21 Awesome Elimination Communication Tips You Should Absolutely Use

Looking for tips on getting started with EC'ing?  Or maybe you'd just like to have tried-and-true tips from mamas, babies, and toddlers who've been there.  Regardless of what you're looking for, if you're thinking diaper free, this is the place to be!

I'm a firm believer that discovering what Elimination Communication is and giving it a try is a great gift to give your baby.  It's teaching your little one where we go potty – something that even babies can understand!  Even if you go part-time, or just think of it as a fun experiment, it will give you an idea that our little people really can learn (and they do not need to wait until 3 – 4 years old to do it!).

Enjoy these awesome posts and been-there-got-the-t-shirt wisdom from mamas 🙂

Get started with Elimination Communication

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Sometimes getting started is the toughest thing to do.  Great tips here! Via LULASTIC and the Hippyshake

We have made a few parenting choices that aren’t those made by most others, but possibly the one deemed most odd was bringing up a nappy-free baby.

Easy Elimination Communication For Newborns

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Wanting to start EC right away?  Getting going early can be really helpful! Via Live Renewed

As a busy mother of four, I am all about taking the easiest route when it comes to diapering. As I mentioned yesterday, I confess that I always thought EC was for weird hippies and those with too much time, which obviously wasn’t me.

Elimination Communication Journals for Our Babies


My own babies' EC journals – so you can get a picture of what EC looks like in real life! Via NaturalBirthandBabyCare.com

My journey into diaper free came with stumbling across a book on the topic at our local library. I tried it with my then-six-month-old, Cassidy, and it worked very well. I made mistakes and got intimidated with my second baby a year later, and didn’t EC him.

Final Thoughts on our Experience with Elimination Communication

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Finishing up with EC can sometimes seem tough.  Here's one family's experience with EC and “graduation.”  Via Becoming Peculiar

In my last post, I told the story of how we finally were able to ditch the diapers just before my daughter turned 19 months old, after practicing elimination communication from her birth.

How To Do Elimination Communication With Your Baby

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More tips from a mama and baby who have been there! Via KateSurfs.com

When I was pregnant with my first child, one of my biggest hesitations about becoming a new parent, was the thought of changing countless dirty diapers and of toilet training. I often wondered if there was a more natural process. I wondered what ancient people would have done!

Elimination Communication & Potty Training

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Is “early” potty training really “early?”  Take a look!  Via Raising the Barrs (Note: 3/6/2017 Page Not Found Error, link removed)

Five years ago, while pregnant and on vacation, I found myself in a library with a couple of hours to pass and thought I’d browse the parenting section. A book caught my eye. The words “Diaper Free” were written largely across the binding.

“Surely they don’t mean…?”

(NOTE: Want proven, practical strategies to make elimination communication work for you? Use these 5 proven techniques to connect when your baby and have EC success! Get them here.)

Easy Elimination Communication

3 Top Tips for Elimination Communication

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You can help babies find potty independence very early – here are three great tips! Via Idyllic Pursuit

My sister and I were thirteen months apart, and I always wanted to do whatever she was doing. For this reason, I was 11 months old when I was potty trained–my mom trained us in the same weekend! She also potty trained my girls when she came to visit from Oregon.

How to Practice Elimination Communication | Natural Infant Hygiene 101

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Love the practical tips in this post! Via Natural Beauty

Are you wondering how to practice Elimination Communication (EC)? This brief overview of Natural Infant Hygiene 101 will explain the basics of how to get started.

Split Pants vs. Leg Warmers for Elimination Communication


Here's my own EC vs. Split pants showdown 😀 Via NaturalBirthandBabyCare.com

You don’t need anything special to use elimination communication with your baby, but some baby clothing choices certainly make it easier to help your baby potty. Split pants and leg warmers are two choices available to diaper-free families. Which one is better? Here’s our experience!

Infant Potty Training {The First Years}

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A down-to-earth look at EC.  Via The Humbled Homemaker

Today we begin a weekly mini series on potty training as part of the ongoing “The First Years” series on Fridays. I’m delighted to have Alina Joy from Good Old Days Farm guest posting today on infant potty training!

Elimination Communication and Your Baby's Sleep

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Nighttime EC is often a concern for families trying to go diaper free.  I always feel like sleep trumps EC – but sometimes it works!  Via The Baby Sleep Site

We’re shifting gears a bit today and talking about a topic with which some of you may not be familiar: elimination communication (also known as infant potty training). Believe it or not, the concept of elimination communication has been around for ages (literally – people have been doing this for thousands of years, according to experts!) But in recent history, it’s fallen out of favor, thanks to diapers.

