I couldn't figure out why my 2 month old was so fussy after eating and finally found this yesterday!!! Last night i tried this for the first time and caught 3 pees before bed and when he woke up with a dry diaper tried again and sure enough peed in the potty! I just recently finished potty training my 22 month old twins so it feels nice to be getting a head with my son. He absolutely loves it! Hates being dirty!
EC is great. It's something I remembered my grandmother doing for my baby brother when I was 4-5 years old, and 30-something years later I started doing it for our 2 month old boy. It's been a wonderful way to bond as you're exchanging cues with baby. My first poo cue from him was the hiccups, which I learned from my mom. I'd hold baby by his thighs over the toilet and made a "mm-mm-mm" sound my grandma used to make. He pooped twice in the toilet on the day he turned 2 months and kept it up. He learned to cue us when he was finished too. We keep a pail in the car in case he needed to go while on the road, and he has no issue in public or unfamiliar toilets. Now at 8 months, about 90-95% of his poops are all in the toilet, with the remaining being our own fault for being too preoccupied to see his cues or to take action in time.
My baby loves to sleep on her tummy. So when she needs to pee at night she lifts her butt up in the air and twist left and right. It's time to gooo mommy !! It's so cute.
Awww I love that one! I have a super-cute pic of K when he was a baby doing the butt lift during a nap. Good for you for picking up on that adorable signal! ;)
Whoa, it's highly recommended in where I live (scandinavia) never to let a baby/young child sleep on their belly as it significantly increases the risk of SIDS =S
@@Aplusinskal it's recommended until baby can roll by themselves so around 3-6 months www.lullabytrust.org.uk/safer-sleep-advice/sleeping-position/ Personally mine slept on his tummy from birth because he had sever acid reflux and he was in pain from sleeping on his back. Luckily I'm a light sleeper so kept a close eye on him until he was rolling!
Awesome!!!! Be sure to grab my book so you'll have everything you'll need to know in one streamlined place. It comes with tons of private videos and audio version and a wonderful online support community :) enjoy!!!! Xo andrea
I agree...I think pacifiers cause weird dependencies....this woman really explains the signaling to where it makes sense. I never really believed this elimination communication until watching these videos. Pretty amazing ❤
I successfully did elimination communication with my second baby starting from birth and had him out of diapers by 22 months. Funnily enough, he never really took to pacifiers and by seven months completely rejected them 😆😆😆
Right now, I'm seeing that my baby signals while I'm breastfeeding. He'll stop drinking and grunt, so I grunt along with him to build the sound association. I plan to increase naked observation time so that I can pick up on the signals when he's not latched. Thanks for the nice resources!
You are so welcome Wambui! Building sound association is a perfect response to the "going while feeding" you're experiencing. It's amazing how quickly that one passes (going while feeding) yet how babies won't eat if they have to poop when they become toddlers. Makes sense though! Grab my observation log (in the video notes above) if you need a tool to help you track observation time. Take care!
We are also using your book on potty training for our three year old boy. The main signal I notice during the Ease-In Phase diaper-free time is that he actively rebels against trying the potty, kicks it and will pretty much whine and cry until we put the diaper back on. We've been consistent this week with him getting 30 mins-1 hour of diaper-free time and he clearly has control over his bladder and sphincter. But for him, he finds diapers so comfortable that he just does not want to think about anything else. I fear going forward on the next step of potty training because I don't want him to hold in the pee and poo all day and get (more) trauma from this experience. I think having him throw away the diapers would be hugely upsetting for him, yet I am SO DONE with this ongoing diaper use. Any tips? Fyi, this is why I am starting EC with my second one from birth...
by the way Go Diaper Free, I tried to download your observation log but it never came to my inbox since I am already signed up to your newsletter...I'm guessing...
I agree it think my daughters main discomfort was dirty nappies it's so unnatural really. Can't wait to use thus method and do it different for the next
This is brilliant! I bought a potty to try with my 3 month old but he has contracted pinworms 😢😢so I need to wait until we clear that up for him to begin trying again.
I think it would be helpful, especially for first time parents, to actually see babies making these cues and distinguishing them from hunger cues. This way you don't have to use your imagination to figure out what "shifting energy" means. Every video I've seen about elimination communication shows an adult appearing shoulders up doing nothing but talking, in the frame -- a lecture on EC with and no visual examples like a real baby actually doing elimination communication.
You're in the right place then! I have many videos of "real babies" showing signals, the trouble is, the sounds and signals won't be the same for all babies, and as they age, the signs and signals will change too! But here's one, I hope it helps 👍 ua-cam.com/video/Xxte4Ez0FcM/v-deo.html
I do not have babes...I wish I did, but I must borrow the little human beans (which I do...a lot!). I am going to find a baby I can steadily care for and try this. Mayim Bialick encourages this also and she’s amazing. Thank you for sharing your wisdom...I’m Quite sure you’ve made some tiny people really happy and their parents are over the moon!
I really need to start paying attention to my niece, who just turned 10 months (I’ve been raising her since she was 3 weeks old) and have heard of baby led weaning on Tik Tok and I wish I started when she was a little younger rather than now but better late than never
hi andrea first off wnt to say thank u for teaching us moms to understand ec. Ive slowly bean my baby at 3 months, my mother in law keeps telling me that shes never heard of this and believes its way to early for me to have my baby go on her potty and shes getting on my last nerve!Btw I love love your top hat cant wait to get it this coming sat feb 2.
I am so happy to hear you are practicing EC! It can be hard with family doesn't understand. Just keep at it, your MIL will see the benefits soon enough.
It’s amazing how it works! I’ve got your book too because I knew about it, but wasn’t sure how to start. My mom told me some tricks too but I didn’t believe that was it. I don’t understand why everyone says they don’t have control over their sphincter? Diaper companies conspiracy 😂😂😜? So I started at 6,5 months. And from the day 1 haven’t missed a single #2. Diaper still only for the night. Thank you!
