborn babies pee and poop a lot, and it sounds like a lot of effort to get all of that successfully into the potty.  What they don’t understand, however, is the real point of EC.  The point of EC is NOT to have a potty-trained baby; the point is to AVOID a diaper-trained baby!   Parents who do EC don’t intend or expect to get every pee and poop in the potty until their children are older; they usually use a diaper as a backup.  But because these children are not diapered 24/7, they remain in touch with their elimination needs and typically transition out of diapers much younger and more easily. The people who say this also seem to think that babies pee and poop entirely at random, and you’d need to take the baby potty 1,000 times a day to get lucky enough to catch something.  This is false!  Babies pee and poop at very predictable times, such as after sleeps, after feeds, and after prolonged sitting in the car seat, stroller, or baby carrier.  Many people have great EC success using timing alone. Babies can also have cues when it’s time to go potty.  Some cues include making a “poop face”, passing gas, getting squirmy, getting fussy, or getting very quiet and still.  Learning to read these cues is no harder than learning to read your baby’s cues for hunger or sleep. My son's "poop face" was very obvious. With some practice, EC becomes second nature in the same way that breastfeeding does.  Breastfeeding can be very difficult and take weeks or months to master, but once it’s mastered, it is very easy and rewarding.  EC is no different! Soundbite #4:  EC is just plain lazy. Now this is a real head-scratcher.  On the one hand, people tell me that EC is way too much work.  On the other hand, people tell me that doing EC is lazy!  So, which one is it? I think that the “lazy” comment comes from people who think I do EC because I’m too lazy to change poopy diapers.  To which I reply:  Work smarter, not harder.  Why is it lazy to avoid something unpleasant if there’s a perfectly acceptable alternative? Are people lazy if they use a dishwasher instead of hand-washing their dishes?  Or for sending an email instead of mailing a letter?  How about driving to work instead of walking or riding a bike?  Our world is full of modern conveniences that make our lives easier.  This doesn’t make us lazy; on the contrary, it frees up our time to work on other pursuits.  In the case of EC, taking my baby potty takes about the same amount of time as cleaning up a diaper.  It also means my baby’s bottom doesn’t have as much contact with poop and pee, she has less diaper rash and blowouts, and I waste less water on laundry.  If that means I’m lazy, well, then I guess I’m OK with that.  Soundbite #5:  I believe that babies should be babies. I hear this one over and over:  “Let your baby be a baby!  Don’t push potty training until she’s ready.”  The irony is that the same people arguing I shouldn’t push my child into something she’s not ready for also advocate for parenting techniques such as: Sleep training (which might push a child to give up night feeds before she’s ready) Giving oatmeal in baby’s bottle to make her “sleep longer” (which could push a child into solids before she’s ready) Weaning from the breast before the child is ready because nursing past a year is “weird” (don’t even get me started on that one) I think the real issue here is that people believe that “early” potty training is inherently damaging.  A lot of this stems from the abusive methods used to potty train babies at the onset of the 20th century.  While some potty-training techniques are certainly damaging, however, it has little to do with the child’s age.  There is no age requirement for a potty-training method to be abusive any more than there is an age requirement for a potty-training method to be loving and gentle.  Since babies instinctively avoid soiling themselves, doing EC is letting my baby be a baby as nature intended. Actual footage of my baby being a baby. Soundbite #6:  EC only works for stay-at-home moms. Not true!  I’ve been a stay-at-home mom and I’ve been a working mom and I’ve done EC through it all.  If you’re a working parent and you want to try EC, you have a couple of options. Option 1:  Do EC part-time.  Just as babies learn to use bottles at daycare and breastfeed with mom, babies can learn to use diapers at daycare and do EC at home.  Even if all you catch in the potty is the first morning pee, you’ll end up saving tons of diapers down the line.  Your kid will also make an important connection between elimination needs and the potty. Option 2:  Get your childcare provider on board.  A supportive caregiver can take over potty duty while the parents are at work. Grandma can take baby potty, too! We have used nannies and daycare.  