The Go Diaper Free Podcast

Guess what? Montessori educator Merry Hadden called any potty training after age 2 "REMEDIAL". Even I wouldn't have the guts to put that on my website. What it really means is that children who have exclusively been in diapers have missed out on so much of the developmental picture. All is not lost. Listen to hear how parents can help "restore" their child's natural propensity for good hygiene, cl...

OK, imagine you're a baby, and you've been told to poop in this diaper for your entire life. Suddenly, you're three, and the adults get mad if you still poop in the diaper and want you to poop on the toilet instead. What gives?? That is exactly what we're talking about in today's episode about how you, as the adult, can best help prepare your child's physical and mental environment around toilet l...

You've probably heard of Montessori. Do you know that a lot of Montessori methods overlap with what I teach about EC? Today's episode is the first in a four-part series based on the Montessori approach to toilet learning, starting at birth. I'll tell you all about what Mother Nature intended for your baby re: toilet learning. Let's consider how we can return to our instincts and trust the natural...

The average age of potty training has more than doubled in two generations. But! The blame doesn't belong to parents, so let go of any guilt (yes, I'm talkin' to you). It belongs to long-term, strategic marketing campaigns from a 65 billion dollar industry that have slowly, over these generations, led to dramatic changes in the way we parent. If you're sensitive to extremely passionate opinions, m...

Raising a kid, especially in this economy, is not cheap. Trust me, with 6 kids I know all the ways those expenses add up before you realize! But there is one area where you can cut costs significantly. Today's episode is all about how to save money on diapers. Obviously, doing full-time Elimination Communication will save you a lot on diapers. Even if you DON'T do EC full time, there are creative...

What do you do if you're the only one in your family who is excited about elimination communication? It can feel lonely and hopeless if your husband is not on board with EC…or with any other baby care suggestions and preferences. Maybe you even have a partner who is outright not being helpful with baby. Join me on this week's episode to talk about some ways to talk to a resisting partner about EC,...

I hate autoflush toilets.  If you've ever taken your child to a public restroom, there's a 100% chance you've encountered one of these toilets that flushes all by itself…and that it has scared the bejesus out of your little one! Think from their point of view: it's a big, unexpected noise, right under their bottom, while they're vulnerable trying to pee! Autoflush toilets can make EC and potty tra...

Everyone's first question when we say we don't use diapers:"Don't you get pee on everything?" First of all, nope. Second of all, I get it, nobody wants a pee mattress. Sometimes misses do happen, but I have the perfect way to clean your mattress (or carpet, or couch, or whatever).  Get full show notes and add your comments or questions here: https://godiaperfree.com/64 Get my free easy start guide...

Parents of special needs kiddos, did you know that you don't have to go the prescribed route of delayed toilet training and extended diaper usage? ECing a baby with Down Syndrome has benefits that extend far beyond getting out of diapers 50% sooner! I want to tell you about those benefits, techniques you can use immediately, and some encouraging success stories!  Get full show notes and add your c...

Years later it still hurts a little to share. I've shared my EC journey with sooo many parents and helped tens of thousands of families be free from diaper reliance. And yet, my own best friend still decided it was not for her. Let's talk about some reasons why people refuse the offer to try EC, and how we can support the different kinds of moms around us.  Get full show notes and add your comment...

Have you ever had this happen to you? You offer your baby a pottytunity, your baby doesn't go…then baby pees five minutes later in the diaper or on the floor. Probably most of you are nodding your heads, because this is actually really common. Today we're going to talk about a few of the reasons this might happen, and what you can do about it.  Get full show notes and add your comments or question...

Does your baby fuss every time you put him down to sit on the potty? Does she stand up right after she's seated and either crawl or walk away, before doing her business? Will your baby ONLY pee or poop standing up lately? Argh! It's frustrating, I know! Don't you go worrying, now. Don't quit elimination communication just yet. This is actually VERY common, and in today's episode I'll break it down...

