How to start potty training before 1 years old

This is a two month recap of beginning elimination communication (EC) with our nine month old daughter. For those who are unfamiliar, elimination communication is the first step towards no longer needing diapers by responding to a little ones cues about when they need to relieve themselves. Within this article, I will refer to the process as ‘ec potty training’, though it is not potty training – rather potty communication.

What is Elimination Communication?

If you are thinking – what is Elimination Communication? In a nutshell, it is a non-forceful way to learn little one’s cues about natural relief. Infant potty training can start at any time including immediately after birth! No matter when EC begins it is a great way to bond with baby and save some money on diapering. EC is not traditional potty training and does not have expectations, demands, restrictions or consequences.

Why We Started

Prior to having our first baby, we were focused on educating ourselves on topics we were not well versed in. When it came to diapering our daughter, I experienced many questions including ‘what kind of diapers are you using- cloth or disposable?’ and ‘what brand of diapers are you using?’. No matter the answer, people had varying opinions on the best method of diapering.

Upon researching diapers and potty training, I was intrigued by the insane amount of diaper waste, how various countries around the world do not utilize diapers starting from birth, the average age of potty training and the variety of diaper methods and options on the market. This led me to wanting to use diapers for as short as possible. Let’s face it, diapers take a long time to break down due to their absorbent materials and some can be full of chemicals or fragrances which cause bum rashes. Plus, the cost adds up quick!

Background and Facts about Diapers

The history of diapers is brief (no pun intended). Today we see a variety of diapers from upgraded cloth diapers to disposable diapers. In the United States, disposable diapers were invented and improved between the 1930s and 1950s after World War II. Before disposable diapers, absorbent materials including cloth, moss and rags were utilized as sanitary ‘napkins’. During this time, many parents combined the use of cloth diapering and elimination communication (ec potty training). They followed their children’s cues and signals to understand when they needed to relieve themselves.

Other fun facts about potty training and diapers:

• Potty training typically occurs between 18-24 months, though some wait until 3 years. (Source)
• Diapers are a $71 Billion industry. (Source)
• Diapers cost around $840 annually. (Source)
• The average decomposition rate of one diaper is approximately 550 years. Let that sink in. (Source)

EC Education Resources and Discounts

There are a variety of places to learn more about EC. One of our favorite resources is ‘Go Diaper Free’. The author, Andrea Olson, of the ‘Go Diaper Free’ book has five children and a lot experience with infant ‘potty training’ starting from birth and beyond. Andrea aimed to create a place where caregivers could learn EC with ease and developed a community connecting others following an EC journey. Upon purchasing the ‘Go Diaper Free’ book, owners have access to a private Facebook community and can listen to the audio version of the book. I do not know about you, but multitasking is always a bonus in my book and having an audiobook comes in handy.

While I am not an affiliate for the program (though I hope to soon!), if you are interested in purchasing this book, use the code ‘thankyou15’ to receive 15% off at the Go Diaper Free Store!

Andrea also created a separate company called Tiny Undies which sells EC products including a variety of potty chairs, underwear meant for those 3 and under, cloth diapers, EC potty books, toys and more. We are currently purchasing some Tiny Undies for little one because underwear on the market is too big for a child her size and we are aiming to become daytime diaper free as soon as possible! Check out my recommended products for elimination communication on my shop page.

EC Potty Training Podcast and YouTube

Another fun mom resource highlighting their EC potty training journey is on Hey Shayla. Shayla’s youtube video, ‘Elimination Communication After Year 1: Potty Training an Infant’ is where I first learned about EC and Go Diaper Free. Shayla talks about her experience doing EC with their first child and also interviews Andrea Colson on her podcast ‘Hey Shayla’ [episode 023 – Potty Training a Newborn (or toddler if you missed the boat)]. On the episode Shayla discusses what their EC journey was like, what they would have done differently and how to troubleshoot EC challenges past the one year mark.

Our Experience | Months Nine and Ten

• 9 Months Old

As mentioned earlier, we had our trainer potty since before little one was born. This was previously placed within her closet and she started showing interest (IE tapping it, exploring it) around 9 months old. At this time I felt mentally clear enough to start reading her signs and start the EC journey.

My husband and I wanted to get comfortable with her signs. Plus, we wanted to re-learn how often she was going to the bathroom before having our caretakers also take on EC. After re-reading the first chapter of ‘Go Diaper Free‘, we learned we did not have to use elimination communication full time in order for it to be successful.

During the first two weeks we started offering the potty upon waking up from naps and after nursing sessions or bottle feeds. Surprisingly the first time little one sat on the potty, she peed! I do not know who was happier. The first catch had us feeling ALL the feels.

The first week was a large learning curve with more misses than catches. The catches encouraged us to keep going as we averaged two to three pees on the potty daily. Eight days in, we caught our first poop! After little one peed, she started to get a little squirmy. She wanted to hop off the toilet and I placed her back on after a moment of playing as I had a ‘momstinct’. Moments later she pushed twice and we caught our first poop.

As we entered the second week, I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly she knew once her bottom hit the potty, she could go to the bathroom. She signals she is all done by taking a breath, extending her arms towards me and pushing her legs down towards the floor. I was absolutely blown away by the progress in such a short period of time. I feel more connected with her as I read her cues.

• 10 Months Old

The first week of the month was a bit of a struggle! We had quite a few misses. Plus, I thought little one had to go more times than not. There were a lot of tears – on both ends as frustration and confusion occurred regularly. This week I even contemplated whether to continue and if we started the process too early.

During this time little one was going through a series of developmental growths. She started to crawl on hands and knees, became more determined with what she did and did not want to do, became more vocal with her actions, wanted to be independent. Did I mention she popped SEVEN (yes, you read that right) seven teeth. All of this, mixed with some uncomfortable sleep sessions, made us frustrated on all ends.

The second and third week of the month were filled with frustration which caused us to take a pause on EC’ing while we were out of town. Little one and I both got sick the last week of December and spent more time cuddled together on the couch than doing much else. She was in a lot of pain and there were more tears sitting on the potty than before. We will took a pause and picked back up on when we were in a better mental space!

When we reached weeks four and five, I was happy to report we are ‘back on track’. Everyone had a much needed break. We began again with the three easy catches (after waking from a nap, after a transition and after eating). During these weeks we introduced EC to our caregivers and they were on board. Their excitement and enthusiasm was through the roof after they experienced their first catch.

For more real time experiences with EC potty training, stop by my Instagram page or read more on my blog HERE!

Next Steps

Stay tuned for a few more parts to this series! I will go over new experiences and product recommendations including:

• Pottying in a new location
• EC tools and favorite products
• Sanitizing and cleaning a receptacle
• EC Set Up (DITL)
• Traveling and EC
• Nighttime EC
• Hopefully soon- ‘graduating’ from daytime diapers and moving onto tiny trainers / underwear!

Have you ever heard of EC before? If not, would you try it?