When I hire a nanny, I make sure to pick someone who is open to using cloth diapers and taking my baby to the potty.  My kids' grandparents also potty them when they babysit.   At our daycare, the classroom for one-year-olds has access to a bathroom with little toilets and the teachers potty the children if the parents request it.  The teacher for two-year-olds makes potty training a priority for all children, and is appreciative when kids come to her class already fully trained. Unfortunately, my daycare seems to be the exception rather than the norm in the US.  Some daycares will push back against any potty-training attempts before age 3!  If you find that your daycare is extremely resistant to complying with your parenting choices, you can either settle for part-time EC or find a different provider. Soundbite #7:  There’s no point to EC when your kid might just regress later.  This goes along the same lines as “I never did this and my kid potty-trained at age (1, 2, 3, etc.) without any issues.”  Once again, the point of EC is NOT to potty train your baby!  In fact, many people who do EC use a diaper backup during infancy and then wrap up the process around 18-24 months with a traditional potty-training method. Regressions can happen for children regardless of if they were ECed or not, and it’s impossible to predict when they could happen.  Delaying potty training to avoid regressions is an exercise in futility.  Even if my child does regress, I’d rather work through the regression when it happens than change poopy diapers for years when I don’t have to.  EC also has a lot of practical benefits, such as: Reduction in landfill waste Reduction in water use for laundry Fewer diaper blowouts Less diaper rash Respecting a child’s instinct to eliminate outside of a diaper A fun way to bond with your child Regressions can happen at any age Soundbite #8:  You're only training yourself!  Babies don’t have bladder/bowel control until around 2 years old.  The funny thing about this one is that when I first started EC with my oldest, I didn’t really think he had much control over his bladder or bowels either.  I thought I was just getting lucky.   That perception changed, however, when he started refusing to poop in his diaper and intentionally waiting for the toilet at 8 weeks old. My baby isn't special, either:  Studies have shown that babies have bladder and bowel control.  In Vietnam, where 70% of mothers introduce the potty to their babies by 3 months old (and over 90% by 9 months old), studies have proven that infants have sphincter control and can even hold their urine during sleep.  Furthermore, it has been shown that introducing the potty by age 6 months aids in bladder development and the ability to empty it. So, am I only "training myself"?  Perhaps, in the same way I've "trained myself" to do a lot of things:  To feed my baby when she's hungry, comfort her when she's upset, soothe her when she's sleepy, etc.  So, doing EC is “training yourself” to be responsive to your child’s elimination needs, yes, but using diapers 24/7 is "training" your child to ignore them. Soundbite #9:  EC won’t work for us because we use disposable diapers. Plenty of people have great success with EC when they use disposable diapers.  In fact, doing EC is an awesome way to save money on diapers and to lower your contribution to landfill waste.  Some families who use disposable diapers as a backup to EC even find that the diaper stays dry so long that it falls apart before being peed or pooped in!  I do believe, though, that using cloth diapers makes EC easier in the long run because babies can better feel the wetness.  This helps them stay in touch with their bodily functions more than the stay-dry feel of disposables.  Flappy-Nappies® diapers in particular make EC easier because they open like a flap when it’s time to go potty.  Any kind of front-closure diaper, whether it be disposable or cloth, will make potty trips more complicated, particularly when baby starts rolling, crawling, and walking.  Since Flappy-Nappies® can be changed while baby stands or crawls, you don’t have to wrestle with a baby that wants to alligator-roll away from every diaper change.  Even better, you can pair Flappy-Nappies® with Chappy-Nappy pants, keeping baby’s legs warm and cozy during potty trips when it’s cold.  Chappy-Nappies and Flappy-Nappies® make EC easy! Soundbite #10:  I read that EC could be damaging. There’s an article floating around the internet written by a pediatric urologist claiming that EC could potentially damage your baby’s bladder.  If you’ve stumbled across this and are worried, I encourage you to read the thorough debunking of this article by Jamie Glowacki, author of Oh Crap!  Potty Training.  