That's wonderful! It is terrible the misinformation that is spread about potty learning. Babies are not incontinent! I'm glad you didn't fall for that garbage.
Go Diaper Free thank you for the reply! I’m originally from Eastern Europe and there potty training is normally done earlier. it was wild for me to see so many big kiddos in diapers, but with so much diaper promotion I’m not surprised. I’m happy I came across your book and channel,
I honestly can't make sense of some of these signals-- I have noticed the crying and squrming do usually mean pee and sometimes straining or gas leads to a poo. But, often I just have success with transition times (waking up, eating, after car rode). Other times my 13 month old will fake me out to look strained or grunt, make rasberries, but isn't usually followed by a pee or poo. I try diaper free time after he makes a pee in the potty and 20 mins later he has this tiny pee (no signaling, just playing and out of nowhere tiny half second pee spray). Occasionally he will get off the potty and poo on floor instead. 🤦♀️
This all sounds normal!! Every child is different, some with signal regularly and loudly, and some barely, unreliably, or not at all! But all is not lost 😃 If one of the "4-roads to potty time" isn't working for you, the other 3 are still there.👍
Hi Ericka! There are a few things you can do. You can keep a potty in the car. Packing a travel potty like a potette plus for older babies. For little babies, packing a top hat potty with an old lidded yogurt container works. It's always a good idea to use a back up, so there really isn't anything to worry about!
Hi, Andrea! When you think you've picked up on a cue or when you're trying to catch one of the easy catches, how long should you try to get a catch before just trying again another time later?
Hey Lindsay! I usually wait about 5 minutes, tops, unless baby resists before that. I reduce distractions when possible and make the pssss or grunt noise or run some water to help it along. :)
There’s a helpful video of a Oprah interview with a lady explaining the different baby cries (sometimes very subtle). I actually found it from Andrea mentioning her name somewhere
This is such a useful video - thanks! However, what if you have a gassy baby whereby a lot of these signals (such as fussiness) are due to gas? How might you differentiate?
As you get more practice with EC you will be able to determine baby's signals with more ease. You may find however, that the EC hold will help baby work through the gas.
Only just watched this video, but I have a question. You mention the mobile baby coming up to you being a big signal that they need to potty, but I know several mobile babies who will approach their parents with a book or a toy to get attention when being ignored or approach for comfort, not to mention to get food. Is there an obvious difference, or is it just guess and check? Is it to do with the squirming when they get picked up? I don't have a baby that old yet, but would like to know for future reference.
My baby is 4 months old. We use diapers but in addition each time we change the diapers we hold her over the potty to see if there is more needing to come out.. I’m wondering if that’s similar? Or is it actually the opposite.. her learning to use the potty when she is held over it vs. us holding her over it when she needs it.. is 4 months too old to try diaper free? I heard if you don’t do it from the start they loose the feeling..
There are many different ways to practice EC, and what you are already doing is a great start! From there, you can learn her signals and timing to be able to better identify BEFORE its potty time 😊 The best place to start is with my free easy-start guide!👍 godiaperfree.com/Start 💕 Lmk if you have any Q's! xo
I've been doing EC with my baby from 2,5 months and was going so well by 12 months i was almost completely diper free and he was starting to sign for me- but we started traveling and now he's totally regressed- and only tells me after he's already done 😖 he's 18 months now
Hey Vicky! When you're going to be at one place for a good 2-4 weeks, I would finish up EC with potty training with my book The Tiny Potty Training Book - godiaperfree.com/potty-training-book . It is complementary to EC and will be a great solution for you to get back on track. From there you will discontinue daytime diapers (as part of the process outlined in the book) and will just have to be extra consistent while you continue your travels. It is totally do-able - I've done months on end of traveling while ECing a young one. :) Hang in there and enjoy your travels and your little guy! xx Andrea
Hey Vicky! Yeah, it's really hard to keep up with EC while traveling. I've done it and had to really make a concerted effort to stick with the challenges...was not easy. But I have good news for you!! You can and should absolutely wrap up EC with a potty training experience. My other book is perfect for this - godiaperfree.com/potty-training-book - and you can be done, done, done. What you've done with EC is not all lost. Hang in there! xx Andrea
My newborn son is startled when I undiaper him. He barely cries only when I undress him or change his diaper. He always shoots out his arms like he feels like he is falling. It’s really hot right now so it can’t be that he is cold. I want to ec but no matter how I hold him he is always scrambling as if he thinks he’s falling. I don’t want potty time for him always to be ina panic.
What you're describing is the 'Moro Reflex,' which all newborns are born with. It can be triggered by the position of the baby's head or body changing. You can try keeping baby as supported as possible while pottying and experiment with different positions. Also if you have a swaddle with an open end so the baby's bottom can be freed, that can help as well.
Newborns do pee frequently. Don't feel like you have to catch every single elimination. Remember the communication part. If you can't offer the potty and notice a pee signal, say "I see you need to pee, mama can't take you right now you can use your diaper". Then you are still acknowledging their signal.
Hi there...I would like you to help me.. I have been doing EC with my baby since day 4 and now she is almost 3 months, and we have been very successful with the potty training in general but for about a week or so baby has been acting totally different in her schedule and in her signals ...I guess she still telling but I. A different way that I don’t quite understand completely ...almost like starting from zero For example she is now sleeping more at night and sometimes for a couple of hours she would cry a bit cause she wants to pee but I am definitely having a hard time figuring her out ... Please could you give me and advise !!!
I started ec at 10 months and my twins were doing great but I fell of the band wagon and now my babies are 16months and I’m trying to potty train now. It seems like they forgot what potty is for . I am starting with one of them . And stopped diaper cold turkey . He pees after I offer potty . How do I get him to use the potty again
Hi Lisbett! It usually takes a full week to get the basics of potty training down. Then another 2-3 weeks to polish. While it is a lot of work, it might be better to potty train them together. That way everyone is on the same page and working towards the same goal together.
