#019- Elimination Communication (EC or Infant Potty Training) with Andrea Olson

Join us in this episode as we learn more about EC (Elimination Communication) or infant potty training. Did you know that children are now in diapers until the age of 36-38 months today while they used to be potty trained before the age of 18 months back in 1957? Elimination communication is a gentle way to help your baby and toddler not only learn about how to get rid of diapers more quickly but most importantly to empower him or her to better communicate about the basic need to eliminate. Listen to our interview with Andrea Olson, a mom of 3 and an expert on the topic, to see how you can incorporate EC in your life. Andrea Olson's bio: Andrea Olson, M.A., is a pioneer in helping parents reduce diaper dependence with any age child or baby, from birth through toddlerhood. She has her Master’s Degree in Psychology and presently lives in Asheville, NC, with her husband and children. She is author of three books: Go Diaper Free, a simple handbook for elimination communication for 0-18 month babies, The Tiny Potty Training Book, a simple guide to non-coercive potty training for toddlers 18 months and up, and the new Tiny Potty board book for children 6 months and up. She also created and sells a line of small children's underwear to support EC and early toilet training, called Tiny Undies. Learn about EC with Andrea Olson TIMESTAMPS [2:09] Aglaée's updates [7:57] Andrea Olson's bio [8:58] Introduction to EC (Elimination Communication) [11:40] Andrea's EC experiences with her 3 babies [18:04] Pottying in the past and other cultures [20:54] What does it mean to be potty independent and potty trained? [22:25] Average age for children to be potty trained nowadays [23:32] Best age to start potty training [24:38] Average potty trained age in 1957 before commercial diapers [25:35] How EC and potty training differ with age(0-6 months, 6-12 months, 12-18 months vs 18+ months) [28:45] How to fit EC in your busy schedule and doing EC part-time [29:49] How EC is an integral part of parenting and life for Andrea [33:30] Aglaée's difficulties with EC following a move and baby getting mobile (potty pauses, how to get back into a routine with EC and how to avoid teaching toddlers to pee on the floor) [40:35] Recent rant from Andrea about how diapers shouldn't be used as a wearable toilet [47:10] Cloth vs disposable diapers as back-up for EC families [49:45] Andrea's website, books and podcast about going diaper free [53:15] Outro Click here to listen or find the podcast on iTunes or Stitcher. SHOWNOTES Andrea's website: Go Diaper Free Go Diaper Free: A simple handbook for elimination communication (0-18 months) The Tiny Potty Training Book: A simple guide for non-coercive potty training (18 months +) Podcast: The Go Diaper Free Podcast  Tiny undies: organic cotton for 6 months to 3 years in gender-neutral colours