There are demonstrable benefits to practicing EC, including studies that show that early potty training is not, in fact, associated with bladder dysfunction.  You might also keep in mind that the urologist responsible for this scare-mongering has exactly zero patients whose parents did EC, and all his conclusions are based on his experience with children who were exclusively diapered before being formally potty trained. One Really Good Reason To NOT Try EC  Long ago, the term “Elimination Communication” did not exist.  EC was just called parenting, because it’s what everyone did.  Disposable diapers are an invention of the 20th century, and cloth diapers as we know them did not exist 200 years ago.  For the vast majority of human history, mom “held the baby out” to pee and poop until baby could walk, at which point he was directed to an appropriate place to eliminate. We now live in a world where we seem to have infinite parenting choices.  If you don’t want to or can’t breastfeed, you have dozens of choices for alternatives, from the myriad of regulated commercial formulas, to milk banks for donated breastmilk, to mother-to-mother milk sharing.  The baby section at Target is full of different cribs, co-sleeping bassinets, swings, bouncy seats, strollers, etc.  There are more brands of disposable diapers and types of cloth diapers than I can count.  The way one parent raises her child is never exactly the same as the next. The best, most valid reason for not doing EC is simply because you don’t want to.  You’ve learned about it and decided that this isn’t for you.  And because we live in a world with so many alternatives, you have the option to make that choice!  But please don’t ridicule EC the minute you hear about it before you’ve really learned anything about it.  And don’t think that EC automatically can’t work for you because of any of the reasons listed above.  If at the end of reading this article you decide that EC doesn’t vibe with your parenting philosophy, then diaper on without shame and never look back.  But if you’re just now learning about EC and the concept has made you curious, I encourage you to give it a try, and I'm here to help!  My full book on EC includes how to start, how to navigate common challenges, how to ditch the diapers for good (and how to tell it's time), plus other important topics such as daycare, travel, bedwetting, and more.  Click below to snag your copy now! Watch the video series Do you prefer to watch a video?  I've got you covered!  Click below to start watching the video tutorials on my YouTube channel.  I'm always adding more content, so don't forget to hit "subscribe" so you don't miss out.   

Did you know that you can start potty-training your baby as young as birth?  This is what parents have been doing for thousands of years! Sometimes called baby potty-training, Elimination Communication (EC) is the process of learning and responding to your infant’s cues that he or she needs to pee or poop.   How to hold a newborn over a potty   Newborns have instincts to not soil themselves, which is why new parents often find that their little one waits until the diaper has been removed to go pee or poop.  If you hold a diaperless newborn over a potty in a squat and say "pss pss", the baby will instinctively pee or poop.  How cool is that? You can also hold a newborn over the toilet for easy cleanup! When a baby is diapered 24/7, the baby learns that the diaper is the appropriate place to use the bathroom. This habit must later be un-learned during potty-training, a process which is often delayed until age 3 or 4 in Western society. EC parents, on the other hand, take advantage of the baby’s instincts and offer the potty at key moments such as diaper changes, after feeding, and upon waking. In time, the parents learn their child’s timing and cues and the child learns that the potty is the appropriate place to eliminate. EC children are typically diaper-free at a much younger age than children who are diapered full-time.     Although it may seem like a lot of work, EC can be practiced successfully on a part-time basis. Many parents focus mainly on catching poop and “easy” pees, like when the baby wakes up from a nap. The rest of the time, the parents use an EC-friendly diaper backup, like Flappy-Nappies® and Chappy-Nappies, to keep any missed pee or poop nicely contained.  This stress-free strategy has many benefits over full-time diapering, such as fewer diaper blowouts, less diaper rash, and simpler cloth diaper laundry.   Getting Started is Easy! At Flappy-Nappies®, we have all the resources you need to start the potty.  My full book on EC includes how to start, how to navigate common challenges, how to ditch the diapers for good (and how to tell it's time), plus other important topics such as daycare, travel, bedwetting, and more. Watch the video series Do you prefer to watch a video?  We've got you covered!  Click below to access the FREE video series on our YouTube channel.  We are always adding more content, so don't forget to hit "subscribe" so you don't miss out.  Click below to head to YouTube.