Do I sit him on potty until he goes ? He refusing to go in potty but holds it until he gets in his high chair to pee . Breakfast lunch and dinner . I figured out that if I sit him in the seat naked he holds it and won’t pee in his highchair . So if I know if he needs to go do i sit him there as long as it takes u till he goes ?
Is this why newborn baby boys accidentally pee on you when changing their diaper? Because they don’t want to pee in their diaper? My son has done that several times early on but he hasn’t done it in the last couple months (he’s 3 months old).
How long it usually take for babies to finish a potty session? Apparently I didn’t wait long enough before changing a diaper the second time lol, he was still finishing his business! Oops. But I took note of a few signals he gave me, he pursed his lips and became real still. Then when he was almost done, he started lifting his bottom up.
So i have a toddler hes 30 months and I'm having the hardest time potty training him.I've seen some signals but he does them after not before, but there's days he does use restroom.what else can i do?I've tried diaper free around house but he holds it most of the day.
I agree. Complete diaper removal. Getting him dressed like a big boy with underwear. It only take a few poopy pants for him to get the idea he doesn't have the absorbent diaper to catch his poop. He wont like being covered in it and it going down his legs. I promise it will be incentive to ho sit on the potty. My niece who is 12 now would freak out when we tried to put her on the potty starting at 2 and a half years old. She only started using it after we stopped putting diapers on her at all during the day. It only took one runny pool to make her grossed out by her going in her pants. Maybe some clothes get ruined and you have a mess but the kid will understand what they are doing by not using the toilet.
So I havent been on EC like everyday. My son is 7 mo and we cloth diaper. I notice his poop signals but not pee. He grunts. Today he peed and poop in the pot. He crawls now and scratches his legs before he pees could that be it? He has only been on his pot 4 times but he has started grabbing at it once we go in there. I usually place him on when i go.
Hi Jashley! The scratching could be a signal, try offering when he does it and see what happens. Grabbing the tiny potty is also a great signal. I would put him on whenever he grabs it.
Does the book cover starting EC late? I understand a mobile baby who has already started EC, coming over to you when they need to go, but I just started EC at 8 months (she is 10 months now) and she doesn't get uncomfortable when she is about to poop or even after she has pooped in her diaper. She used to go first thing in the morning, so it was easy to catch. But now she only goes pee, and poops randomly after that.
@@AndreaOlson I've been doing it for 5 days now. I started of keeping her without a diaper or pants and watched for what happened before she would go. It is going so well. I am in shock that I'm able to do it. I feel so much more in tune with her as well. Because previously I thought when she was playing and getting fussy it was because she was bored but it's not, it's because she has to go potty. I'm so happy I can meet ALL of her needs now. My family is also so suprised when they see her pee or poop on her little potty or the sink. Thank you :)
With the average kid being trained around 3yrs, there's a lot of money to be made from selling disposable diapers. PR certainly made a success on this one.
No it's not too late to start! My book has 3 options for beginning at this age (not found anywhere else, internet or in person) :) godiaperfree.com/thebook - enjoy!!! You can do EC anytime from 0-18 months and usually wrap up by 18 months :) xx Andrea
Hi Khadijah! Yes, in some ways, no in some ways. RIE parenting insists that you allow baby to figure things out a little bit prior to picking them up, something I definitely do with mine. But if you see or hear a signal from baby, you should interrupt their play (or pause it, a better term) to potty them. RIE is highly responsive while giving baby space to figure things out alone. But when it comes to potty time, we adults even pause our "play" or work to go to the bathroom - we figure out that we need to go and we go - and babies, well, their timeframe for figuring out that they need to go is MUCH smaller, and sphincter control is working, but won't hold for long. So, yes, I do pause play to potty. It is a healthy habit. I do also let baby figure things out when fussing about other things, I set up the environment for learning and success, and sometimes I do let a miss happen in the diaper if I need to get something done (like dinner). Hope that helps! xx Andrea
I've been trying to do EC myself but when I try to get her to the potty she seems confused and will hold it for a long time. Then I will finally put her in her diaper and she will instantly pee. She's 8 months now, apparently I've trained her to use a diaper :(
I wouldn't give up just yet! So much development is happening at 8 months old. Listen to my podcast Getting EC Back on Track - godiaperfree.com/session26 - and just do what it says. To do EC effectively you must know a few things about baby, and that session will teach you how. My book is also helpful, as are the 7 minicourses (video) I'm about to release. So don't give up. Potty pauses are common at months 8-14 even if you start at birth. I have ways thru EVERYTHING. :) Try out that podcast, k? If she was still in diapers at 16 months - yes, you've trained her into a diaper. There is still time. All is not lost. XO
Hey Khadijah! That is pretty normal for that age. Grab my book godiaperfree.com/thebook or my Potty Time Mastery MiniCourse academy.godiaperfree.com and you'll get it all sorted! xx Andrea
I’ve been doing EC with my baby since was about a month but i feel like I’m missing soooo many and i just don’t know what to do. She wears diapers and I’m going through so many trying to keep her dry. Should i go diaper free more ?
I would really focus in on finding a pattern as it relates to eating or sleeping and the intervals thereafter. Its ok to have misses too! This podcast episode will hopefully shed some light on the question🙌godiaperfree.com/how-often-will-my-baby-pee/
My son is 8.5 months and I’m just starting to learn about this! Will his instincts still be just as strong even this late in the game? How would you suggest beginning at this point?