Teeny Tiny Trainer Tutorial

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Tiny trainers for tiny tushies!! Via Life in Color Photography

Tuesday was tiny, Bennet is tinier! Add to that starting EC earlier than we did with Tuesday and there are not many trainers that fit my wee girl. I did find these from Charlie Banana (it doubles as a swim diaper) and got one

3 Things to Start Elimination Communication

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Having the right gear makes a big difference with EC.  It doesn't have to be fancy, but it does help to have some things on hand! Via The Laotian Commotion (Note: As of 12/11/2016 this site appears to be no longer active)

It is important in elimination communication (EC) to be able to know when your baby needs to go pee or poo before needing to know what you need for pee or poop. When awake, Lanoy will either a) arch her back, b) breathe very fast/heavy, c) kick or bring up her legs to chest, or d) lastly, will whimper or cry if first signals do not get her butt over a receptacle.

An Introduction to Elimination Communication

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Another helpful intro for you! Via Live Renewed

I’ll admit that I was crazy skeptical when I first heard about Elimination Communication, but my babies have convinced me otherwise. When my daughter was little, she would take herself to sit on the potty and “read” Sports Illustrated with her daddy. We thought she was just smart!

Potty Training My Infant

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How to get out of washing diapers for years and years! Via ALLterNATIVElearning

Potty training is the messy, exhausting, and glorious goal of parents across the country and around the world. The average age of complete potty training is 3 years old for boys and girls. And when I think of how long that really is, I think “I do not want to wash diapers for 3 years for every child we plan to have”.

Tell-tale Trumps and Ten other signs your baby needs to go

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Cuing is often elusive and mysterious!  Here's how to tell when your little one needs to go!!  Via LULASTIC and the Hippyshake

My husband and five month old baby were playing Humpty Dumpty last week. At some point between sitting on the wall and having a great fall Humpty became Trumpy. As we always do upon hearing Juno’s little farts, Tim took her to the potty for a go.

Baby Elimination Communication: Why & How To Do It

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Have you ever wanted a nice list of the “why's” for diaper free?  Via Mama Natural

Baby Elimination Communication (also known as infant potty training, natural infant hygiene, and diaper free) is the practice of learning your baby’s potty cues and timing to help teach him that a potty is where he should pee and poo.

Diaper Free Babies or Elimination Communication

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EC isn't always “convenient” but it's respectful and keeps a child's dignity intact.  I think it's totally worth it, and would rather help a tot onto the pot than clean up a dirty diaper!  Via Nature Moms Blog

When highlighting the green options for diapering our wee babes one of the front runners… if not the front runner is EC or elimination communication. We live in a society that is obsessed with convenience, which is probably why the idea of Elimination Communication (or EC) has met with such mixed emotions.

Elimination Communication

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Another nice post on the basics of EC. Via Atlanta Birth Center

Elimination communication, or EC, is a gentle, non-coercive way of introducing the toilet to your baby at any age–even as early as birth. As the name implies, EC focuses not on accomplishing potty training nor learning rewards and punishments, but rather on simply communicating with your baby. Although the practice sounds difficult or intimidating to many parents, EC can be adjusted to meet the needs and desires of any family.

Everything Eco-novice Knows About Early Potty Training

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A nice comprehensive post!  Via Eco Novice

Early potty training isn't about never putting a diaper on your newborn. It isn't about getting your 9-month-old to pee every single time in a potty. It's about sometimes giving your baby an opportunity to do her business somewhere besides her diaper.

Discover the 7 Secrets to Elimination Communication

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Get Charndra's 7 tips guide free – great read!  Via TribalBaby (Note: Checked 12/11/2016 and site is gone)

The 7 Secrets to Elimination Communication provide a broad understanding of how EC works. They highlight those attitudes, approaches and strategies that will ensure you are heading in the right direction, a positive direction. Prepare yourself with the right mind-set. Baby potty training is all about your confidence!

(NOTE: Want proven, practical strategies to make elimination communication work for you? Use these 5 proven techniques to connect when your baby and have EC success! Get them here.)

Easy Elimination Communication

Our Full Elimination Communication Guide

What is Elimination Communication?

More EC Articles

21 Awesome Elimination Communication Tips

About the author 

Kristen

Kristen is a pregnancy coach, student midwife, and a mama to 8 - all born naturally! I've spent nearly two decades helping mamas have healthy babies, give birth naturally, and enjoy the adventure of motherhood. Does complete support for a sacred birth and beautiful beginning for your baby resonate with you? Contact me today to chat about how powerful guidance and coaching can transform your pregnancy, birth, and mothering journey <3

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