  Yes! You CAN potty train a newborn   This guide is intended for babies from birth through 4 months.  If your child is older than 4 months or you would like help troubleshooting other EC challenges, you can get all the information you need in my complete guide to EC here.     Starting EC with a newborn can seem overwhelming! However, it’s often the easiest time to begin for two reasons: Newborns have an instinct not to soil themselves Newborns pee and poop a LOT If you wait until your baby is older to start, your child has been conditioned to pee and poop in a diaper (a habit which must be un-learned) and your child may not pee or poop as often. Older babies are also much more distracted by crawling, walking, or whatever skill they’re currently working on. Starting EC with older babies is absolutely possible, but it requires a different strategy. Newborn Elimination Communication can be as simple as holding your baby over the toilet at every diaper change.  Because newborns pee and poop so frequently, you’ll have dozens of opportunities to try every day. And since newborns instinctively pee and poop the second their diapers come off, you’ll likely have success using this strategy alone.  You may even be surprised to find that your baby starts holding it for the potty after only a couple days of this! If you’re considering starting EC with your newborn, I encourage you to take the leap!  As I always say, there are no rules to EC. You can offer the potty as much as suits your lifestyle and parenting philosophy and you can always do more or less. Babies are smart and adaptable and won’t be “confused” if you only offer the potty sometimes and use a diaper the rest of the time. Ready to get started? Read on! Meconium   I’m on my third EC baby, and with each one we started earlier.  My first we started at 6 weeks, my second started at 2 weeks, and with baby A we made it a goal to start from birth.  One reason to begin at birth is to catch the meconium.  Catching the meconium seems to be an elusive, glittering EC trophy because you get to avoid scraping the black tarry substance off your baby’s bottom and you don’t have to worry about it staining your cloth diapers.  Of course, baby A passed her meconium before we left L&D, so we missed it. But at least it didn’t stain her cloth diapers! If you manage to catch your baby’s meconium, that’s awesome!  If you miss it or don’t feel up to trying to catch it immediately after birth, don’t feel bad.  Remember, there are no rules to EC.     Getting to Know Your Baby   You’ll spend the first few weeks of your newborn’s life getting to know each other.  You’ll learn his hunger cues, his sleep cues, and his pee/poop cues.  By simply paying attention to your baby, you can begin newborn Elimination Communication before you ever bring out a potty.  Does he tend to pee or poop right after a feed?  Or does he like to nap first and then go?  What kind of face does he make when it’s time to poop?    You can do this kind of casual observation from the comfort of your couch or bed.  Once you’re up for it, simply switch from reacting to a dirty/wet diaper to anticipating it.  Great times to offer the potty are after feeds, naps, and prolonged sitting in the car seat, bouncer seat, stroller, etc.  Or, if you can’t discern any pattern or cues, simply start offering the toilet at every diaper change.  Newborns are basically pee/poop factories, so even with dumb luck you’ll eventually catch something. Whether it’s successful or not, each potty trip is a learning opportunity for both you and baby: You learn his timing/cues and he learns to wait until he’s offered the potty to go.  Eventually you will fall into a rhythm.  Both of my boys were almost completely “poop trained” by two months old.      Observations of My Baby   We started baby A when we got home from the hospital at a couple days old.  We took her potty when we felt up to it and simply observed her in a diaper the rest of the time.  This kind of casual, stress-free approach allowed us to learn a great deal about our daughter’s timing and cues.  Now that she’s a couple weeks old, here are some observations we’ve made about her: She usually likes to feed right when she wakes up, but if she refuses to latch, squirms, and makes a “poop face,” it’s time to go. She tends to pop on and off the breast and squirm if she needs to pee or has a wet diaper. Like all my babies, she needs a pottytunity first thing in the morning. Sometimes she will poop a little bit into her diaper.  