You absolutely can start now! EC is for babies up to 18 months old. Just remember he is used to diapers and this is new. As you work on observation and do more diaper free time he will get the idea. This article/podcast on my website goes over the basics of how to start. godiaperfree.com/how-to-begin-elimination-communication-a-little-recap-of-how-to-start-ec-at-each-stage-and-age/
Hi Andrea! I heard that you can teach your babies handsigns to indicate poop and pee. Do you know any and if yes, which are your favourites? (Maybe another video idea? :))
Yes Ilaria! I will do a video on that asap. I use the sign for "toilet" - the "T" shaking side to side. See this video: ua-cam.com/video/Rsl2eq8aUps/v-deo.html
I see a link to the "easy start guide" but you mention in the video putting a link for the full list of signals somewhere below, is that also there? My 10mo has quite clear BM signals, but it's very hard to tell when he wants to pee; occasionally he'll fuss, but more of the time he doesn't do anything consistently that I can see after a good bit of observation, so it's been harder for me to catch.
Hey Alexis! Yes, sorry! You can get that here - www.dropbox.com/s/b0zkjsh3z7vhrxn/the_4_roads_to_potty_time.pdf?dl=1 - and I will post it to the blog post shortly!
We try to get our 2 in a few days son to potty using signals he gives us but our problem is when we put him on the potty he will literally only sit there for a few seconds before he starts screaming and saying he is done and trying to force himself off the potty and the he will go after getting off and getting a diaper. He hates getting his diaper changed but he does not want anything to really do with sitting on the potty even if he watches his sister and says he wants to go, as soon as you put him on he has a total meltdown. Any advice?
Hi Frances! By 2 I'm assuming you mean 2 years old. I would ditch the diapers for awake time. As long as they are an option he will use it. Once they're out of the picture he will start to progress.
That can definitely be a signal that he needs to pee, so it is worth trying a few times so see if he is ok with the nighttime potty thing or not! You don't need to "wake" him, just slowly and carefully put him on a potty, make your cue noises, then put him back to bed.
Hi Andrea, so I am new at Ec, I just started doing observation for potty training my daughter and I was wondering should I keep her with diapers and take itm off when it's time to take her to the potty? Or what should she wear instead of diapers? Which kind of potty do you recommend? Thanks!
It depends on how old she is. If you she is an infant, you can absolutely use a diaper back up. If she is 16 months old or older, I would ditch awake time diapers fully. You will find this guide to back ups helpful. godiaperfree.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-ec-back-ups-when-to-use-which-undergarments-during-elimination-communication/
Crazy that Americans don’t do this. My wife is Czech and all her friends start potty training day 1 basically. I was shocked when we went and visited her friends in Prague and her kid who was barely sitting up took a dump in a baby toilet.
so do you think it's a good idea to put a diaper on so he can cry for me to take it off when he needs to go? or leaving him diaper free and then he'll go anywhere anytime? cause i"m thinking he might not signal if i leave him without a diaper...
You definitely don't want to have baby naked all of the time, he will learn that the floor is a potty. Using a back up is an important part of EC. Remember that diaper free doesn't mean naked. Undies, training pants, or just pants (commando) are all great options. If he signals best in a diaper then that is the back up of choice for him.
Obviously not in all Asia, hence why I am here looking into EC! 😂 I think this was true for my grandma's generation but I was put in disposable diapers until I was 4. Like many people in my generation, unfortunately there just isn't anyone left that we know who can teach us how they did it before
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I couldn't figure out why my 2 month old was so fussy after eating and finally found this yesterday!!! Last night i tried this for the first time and caught 3 pees before bed and when he woke up with a dry diaper tried again and sure enough peed in the potty! I just recently finished potty training my 22 month old twins so it feels nice to be getting a head with my son. He absolutely loves it! Hates being dirty!
Yay! So happy to hear this 😁❤️
I bought your book and successfully potty trained my first at 18 months. I'm now back for a refresher course for my second. :)
That is wonderful! Congrats on successful potty training and congrats on you new little one!
EC is great. It's something I remembered my grandmother doing for my baby brother when I was 4-5 years old, and 30-something years later I started doing it for our 2 month old boy. It's been a wonderful way to bond as you're exchanging cues with baby. My first poo cue from him was the hiccups, which I learned from my mom. I'd hold baby by his thighs over the toilet and made a "mm-mm-mm" sound my grandma used to make. He pooped twice in the toilet on the day he turned 2 months and kept it up. He learned to cue us when he was finished too. We keep a pail in the car in case he needed to go while on the road, and he has no issue in public or unfamiliar toilets. Now at 8 months, about 90-95% of his poops are all in the toilet, with the remaining being our own fault for being too preoccupied to see his cues or to take action in time.
That is wonderful! It is so amazing that you saw EC firsthand as a kid.
@@AndreaOlson I would never have thought I'd be doing it when I grew up. :) Thanks for spreading the wisdom!
I feel so bad when i miss them bc I’m not paying attention
@@VermillionDawn
My baby loves to sleep on her tummy. So when she needs to pee at night she lifts her butt up in the air and twist left and right. It's time to gooo mommy !! It's so cute.
Awww I love that one! I have a super-cute pic of K when he was a baby doing the butt lift during a nap. Good for you for picking up on that adorable signal! ;)
That is adorable!
Whoa, it's highly recommended in where I live (scandinavia) never to let a baby/young child sleep on their belly as it significantly increases the risk of SIDS =S
@@Aplusinskal thats recommended here in america too.
@@Aplusinskal it's recommended until baby can roll by themselves so around 3-6 months www.lullabytrust.org.uk/safer-sleep-advice/sleeping-position/
Personally mine slept on his tummy from birth because he had sever acid reflux and he was in pain from sleeping on his back. Luckily I'm a light sleeper so kept a close eye on him until he was rolling!
This is BRILLIANT! My daughter is 13 months and ive just heard of this. I'm going to be binging on info on it and starting immediately!
Awesome!!!! Be sure to grab my book so you'll have everything you'll need to know in one streamlined place. It comes with tons of private videos and audio version and a wonderful online support community :) enjoy!!!! Xo andrea
+Go Diaper Free godiaperfree.com/thebook :)
So it makes literally no sense to stuff a pacifier in babe's mouth when they are really trying to give useful information...wow! Lightbulb moment!
Completely agreed!
