Elimination Communication

Elimination communication, also known as infant potty training, is practised in many countries and cultures. It is a process of fostering and encouraging your baby’s natural awareness of their need to wee and poo based on signals, cues, timing and intuition.

Babies are born with this natural awareness of their bodily functions, but in our nappying culture they quickly learn that weeing and pooing in their nappy is the done thing. You can respond to, and foster, this natural awareness by watching for the cues and signs your baby gives when eliminating. Alongside this, you can also teach your baby your own cue that they quite quickly learn to associate with these bodily functions. Over the weeks and months after birth, a two way communication develops between baby and parents (and other carers) which results in your baby being able to communicate their need to go through squirming, grizzling, etc, or go on cue when you offer a 'toilet break’ based on your intuition or timing. Your baby will become much less reliant on nappies, or even nappy free, and able to communicate their elimination needs to a much greater degree than is normally expected for their age.


ECed children generally become completely ‘toilet trained’ at a younger age than is generally expected in our culture, due to the continuity of toilet awareness from birth, and not needing to ‘unlearn’ wetting in their nappies. This approach is not to be confused with traditional toilet training, as the focus of EC is on communicating needs. Accidents along the way are common but are a normal and inconsequential part of the learning process.

Most families use some kind of cloth training pants as back up, particularly in places where an accident is undesirable, such as in carpeted rooms, or when away from home.

EC can be practised in varying ways

part time EC with full time use of nappies;
EC at home and nappies when out,
EC fulltime with training pants or regular underpants, and all other combinations in between.

It is easiest to introduce ECwith your baby between birth and 6 months of age and it is possible to introduce EC with older babies (>6 months) but different challenges may present as their natural awareness will have diminished if they have been wearing nappies.

Benefits of developing toilet awareness from birth:

Environmental – less environmental impact than if you are using full time cloth or disposable nappies due to the decreased reliance on nappies

Reduced energy use – less manufacturing, washing & drying of nappies

Reduced water use – reduction in washing, manufacturing of disposable nappies and in production of raw materials such as cotton

Reduced consumption of renewable and non-renewable resources – trees for wood pulp, crude oil.

Health – same as for cloth nappies; and your baby won’t be in contact with their own waste for long periods of time; no risk of nappy rash.

Enhanced bonding – added benefits of this approach are an enhanced sense of connectedness with your baby, improved ability to interpret subtle communication from your baby, confidence in your ability to meet your baby’s needs, and a strong sense of responsiveness towards your baby in regards to all their needs.

Consistent approach – avoids the ‘unlearning’ process that is required with traditional toilet training.

Comfort – the use of no or less nappies means your baby will be cooler in summer, and feel less restricted by nappies; they also have more opportunity for normal body exploration.

Saves Money – less reliance on nappies and coming out of nappies sooner means significantly less nappies required; no barrier creams needed; less washing detergents used.

written by Monique.