When we hear that happen and take her immediately to the toilet, she will usually poop a lot more. Like all my babies, she needs time on the toilet to be completely finished.  Usually, she’ll let me know she’s done by starting to fuss.  If she fusses as soon as I hold her over the toilet, this means she either doesn’t need to go or she has a more pressing need like hunger.  We never force her to stay on the potty if she’s upset. We have less success with pottytunities when she’s cluster feeding, having a growth spurt, or during the “witching hour”. We have the most success in the morning when everyone is happier and more alert.     Where to Poop, Where to Poop…   One of the great things about newborn Elimination Communication is how flexible the process is.  You can do as much or as little as you like, and you can use pretty much anything as a potty, from an actual toilet to a bowl from the kitchen.  Your main goal is to recognize your child’s instinct not to soil herself; along the way, your child will learn to wait for your cue to go.  At this age, it doesn’t really matter where the actual event takes place. Let’s go over some of your choices in detail: The Toilet:  For those who think poop is yucky.  This is me!  I think poop is yucky and I want as little contact with it as possible.  Toilet poops = one flush and it’s gone! We keep a changing pad in a bassinet in the bathroom so that the toilet is nearby for every diaper change. The bassinet is roomy enough to hold extra Flappy-Nappies® diapers and inserts, wipes, extra outfits, and other essentials. The pad is also a comfortable spot for baby A to enjoy some diaper-free time after she uses the toilet.     Baby Potty:  For those who’ve got one and want to use it.  Your newborn won’t be able to sit unassisted on a baby potty for months, but if you don’t want to sacrifice a kitchen bowl for the cause, the baby potty was made to take one for the team. As an added bonus, the splash guard can help with aiming, especially if you’ve got a little boy. I keep one baby potty in the living room and another one in the car for traveling. Top Hat Potty:  For those who want to be LEGIT.  This device was designed for EC.  Like the name suggests, this little potty is shaped like a top hat.  You put the narrow end between your knees with the opening facing up and then hold baby over it.  If you want to be extra fancy, you can even buy a cozy seat cover for it.   The Sink:  For those who think poop is yucky but have bad backs.  If this is you, you might appreciate using the sink because you can remain comfortably standing before rinsing the yuckiness down the drain.  Your baby can also entertain herself by watching herself in the mirror.  The only problem with this is that it only works when your baby is exclusively milk fed and her poops are liquid.  Oh, and if you’ve got ancient plumbing in your house like we do, proceed with caution.  If you’re worried, you can always put the potty in the sink to catch any poops. An Open Diaper:  For those who don’t make it to the potty on time.  Remember, there are no rules to EC.  If your baby starts going during a diaper change, make your cue noise and just let her go into the open diaper on the changing pad.  You’re still respecting your child’s needs and learning from the experience.  It also makes cleanup easier if the poop goes out into the diaper and not smeared all over baby’s bum—just be ready to point your baby’s penis down into the diaper if you’ve got a boy.  This is also a great option if your baby tends to protest being held over the potty or toilet.  Some babies just don’t like the Newborn Elimination Communication Hold, and that’s OK.  Work with the baby you’ve got! A Bowl, Solo Cup, Bucket, etc.:  For those who want to try Newborn Elimination Communication from the comfort of their couches without buying anything special.  You are the true EC warriors.     Newborn Elimination Communication: How to Begin   Unless you’re using an open diaper while your baby lies on the changing pad for pottytunities, you’re going to want to hold him over your chosen receptacle in the Newborn Elimination Communication Hold.  The newborn EC hold puts your baby into a comfortable squat while supporting his head and back against your chest. With his back supported against your torso, grasp one leg in each hand by the thighs so that he is in a squatting position in your arms.  Hold him over the potty of your choice. If you’ve got a boy, free up one of your fingers to point his penis down into the potty.   When using the sink as a potty, simply stand over it with him in this position.  For bowls, potties, or other freestanding receptacles, place the potty on your lap, the floor, or bathroom counter.  