I agree...I think pacifiers cause weird dependencies....this woman really explains the signaling to where it makes sense. I never really believed this elimination communication until watching these videos. Pretty amazing ❤
I successfully did elimination communication with my second baby starting from birth and had him out of diapers by 22 months. Funnily enough, he never really took to pacifiers and by seven months completely rejected them 😆😆😆
Right now, I'm seeing that my baby signals while I'm breastfeeding. He'll stop drinking and grunt, so I grunt along with him to build the sound association. I plan to increase naked observation time so that I can pick up on the signals when he's not latched. Thanks for the nice resources!
You are so welcome Wambui! Building sound association is a perfect response to the "going while feeding" you're experiencing. It's amazing how quickly that one passes (going while feeding) yet how babies won't eat if they have to poop when they become toddlers. Makes sense though! Grab my observation log (in the video notes above) if you need a tool to help you track observation time. Take care!
We are also using your book on potty training for our three year old boy. The main signal I notice during the Ease-In Phase diaper-free time is that he actively rebels against trying the potty, kicks it and will pretty much whine and cry until we put the diaper back on. We've been consistent this week with him getting 30 mins-1 hour of diaper-free time and he clearly has control over his bladder and sphincter. But for him, he finds diapers so comfortable that he just does not want to think about anything else. I fear going forward on the next step of potty training because I don't want him to hold in the pee and poo all day and get (more) trauma from this experience. I think having him throw away the diapers would be hugely upsetting for him, yet I am SO DONE with this ongoing diaper use. Any tips? Fyi, this is why I am starting EC with my second one from birth...
by the way Go Diaper Free, I tried to download your observation log but it never came to my inbox since I am already signed up to your newsletter...I'm guessing...
+Wambui Njuguna I'll send it to you! I'll have to look into that and see if it can work.
Thanks for emailing us about that - I will look into it!
I feel so sad that I didn’t understand my daughter telling me she needed help with this. She is 6months so gonna get to it.
Try not to feel too sad. You didn't know about EC until now, and you're jumping right in. Good for you!
I agree it think my daughters main discomfort was dirty nappies it's so unnatural really. Can't wait to use thus method and do it different for the next
@@AndreaOlsonI wish you can help me to get the book I live a disability check
@@Goldenbudgetsavings2have you requested it at your local library-you can read it for free!
This is brilliant! I bought a potty to try with my 3 month old but he has contracted pinworms 😢😢so I need to wait until we clear that up for him to begin trying again.
I think it would be helpful, especially for first time parents, to actually see babies making these cues and distinguishing them from hunger cues. This way you don't have to use your imagination to figure out what "shifting energy" means. Every video I've seen about elimination communication shows an adult appearing shoulders up doing nothing but talking, in the frame -- a lecture on EC with and no visual examples like a real baby actually doing elimination communication.
You're in the right place then! I have many videos of "real babies" showing signals, the trouble is, the sounds and signals won't be the same for all babies, and as they age, the signs and signals will change too! But here's one, I hope it helps 👍
ua-cam.com/video/Xxte4Ez0FcM/v-deo.html
@@AndreaOlson , thanks so much for sending. And besides, who doesn't want to watch cute babies over an adult giving a lecture! 😍
I do not have babes...I wish I did, but I must borrow the little human beans (which I do...a lot!). I am going to find a baby I can steadily care for and try this. Mayim Bialick encourages this also and she’s amazing. Thank you for sharing your wisdom...I’m Quite sure you’ve made some tiny people really happy and their parents are over the moon!
EC does make babies (and parents) happier!
I really need to start paying attention to my niece, who just turned 10 months (I’ve been raising her since she was 3 weeks old) and have heard of baby led weaning on Tik Tok and I wish I started when she was a little younger rather than now but better late than never
10 months is a great time to start BLW and EC (elimination communication) too! No regrets👍💖
Sorry in advance: this question is not EC related.
Those window blinds are devine. Can you remember where they are from?
Why I haven't heard of this when my children were babies 😮😢 it seems so natural!❤
hi andrea first off wnt to say thank u for teaching us moms to understand ec. Ive slowly bean my baby at 3 months, my mother in law keeps telling me that shes never heard of this and believes its way to early for me to have my baby go on her potty and shes getting on my last nerve!Btw I love love your top hat cant wait to get it this coming sat feb 2.
I am so happy to hear you are practicing EC! It can be hard with family doesn't understand. Just keep at it, your MIL will see the benefits soon enough.
It’s amazing how it works! I’ve got your book too because I knew about it, but wasn’t sure how to start. My mom told me some tricks too but I didn’t believe that was it.
I don’t understand why everyone says they don’t have control over their sphincter? Diaper companies conspiracy 😂😂😜?
So I started at 6,5 months. And from the day 1 haven’t missed a single #2. Diaper still only for the night. Thank you!
That's wonderful! It is terrible the misinformation that is spread about potty learning. Babies are not incontinent! I'm glad you didn't fall for that garbage.
Go Diaper Free thank you for the reply!
I’m originally from Eastern Europe and there potty training is normally done earlier. it was wild for me to see so many big kiddos in diapers, but with so much diaper promotion I’m not surprised.
I’m happy I came across your book and channel,
That's awesome! I'm hoping one day potty learning at a young age is the standard here too.
Would love to see some videos of these cues.
Check out my other videos, I have videos of my kiddos showing signals.
I honestly can't make sense of some of these signals-- I have noticed the crying and squrming do usually mean pee and sometimes straining or gas leads to a poo. But, often I just have success with transition times (waking up, eating, after car rode). Other times my 13 month old will fake me out to look strained or grunt, make rasberries, but isn't usually followed by a pee or poo. I try diaper free time after he makes a pee in the potty and 20 mins later he has this tiny pee (no signaling, just playing and out of nowhere tiny half second pee spray). Occasionally he will get off the potty and poo on floor instead. 🤦♀️
This all sounds normal!! Every child is different, some with signal regularly and loudly, and some barely, unreliably, or not at all! But all is not lost 😃 If one of the "4-roads to potty time" isn't working for you, the other 3 are still there.👍
Thanks for your advice!
