Held & Heard: Infant potty training, elimination communication & postpartum motherhood

For years, I believed elimination communication worked because I had mastered the "right" techniques and was so in tune with my baby and my intuition. I don't believe that anymore. In this deeply personal episode, I'm sharing a simple realization: The evidence for EC can be found right there in the Bible itself - and it will change the way you see your babies forever.  Together we'll explore passa...

If EC has been feeling harder as your baby grows, and now they're refusing the potty? In this episode, you'll learn why relying on timing alone eventually stops working, why "easy catches" become less reliable as babies grow, and how learning your baby's communication completely changes the experience. You'll discover: • why potty refusal is usually an accuracy problem—not a behavior problem • the...

What do you do when your baby has missed naps, missed bedtime, been stuck on an airplane for hours, and is melting down in a hotel room at 3 a.m.? Most parents would assume the answer is sleep. That's exactly what I thought, at first. In this episode, I'm sharing the most stressful travel day I've ever experienced as a mom of three. Flight delays, missed connections, airport chaos, a packed hotel...

Can a potty-trained baby really succeed in daycare? If you've ever worried that returning to work, using childcare, or having other caregivers would undo all of your elimination communication progress, this episode is for you. When my 14-month-old son started daycare, I expected a smooth transition. After all, he'd been practicing EC since birth, communicating his potty needs for months, and was f...

You've learned your baby's signals. You're catching pees and poops. Maybe EC is working beautifully. But now you're wondering: When is my baby actually ready to move beyond diapers? This is where many EC families get stuck. Some parents wait for dry diapers before introducing underwear. Others continue using diapers long after their baby has the mobility and communication skills needed for greater...

Why would a working mom choose to ditch diapers before her baby is even walking? And what’s the actual downside of keeping babies in diapers until age 2, 3, or beyond? In this episode, I’m diving into what I call “The Diaper Effect”—the hidden developmental and behavioral impact of modern diaper dependence, and why our family chose to transition both of our younger children out of daytime diapers...

If you're a working mom, preparing for a too-short maternity leave and already lining up daycare - this episode is for you.  You want the best for your baby, you're setting up the premium diaper subscription (by the way, do you know about Hiro ? They're my number one pick for disposables to use with EC), and you're wondering how you're going to juggle it all.  But did you know, elimination communi...

This week’s episode is unlike anything I’ve shared before. We’re talking about the parts of postpartum motherhood that rarely make it online: the disconnect, the loneliness, the strain on marriage after children, and the quiet search so many women find themselves in after becoming mothers. I’m sharing pieces of my own story — including a rare VBA2C birth after two emergency C-sections, postpartum...

If you’ve ever thought: “It was working… but now I’m missing everything” “My baby was signaling, but now they’re resisting” “I don’t know what to do at this stage” This episode is for you. Because this is the part of elimination communication that almost no one talks about. Not the first catch. Not the highlight reel. But the messy middle—where your baby is learning, growing, changing… and things...

What if your baby is already showing you exactly when they need to pee or poop… and you’re just missing it? In this episode, I’m walking you through 5 clear, everyday signals that your baby is already communicating—some of which probably happened today without you even realizing what they meant. We’re talking about: The moment your baby suddenly goes quiet (and why it matters) What squirming durin...

If you’ve been curious about elimination communication (EC) but feel like you don’t have the time, energy, or consistency to do it “right”… this episode is for you. Because here’s the truth no one talks about: EC is not a perfect practice. In this episode, I’m sharing a real, unfiltered look at what infant potty learning actually looks like in a busy, working-mom life—with three kids, early mornin...

What happens after your first “catch”… and how do you actually get to a potty-trained baby? In this episode of Held and Heard, I’m walking you through the exact 3-part framework I used to support my baby in becoming dry, aware, and communicating his need to go by just 10 weeks old. Whether you’re starting elimination communication (EC) from birth or finding this later with an older baby, this epis...

If you’ve ever thought, “This sounds amazing… but I don’t know where to start,” this episode is for you. In this episode, I’m walking you through three simple, natural moments that are already built into your day—where your baby is very likely to pee or poop… and how to respond in a way that feels easy, intuitive, and doable (even in the newborn stage). We’re talking about: Why your baby almost al...

If you’ve ever wondered… “What is elimination communication actually like day-to-day?” “Am I signing up for something stressful or unrealistic?” “Can babies really be potty trained before 1?” This episode answers that—honestly. In this behind-the-scenes, real-life walkthrough, I’m taking you through a full 24 hours of doing elimination communication (EC) with my 11-month-old baby. You’ll hear exac...

If you’ve ever thought: “Elimination communication sounds amazing… but I work.” “What about daycare?” “I can’t be with my baby 24/7…” This episode is for you. Because the truth is—those aren’t actually barriers to elimination communication. They’re just the wrong questions. In this episode, I’m breaking down what it really looks like to practice EC as a working mom, including: Why “daycare” isn’t...

Your baby won't stop crying. Their belly is full and their diaper is dry—but nothing works. Is it gas? Constipation? Your pediatrician says "colic" and tells you to wait it out. But what if your newborn isn't colicky at all? In this episode, I'm revealing the one communication signal that almost every new mother misses—and why understanding it can transform those hours of unexplained crying into 3...

If you're pregnant or in the early postpartum weeks and feel overwhelmed by your baby’s crying, you’re not alone. Many new moms are told that newborn crying is “normal,” mysterious, or something you just have to survive. But what if your baby is actually communicating something specific — and you can learn to understand it? In this episode of Held and Heard, Heather Medlin shares a powerful refram...

Can a newborn really be potty trained? Or have we misunderstood what “ready” actually means? In today’s episode, I’m unpacking one of the biggest misconceptions around potty training and elimination communication — the idea that children must walk, talk, and fully manage the bathroom independently before they “deserve” to be out of diapers. If you’ve ever Googled: “When is my child ready for potty...

Do babies really have bladder and bowel control — or is that a myth? In this episode of Held & Heard, Heather Medlin shares what actually happens when you begin elimination communication (EC) with a newborn or young baby. Instead of talking about long-term potty training benefits, we focus on what changes right now in the postpartum season. You’ll hear: Real stories of newborns holding and wai...

What is elimination communication — and is it really about raising your baby without diapers? In this episode of Held & Heard, Heather Medlin — infant potty learning educator and founder of Ready From Birth — explains what elimination communication actually means, what it doesn’t mean, and why every baby is communicating their potty needs from the day they are born. You’ll learn: What eliminat...

Discover how elimination communication (EC) can transform your postpartum experience—no perfect conditions required. Learn to understand your baby's natural potty cues, reduce crying, and build deeper connection through responsive caregiving. Perfect for babywearing, cloth diapering, and eco-conscious mamas seeking gentle, intuitive parenting practices. Start with just one offer a day. Show Notes...