So you've been doing EC, but your kiddo is not a little baby anymore. Feeling ready to transition from mostly parent-led pottying to truly child-led pottying? Today's episode is all about passing the baton, and the art of gradually handing over the potty keys to your baby. Don't worry, you won't screw it up! I'll tell you all about how to support your child's potty independence during a time when...

Your baby is now walking, maybe "talking", busy learning and developing. For some of you, daycare or preschool has entered the picture. Obviously, during this time of rapid change, your EC routine is also going to change. But how? Follow along as I walk you through a day of EC with a young toddler, and what it looks like in our home. Get full show notes and add your comments or questions here: htt...

Is your baby starting to pull up, rock on all fours, or show other signs that full-on mobility is just around the corner? Are you wondering how EC might change once your baby is mobile? What does a full day (that includes pottying) with your baby look like now? In some ways EC becomes easier, and in others there are new challenges to tackle. Today I'm going to give you another little peek into my...

Maybe you are pregnant and are considering EC, but just can't picture what your routine might look like. Not to worry! I've practiced EC with six babies from birth, and I am going to let you know what to expect. Plus, stay tuned for the next two episodes where I cover the mobile baby and young toddler stages!  Get full show notes and add your comments or questions here: https://godiaperfree.com/54...

OK So we're ditching diapers. Now what? When can you start putting a baby in undies or trainers? What is a backup and why do we need it for potty learning success? I answer all of these questions and more in today's episode, giving you the ultimate lowdown on everything you're gonna need on your EC journey.  Get full show notes and add your comments or questions here: https://godiaperfree.com/53 G...

When you have a new baby, it can feel like you're constantly grasping at straws to try and figure out what to do next. Baby is fussy, but do they need a feed? Do they want to poop? Do they just want to be held? In today's episode, I walk you through what to try, in which order, including how EC fits into the picture with a newborn.  Get full show notes and add your comments or questions here: http...

Congratulations! Your baby is here! …Now what? Today we're going to talk about how to PLAY with your baby. Other than nursing, pottying, and napping what exactly are you supposed to do with your sweet little bundle all day? If you are having these thoughts, or even feeling guilty for feeling a bit bored, you aren't alone! Today we're going to talk about ways to interact with your baby while stayin...

Twyla (my 5th baby) was born on November 20, 2018 at 5:51am in an unassisted birth, waterbirth, freebirth...many names for what happened. Basically: I birthed her in our bathtub with no outside assistance or interference, whatsoever. No midwife. No OB. No doula. Just me, my husband, and our baby.​ This is our story. Get full show notes and add your comments or questions here: https://godiaperfree....

Would you consider yourself a data-driven individual? Or are you more likely to just observe and "go with the flow"? Maybe you feel like the only way to do EC properly is to record every catch and miss. Maybe just the thought of keeping track of yet another thing with a little baby is overwhelming. In today's episode I want to talk about how to avoid unnecessary pressure, stay focused on the real...

"Isn't the purpose of a diaper pretty obvious, Andrea?" Are you sure? How much do you know about the history of diapers? If you've been here for a little while, you know I have some strong opinions on this one. Come along with me on this week's episode where I challenge you to think about the diaper differently.  Get full show notes and add your comments or questions here: https://godiaperfree.com...

Pottying your baby is a whole lot easier if they could just tell you when they need to go, right? Maybe your LO doesn't know how to tell you yet. Maybe there was a reliable signal before but they've stopped doing it?? In this week's episode I'm talking all about how we can teach our babies to signal and make communication so much clearer.  Get full show notes and add your comments or questions her...

Do you feel overwhelmed by resistance at potty time? Do you feel unsuccessful and stressed with all the potty misses? Maybe you've been trying and trying, and you just want a break from it all. I have so been there! The solution is the re-set. In this episode, I will share what it looks like and why you may need to do it immediately.  Get full show notes and add your comments or questions here: ht...

How does starting solids affect EC? As you may have guessed, changing what goes in also changes what comes out. Maybe you already started, or maybe you know it's coming up soon for your LO. This week's episode will go over everything you can expect, including the important question of how poop cleanups change. (Plus, the blog post has some reference pictures from when I started solids with one of...