Glad it was helpful!
Sounds awesome but what do you do when you’re out in about and there’s no bathroom around! That makes me so nervous
Hi Ericka! There are a few things you can do. You can keep a potty in the car. Packing a travel potty like a potette plus for older babies. For little babies, packing a top hat potty with an old lidded yogurt container works. It's always a good idea to use a back up, so there really isn't anything to worry about!
We have been doing ec with our 2 month old but for some reason his cues have changed in the last week or so. What can we do to get back on track?
It might be time to do observation again. Signals can change as they get older.
Hi, Andrea! When you think you've picked up on a cue or when you're trying to catch one of the easy catches, how long should you try to get a catch before just trying again another time later?
Hey Lindsay! I usually wait about 5 minutes, tops, unless baby resists before that. I reduce distractions when possible and make the pssss or grunt noise or run some water to help it along. :)
When the baby becomes fussy, how to not mix up the signal with hunger or any other need?
You will start to figure out what baby needs based off of the sound, other clues (like rooting), and timing.
There’s a helpful video of a Oprah interview with a lady explaining the different baby cries (sometimes very subtle). I actually found it from Andrea mentioning her name somewhere
This is such a useful video - thanks! However, what if you have a gassy baby whereby a lot of these signals (such as fussiness) are due to gas? How might you differentiate?
As you get more practice with EC you will be able to determine baby's signals with more ease. You may find however, that the EC hold will help baby work through the gas.
Book is not affordable for me I am grateful for the videos
I'm so glad the videos are helpful! Keep an eye out for sales, I run them quite often.
Only just watched this video, but I have a question. You mention the mobile baby coming up to you being a big signal that they need to potty, but I know several mobile babies who will approach their parents with a book or a toy to get attention when being ignored or approach for comfort, not to mention to get food. Is there an obvious difference, or is it just guess and check? Is it to do with the squirming when they get picked up? I don't have a baby that old yet, but would like to know for future reference.
My baby is 4 months old. We use diapers but in addition each time we change the diapers we hold her over the potty to see if there is more needing to come out..
I’m wondering if that’s similar? Or is it actually the opposite.. her learning to use the potty when she is held over it vs. us holding her over it when she needs it.. is 4 months too old to try diaper free? I heard if you don’t do it from the start they loose the feeling..
There are many different ways to practice EC, and what you are already doing is a great start! From there, you can learn her signals and timing to be able to better identify BEFORE its potty time 😊 The best place to start is with my free easy-start guide!👍 godiaperfree.com/Start 💕 Lmk if you have any Q's! xo
I've been doing EC with my baby from 2,5 months and was going so well by 12 months i was almost completely diper free and he was starting to sign for me- but we started traveling and now he's totally regressed- and only tells me after he's already done 😖 he's 18 months now
Hey Vicky! When you're going to be at one place for a good 2-4 weeks, I would finish up EC with potty training with my book The Tiny Potty Training Book - godiaperfree.com/potty-training-book . It is complementary to EC and will be a great solution for you to get back on track. From there you will discontinue daytime diapers (as part of the process outlined in the book) and will just have to be extra consistent while you continue your travels. It is totally do-able - I've done months on end of traveling while ECing a young one. :) Hang in there and enjoy your travels and your little guy! xx Andrea
Hey Vicky! Yeah, it's really hard to keep up with EC while traveling. I've done it and had to really make a concerted effort to stick with the challenges...was not easy. But I have good news for you!! You can and should absolutely wrap up EC with a potty training experience. My other book is perfect for this - godiaperfree.com/potty-training-book - and you can be done, done, done. What you've done with EC is not all lost. Hang in there! xx Andrea
My newborn son is startled when I undiaper him. He barely cries only when I undress him or change his diaper. He always shoots out his arms like he feels like he is falling. It’s really hot right now so it can’t be that he is cold. I want to ec but no matter how I hold him he is always scrambling as if he thinks he’s falling. I don’t want potty time for him always to be ina panic.
What you're describing is the 'Moro Reflex,' which all newborns are born with. It can be triggered by the position of the baby's head or body changing. You can try keeping baby as supported as possible while pottying and experiment with different positions. Also if you have a swaddle with an open end so the baby's bottom can be freed, that can help as well.
I have been practicing EC with my 6 week newborn and it is working so far but she pees a lot and I can’t keep up with her peeing ...
Newborns do pee frequently. Don't feel like you have to catch every single elimination. Remember the communication part. If you can't offer the potty and notice a pee signal, say "I see you need to pee, mama can't take you right now you can use your diaper". Then you are still acknowledging their signal.
Hi there...I would like you to help me.. I have been doing EC with my baby since day 4 and now she is almost 3 months, and we have been very successful with the potty training in general but for about a week or so baby has been acting totally different in her schedule and in her signals ...I guess she still telling but I. A different way that I don’t quite understand completely ...almost like starting from zero
For example she is now sleeping more at night and sometimes for a couple of hours she would cry a bit cause she wants to pee but I am definitely having a hard time figuring her out ...
Please could you give me and advise !!!
Baby's signals and timing will change as they grow. It sounds like you should do observation again to get back in sync.
I started ec at 10 months and my twins were doing great but I fell of the band wagon and now my babies are 16months and I’m trying to potty train now. It seems like they forgot what potty is for . I am starting with one of them . And stopped diaper cold turkey . He pees after I offer potty . How do I get him to use the potty again
Hi Lisbett! It usually takes a full week to get the basics of potty training down. Then another 2-3 weeks to polish. While it is a lot of work, it might be better to potty train them together. That way everyone is on the same page and working towards the same goal together.
Do I sit him on potty until he goes ? He refusing to go in potty but holds it until he gets in his high chair to pee . Breakfast lunch and dinner . I figured out that if I sit him in the seat naked he holds it and won’t pee in his highchair . So if I know if he needs to go do i sit him there as long as it takes u till he goes ?