Then, hold baby over it. If you’re using the toilet, you can sit backwards on the toilet with him between your legs so that everything lands in the toilet.  You can also kneel or squat on the floor beside the toilet as you hold him over the bowl. Whenever you begin the pottytunity, make your chosen cue noise.  Usually this is a “pss pss pss” sound.  You can use the same cue for pees and poops or have a distinct cue for each.  It’s also never too early to start talking to your baby about the process:  “You went pee!  Now you’re going poop.”  Many parents also use the ASL sign for toilet before, during, and/or after the potty trip.  Different people have different philosophies on whether you should praise a baby for using the potty, so use your own discretion on that.   Newborn Elimination Communication at Night Should you do EC at night? This really depends on your child and your philosophy about sleep. Newborn babies wake frequently to feed because their tummies are very tiny and milk is digested fast. Likely this means that you are already up a lot at night for feeds and/or diaper changes. Depending on how you feel about sleep, you might feel one of two ways about nighttime EC: You are already sleep-deprived enough as it is and don’t have the capacity to worry about nighttime EC. OR You’re already up doing a diaper change in the middle of the night anyway, so you may as well offer the potty while you’re at it. For my first and second babies, nighttime EC seemed like more of a hassle than it was worth. Sleep was our priority and both of our boys didn’t seem to mind using a diaper at night. We didn’t worry about nights until we were ready to tackle night training when our boys were close to two years old. Baby A is a different story! She absolutely does not like having a wet diaper and will try to hold it at night until we offer the potty. We discovered as soon as we brought her home that if she fusses at night but won’t accept the breast, she needs to pee (and sometimes poop). Dad will take her to “change” her diaper and discover that it’s completely dry! Then she will pee as soon as he holds her over the toilet. We have had many mornings where she has woken up with a totally dry diaper that never needed changing in the night. In her case, offering the potty at night has lead to more peaceful nights for everyone. Tips for Newborn Elimination Communication at Night If you’re co-sleeping and don’t want to have to get out of bed to go potty, keep the potty and fresh diapers close to the bed. You can line the potty with a cloth diaper so that pee doesn’t splash everywhere and make a mess while you’re fumbling around half-awake. Have a nightlight on nearby so that you can see while still keeping things dark and calm. I recommend using red-colored lights because red light assists in melatonin production and can help everyone go back to sleep faster. If you plan to get up and use the toilet instead of a potty, keep the changing pad and extra diapers in the bathroom and have nightlights in every room and/or hall. Some Common Concerns The following are some of the most common questions about EC, but we answer even more questions in our comprehensive troubleshooting FAQ here. My baby screams every time I hold her in the newborn Elimination Communication hold! Some babies really hate the newborn EC hold and it’s not entirely clear why.  One possibility is that you’re offering when she doesn’t need to go or needs a feed first; this problem often goes away with better timing on your part.  If you’ve tried changing up your timing and she’s still protesting, try letting her lie on the changing pad over an open diaper for pottytunities.  If she finds the newborn hold uncomfortable, then this may be a good solution.  Keep trying the newborn hold every so often in case she outgrows this quirk; eventually she’ll get big enough to sit properly on a baby potty or toilet insert. My baby doesn’t have any cues.  Some babies are very sneaky poopers.  Many babies don’t cue at all for pee (both my boys were like this).  If this is the case for you, you’ll need to rely on timing.  You may find that your baby starts cueing more when she gets older. My baby doesn’t have much of a pattern. Timing is a great EC tool IF you have a regular pooper. At only a few weeks old, baby A still doesn’t have much of a pattern for pooping (she sometimes even poops at night). My oldest baby settled into a pattern of pooping every time he woke up by about 4-6 weeks.  My second baby was an irregular pooper and still is to this day.  If you’re lucky enough to have a regular pooper, this makes EC very easy because you can rely on timing alone.  You’ll need to focus much more on cues if you’ve got an irregular pooper like my second son.  