Is this why newborn baby boys accidentally pee on you when changing their diaper? Because they don’t want to pee in their diaper? My son has done that several times early on but he hasn’t done it in the last couple months (he’s 3 months old).
Yes! Even if he has stopped, you can still get started with EC.
Awesome, thank you! I’ve been researching EC since I learned of it a couple nights ago.
How long it usually take for babies to finish a potty session? Apparently I didn’t wait long enough before changing a diaper the second time lol, he was still finishing his business! Oops. But I took note of a few signals he gave me, he pursed his lips and became real still. Then when he was almost done, he started lifting his bottom up.
So i have a toddler hes 30 months and I'm having the hardest time potty training him.I've seen some signals but he does them after not before, but there's days he does use restroom.what else can i do?I've tried diaper free around house but he holds it most of the day.
Hi Nadia! Potty training can be full of ups and downs. I would discontinue diaper use for awake time. That should help him progress.
I agree. Complete diaper removal. Getting him dressed like a big boy with underwear. It only take a few poopy pants for him to get the idea he doesn't have the absorbent diaper to catch his poop. He wont like being covered in it and it going down his legs. I promise it will be incentive to ho sit on the potty. My niece who is 12 now would freak out when we tried to put her on the potty starting at 2 and a half years old. She only started using it after we stopped putting diapers on her at all during the day. It only took one runny pool to make her grossed out by her going in her pants.
Maybe some clothes get ruined and you have a mess but the kid will understand what they are doing by not using the toilet.
So I havent been on EC like everyday. My son is 7 mo and we cloth diaper. I notice his poop signals but not pee. He grunts. Today he peed and poop in the pot. He crawls now and scratches his legs before he pees could that be it? He has only been on his pot 4 times but he has started grabbing at it once we go in there. I usually place him on when i go.
Hi Jashley! The scratching could be a signal, try offering when he does it and see what happens. Grabbing the tiny potty is also a great signal. I would put him on whenever he grabs it.
Does the book cover starting EC late? I understand a mobile baby who has already started EC, coming over to you when they need to go, but I just started EC at 8 months (she is 10 months now) and she doesn't get uncomfortable when she is about to poop or even after she has pooped in her diaper. She used to go first thing in the morning, so it was easy to catch. But now she only goes pee, and poops randomly after that.
Yes, the book does cover starting later. It is divided into sections by age so you can read the information relevant to your baby's age.
Thanks for the video!
I hope it helps!!😊
What about signals for peeing? Is it the same? I have a 3 1/2 month old and want to start this.
I'm so happy to hear you want to start EC! Yes, the signals are similar for both (except grunting/bearing down).
@@AndreaOlson I've been doing it for 5 days now. I started of keeping her without a diaper or pants and watched for what happened before she would go. It is going so well. I am in shock that I'm able to do it. I feel so much more in tune with her as well. Because previously I thought when she was playing and getting fussy it was because she was bored but it's not, it's because she has to go potty. I'm so happy I can meet ALL of her needs now. My family is also so suprised when they see her pee or poop on her little potty or the sink. Thank you :)
That is fantastic! It sounds like you are off to a wonderful start.
my daughter is 10months old I tryed this for a day and noticed she started resisting going on the potty, is there a trick thx
Here is a great video on starting EC at that age you might find helpful ua-cam.com/video/f5O_Wg39PHk/v-deo.html
This is amazing. Why aren't we taught this?
Great question! 💖
With the average kid being trained around 3yrs, there's a lot of money to be made from selling disposable diapers. PR certainly made a success on this one.
My baby is 11 months old and this is first time I'm hearing this ! Is it to late to start ?
No it's not too late to start! My book has 3 options for beginning at this age (not found anywhere else, internet or in person) :) godiaperfree.com/thebook - enjoy!!! You can do EC anytime from 0-18 months and usually wrap up by 18 months :) xx Andrea
I so want to practice it. So, i can definitely pick up on cues and take them to relieve but what about night time when both of us would be asleep?
My baby has no sign.. hes 4 days away from 6 months. I've been trying to watch him n nothing... nothing is the same
That can be frustrating. Luckily you can offer the potty based off of timing and going for easy catches. ua-cam.com/video/fKCD4ffypfQ/v-deo.html
What is the best age to officially stop using cloth diapers as a backup and transition to putting baby in undies or commando?
Does this coincide with RIE parenting?
Hi Khadijah! Yes, in some ways, no in some ways. RIE parenting insists that you allow baby to figure things out a little bit prior to picking them up, something I definitely do with mine. But if you see or hear a signal from baby, you should interrupt their play (or pause it, a better term) to potty them. RIE is highly responsive while giving baby space to figure things out alone. But when it comes to potty time, we adults even pause our "play" or work to go to the bathroom - we figure out that we need to go and we go - and babies, well, their timeframe for figuring out that they need to go is MUCH smaller, and sphincter control is working, but won't hold for long. So, yes, I do pause play to potty. It is a healthy habit. I do also let baby figure things out when fussing about other things, I set up the environment for learning and success, and sometimes I do let a miss happen in the diaper if I need to get something done (like dinner). Hope that helps! xx Andrea
I've been trying to do EC myself but when I try to get her to the potty she seems confused and will hold it for a long time. Then I will finally put her in her diaper and she will instantly pee. She's 8 months now, apparently I've trained her to use a diaper :(
I wouldn't give up just yet! So much development is happening at 8 months old. Listen to my podcast Getting EC Back on Track - godiaperfree.com/session26 - and just do what it says. To do EC effectively you must know a few things about baby, and that session will teach you how. My book is also helpful, as are the 7 minicourses (video) I'm about to release. So don't give up. Potty pauses are common at months 8-14 even if you start at birth. I have ways thru EVERYTHING. :) Try out that podcast, k? If she was still in diapers at 16 months - yes, you've trained her into a diaper. There is still time. All is not lost. XO
Hey Khadijah! That is pretty normal for that age. Grab my book godiaperfree.com/thebook or my Potty Time Mastery MiniCourse academy.godiaperfree.com and you'll get it all sorted! xx Andrea
I’ve been doing EC with my baby since was about a month but i feel like I’m missing soooo many and i just don’t know what to do. She wears diapers and I’m going through so many trying to keep her dry. Should i go diaper free more ?