If you’re struggling with cues AND timing, then it’s best to stick to easy catches for now: After sleeps, after meals, after prolonged sitting (car seat, stroller, baby carrier, etc.), and after diaper changes. How do I wipe my baby after using the toilet?  When your baby is bigger, you can lay her tummy-down across your lap after using the toilet and wipe her bottom that way.  When she’s even bigger, she can wipe it herself!  In the meantime, it can be helpful to have a changing pad near your potty of choice.  We keep our changing pad next to the toilet and transfer baby A there for wiping after going potty.  To prevent unpleasant drips between the potty and the changing pad, I keep a small stack of cloth wipes nearby that I can hold under her bottom when we’re going back and forth. My baby ONLY poops while breastfeeding!  First, keep in mind that every phase in your baby’s life is just that—a phase.  Your little one will not poop while feeding forever.  If you aren’t stressed about it, you can use this phase as a chance to just communicate—make your cue sound when she’s going poop and talk to her about it.  You can also try offering a pottytunity right before/after nursing to see if that helps.  Some moms keep a potty right beside their preferred nursing spot and offer while the baby stays latched to the breast.  This can take a bit of nursing gymnastics; a top hat potty can really help and you will definitely want easy-open Flappy-Nappies® diapers so that you can open the diaper quickly with just one hand. You can also try gently unlatching your baby and offering the potty as soon as she starts to go.  Many babies will willingly unlatch when they realize their elimination needs will be met and the breast will be offered again as soon as they’re done.  Keep in mind that a successful breastfeeding relationship should be prioritized over EC; if you’re struggling to nurse, get help early and often and don’t interrupt a session to try to catch a poop unless breastfeeding is well established. My baby only poops once a week! I updated this article once baby A was over 6 weeks old, because it is very common for babies to start spacing out their poops at this age. Although not all babies do this (my oldest pooped after every nap like clockwork until he started solids), many babies will suddenly go several days without pooping once they hit that 6-8 week mark. Some go as long as a week without pooping! Although this is normal, it can be frustrating when you’re doing EC. Baby A went a week without pooping at 6 weeks on the dot. I knew to expect this (my second kid did it, too), so I didn’t freak out; I just offered plenty of potty opportunities and caught lots of pees in the process. Of course, after patiently waiting for the inevitable poop, she ended up pooping in the car seat on the way home from a friend’s house–the one time we couldn’t get to her in time! If you’re experiencing this, keep two things in mind: First, even though your baby’s poops are coming at unpredictable intervals, they will still likely come at predicable times, like after feeds, after sleeps, and after (or during!) prolonged sitting in the car seat, stroller, or baby carrier. Keep offering at those times and you will likely catch something! Second, pay attention to cues. Baby may start grunting, straining, passing gas, making a “poop face”, popping on and off the breast, etc. When you offer the potty, give baby plenty of time to go as it can take a minute to get going and then work through a poop that’s several days in the making. Don’t feel bad if you miss a few poops. Remember: Celebrate the catches and don’t count the misses! How do I dress my baby to make Newborn Elimination Communication easier?  For all ages and stages of EC, I recommend using Flappy-Nappies® and Chappy-Nappies for reliable diaper backups that open quickly when it’s time to go potty.  Flappy-Nappies® are drop-flap style diapers that open from the front or back; Chappy-Nappies are crotchless pants that you can attach the diaper to.  Gowns are also a great option for easy diaper access specifically for newborns; gowns allow much more room for bulky cloth diapers than zippered footies. That’s about it!  Did you do EC with a newborn?  Do you have questions about EC for a newborn?  Let us know in the comments! Need more guidance on EC? My full book on EC includes how to start, how to navigate common challenges, how to ditch the diapers for good (and how to tell it's time), plus other important topics such as daycare, travel, bedwetting, and more.  Click below to snag your copy now! Watch the video series Do you prefer to watch a video?  I've got you covered!  Click below to start watching the video tutorials on my YouTube channel.  I'm always adding more content, so don't forget to hit "subscribe" so you don't miss out.