I would really focus in on finding a pattern as it relates to eating or sleeping and the intervals thereafter. Its ok to have misses too! This podcast episode will hopefully shed some light on the question🙌godiaperfree.com/how-often-will-my-baby-pee/
@@AndreaOlson thank you! I’ll watch this as well
The Dropbox list doesn't work it seems, could you upload it again?
Hi LadyLosselin! Try this link instead goo.gl/j35QR5
My son is 8.5 months and I’m just starting to learn about this! Will his instincts still be just as strong even this late in the game? How would you suggest beginning at this point?
You absolutely can start now! EC is for babies up to 18 months old. Just remember he is used to diapers and this is new. As you work on observation and do more diaper free time he will get the idea. This article/podcast on my website goes over the basics of how to start. godiaperfree.com/how-to-begin-elimination-communication-a-little-recap-of-how-to-start-ec-at-each-stage-and-age/
Hi Andrea! I heard that you can teach your babies handsigns to indicate poop and pee. Do you know any and if yes, which are your favourites? (Maybe another video idea? :))
Yes Ilaria! I will do a video on that asap. I use the sign for "toilet" - the "T" shaking side to side. See this video: ua-cam.com/video/Rsl2eq8aUps/v-deo.html
I see a link to the "easy start guide" but you mention in the video putting a link for the full list of signals somewhere below, is that also there? My 10mo has quite clear BM signals, but it's very hard to tell when he wants to pee; occasionally he'll fuss, but more of the time he doesn't do anything consistently that I can see after a good bit of observation, so it's been harder for me to catch.
Hey Alexis! Yes, sorry! You can get that here - www.dropbox.com/s/b0zkjsh3z7vhrxn/the_4_roads_to_potty_time.pdf?dl=1 - and I will post it to the blog post shortly!
Thanks!!
We try to get our 2 in a few days son to potty using signals he gives us but our problem is when we put him on the potty he will literally only sit there for a few seconds before he starts screaming and saying he is done and trying to force himself off the potty and the he will go after getting off and getting a diaper. He hates getting his diaper changed but he does not want anything to really do with sitting on the potty even if he watches his sister and says he wants to go, as soon as you put him on he has a total meltdown. Any advice?
Hi Frances! By 2 I'm assuming you mean 2 years old. I would ditch the diapers for awake time. As long as they are an option he will use it. Once they're out of the picture he will start to progress.
Should I wake him up at night, when I hear him sound really uncomfortable while sleeping?
That can definitely be a signal that he needs to pee, so it is worth trying a few times so see if he is ok with the nighttime potty thing or not! You don't need to "wake" him, just slowly and carefully put him on a potty, make your cue noises, then put him back to bed.
@@AndreaOlson Thank you. I hesitated to put him on the potty and ended up with wet diapers after he woke up. Will try next time.
Hi Andrea, so I am new at Ec, I just started doing observation for potty training my daughter and I was wondering should I keep her with diapers and take itm off when it's time to take her to the potty? Or what should she wear instead of diapers? Which kind of potty do you recommend? Thanks!
It depends on how old she is. If you she is an infant, you can absolutely use a diaper back up. If she is 16 months old or older, I would ditch awake time diapers fully. You will find this guide to back ups helpful. godiaperfree.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-ec-back-ups-when-to-use-which-undergarments-during-elimination-communication/
Crazy that Americans don’t do this. My wife is Czech and all her friends start potty training day 1 basically. I was shocked when we went and visited her friends in Prague and her kid who was barely sitting up took a dump in a baby toilet.
Is 4 months too old to start?
Not at all, Gabriella! Get my Easy Start Guide here: godiaperfree.com/easy-start-guide/ and you can start as early as today!
Go Diaper Free Go Diaper Free awesome thank you! I will 😄
Sounds like if they do anything it’s a signal that they need to go. Doesn’t seem very helpful.
so do you think it's a good idea to put a diaper on so he can cry for me to take it off when he needs to go? or leaving him diaper free and then he'll go anywhere anytime? cause i"m thinking he might not signal if i leave him without a diaper...
You definitely don't want to have baby naked all of the time, he will learn that the floor is a potty. Using a back up is an important part of EC. Remember that diaper free doesn't mean naked. Undies, training pants, or just pants (commando) are all great options. If he signals best in a diaper then that is the back up of choice for him.
Thank you!
You're SO welcome!
Poop signal the whole day and didnt do anything
Awe... little one. Perhaps he was feeling uncomfortable for some reason, or maybe constipated?
I am trying this with my baby nr 4
That is wonderful! I hope your EC practice is going well.
What do you do if you see this while in the car or anywhere without a toilet?
We carry a potty in the car 💯 So ideally you pull over! But if you miss it, most people have baby in a diaper, just in case 😉
In Asia, the pants have open crotches. No diapers. They can just let it go.
Split pants really are great for EC!
Obviously not in all Asia, hence why I am here looking into EC! 😂 I think this was true for my grandma's generation but I was put in disposable diapers until I was 4. Like many people in my generation, unfortunately there just isn't anyone left that we know who can teach us how they did it before
Baby’s don’t have a common language they need to be able to communicate the same massage to other baby as an understanding, as proof.
Since when dogs don’t poop in their cage Lol yea right bad example
Most dogs do NOT poop where they sleep, but as with everything there are exceptions to the rules.
Hello we’ve been EC for almost a month. Catching all poops when diaper free. Your dog example turns out to be a good one btw 🥴❤️
@@AndreaOlson ❤️