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

007 / "But What About Daycare?” How to Make Elimination Communication Work as a Working Mom

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 the real issue (and what is)
What to say to caregivers (and what to expect)
Why most U.S. daycare settings struggle with EC—and what to do instead
Real-life childcare setups that actually support your baby’s learning
How to create consistency (even when you’re not the one with your baby all day)
The exact system I’ve used with multiple caregivers, nannies, and an au pair
How EC can still lead to potty independence by 12–15 months—even with a job
I’m also sharing behind-the-scenes of how I made this work as a full-time professional with three kids—so you can see what’s actually possible.
Because this isn’t about staying home.
It’s about understanding your baby, creating consistency, and choosing a system that works with your life—not against it.
If you’re pregnant or newly postpartum and want a clear, step-by-step system to make this simple:
Inside Born Ready, I walk you through exactly how to:
Start from birth (or wherever you are)
Recognize your baby’s signals
Create routines that caregivers can follow
Stay consistent all the way to early potty independence
This is the piece most moms are missing—and it’s what makes this actually work.
👉 Learn more at: readyfrombirth.com

006 / Your Newborn Doesn't Have Colic: The 30 Second Fix Your Doctor Didn't Tell You

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 30 seconds to relief.
If you've ever felt helpless while your baby screams, convinced there's something wrong but unable to figure out what, this episode is for you. I'm breaking down exactly why the newborn phase (0-8 weeks) is actually the EASIEST time to start understanding your baby—not the hardest—and how tuning into this one overlooked need can help prevent the overwhelm, frustration, and postpartum depression that so many mothers experience.
In this episode, you'll discover:
The real reason your newborn cries that has nothing to do with gas or colic
Why babies communicate most clearly in the first 8 weeks (and what happens when we miss it)
The exact body language and facial cues that signal your baby needs help—before they start screaming
How I went from hours of unexplained crying with baby #1 to peaceful, confident postpartum with baby #3
Why starting elimination communication from birth makes newborn care EASIER, not harder
What a "30-second potty pause" looks like in real life (yes, even one week postpartum after a 4th degree tear)
This isn't about adding more to your plate. This is about understanding what your baby has been trying to tell you all along—so you can finally help them, trust yourself, and stop second-guessing every cry.
If you're pregnant or in the thick of the newborn phase right now, this episode could change everything.
Ready to learn more? Check out the Born Ready course for a step-by-step system to start elimination communication from day one.
🌿Already practicing EC? Join The Listening Circle for real-time support and community
______________________________
🐣 Learn more about natural infant toilet learning and elimination communication at readyfrombirth.com
🌱 Interested in sustainability and toxin free gear? Check out Hiro Diapers, the healthiest diapers you can buy (for your baby AND the earth)
📲Follow along on Instagram @readyfrombirth.ec

005 / Feeling Overwhelmed in Postpartum? Try This to Ease Newborn Crying and Regain Your Peace

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 reframe that can transform the newborn stage: babies don’t cry randomly. They cry because they have a need.
You’ll learn the five basic needs every newborn communicates, including one that is almost completely overlooked in modern parenting — your baby’s need to pee or poop.
Heather explains how elimination communication (EC) and infant potty learning can help you understand your baby’s signals, reduce unexplained crying, and create a calmer postpartum experience for both of you.
This episode is especially helpful if you:
Are pregnant and preparing for the newborn stage
Have a newborn who seems to cry constantly
Feel unsure how to meet your baby’s needs
Are curious about elimination communication or natural infant potty learning
Want a more connected, responsive approach to parenting
Instead of adding more to your plate, this approach helps you listen to what your baby is already communicating.
When you understand your baby’s signals, everything begins to feel easier.
 
Don't have the bandwidth to figure this out alone? Let's do it together: get real time support, encouragement, and troubleshooting inside The Listening Circle , a global community of EC mamas learning to listen to our babies, together.
______________________________
🐣 Learn more about natural infant toilet learning and elimination communication at readyfrombirth.com
🌱 Check out Hiro Diapers, the healthiest diapers you can buy (for your baby AND the earth)
📲Follow along on Instagram @readyfrombirth.ec

004 / Can Your Newborn Baby Be Potty Trained? Here's What "Toilet Readiness" Misunderstands

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 training?”
“Is elimination communication realistic?”
“Can newborns control their bladder?”
“Infant potty training vs traditional potty training”
This conversation is for you.
In this episode, I share:
Why the cultural definition of potty training may be incomplete
The three criteria I use to define “potty trained" for a baby
Why your newborn already shows readiness from birth
Why elimination communication is about dignity, not pressure
The difference between independence and capability
This isn’t about adding something new to your already full postpartum plate.
It’s about recognizing what your baby is already communicating.
 
🧭 Learn more about the Born Ready course (0–12 months roadmap)🌿 Join community support inside The Listening Circle
______________________________
🐣 Learn more about natural infant toilet learning and elimination communication at readyfrombirth.com
🌱 Check out Hiro Diapers, the healthiest diapers you can buy (for your baby AND the earth)
📲Follow along on Instagram @readyfrombirth.ec

003 / Do Babies Really Have Bladder Control? The Surprising Truth About EC With a Newborn

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 waiting for the potty
What “bladder control” actually looks like in babies
Why babies don’t immediately eliminate the moment they feel pressure
How infant potty training builds body awareness and communication
Why elimination communication works even part-time
What changes in connection, trust, and confidence when you start listening
Many parents are told that babies have no bladder or bowel control until much later. But when you start responding to their signals, something surprising happens.
Whether you’re pregnant, in the newborn phase, or starting EC at 6–12 months, this episode will help you understand what’s possible.
🌿 Download the Free Elimination Communication Quick Start Guide🌿 Learn more about the Born Ready course (0–12 months roadmap)🌿 Join community support inside The Listening Circle
Your baby is aware.Your baby is communicating.And you are capable of listening.
______________________________
🐣 Learn more about natural infant toilet learning and elimination communication at readyfrombirth.com
🌱 Check out Hiro Diapers, the healthiest diapers you can buy (for your baby AND the earth)
📲Follow along on Instagram @readyfrombirth.ec

002 / What Is Elimination Communication? Infant Potty Training Explained (From Birth to 12 Months)

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 elimination communication (EC) really is
Why infant potty training isn’t about perfection or going diaper free
The history of modern disposable diapers
How early toilet learning works in cultures around the world
Why listening to your baby’s body language builds confidence and connection
How you can practice EC while still using diapers
Whether you’re pregnant, postpartum, curious about potty training from birth, or wondering if elimination communication works for working moms — this episode will give you clarity.
Elimination communication is not about performance. It’s about listening.
🎧 Learn more about the Born Ready course (your complete roadmap to EC from birth to 12 months)
🌱 Check out Hiro Diapers, the healthiest diapers you can buy (for your baby AND the earth)
______________________________
🐣 Learn more about natural infant toilet learning and elimination communication at readyfrombirth.com🌿 Explore community support inside The Listening Circle 📬 Grab the free EC Quick Start Guide
📲Follow along on Instagram @readyfrombirth.ec

001 / Presence Over Perfection: Why You Don't Need Perfect Conditions to Start EC

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 with Timestamps:
[00:00] Welcome to Held and Heard - Introduction to elimination communication and infant potty learning
[01:01] Why this episode is about practice over perfection 
[02:18] What is elimination communication (EC)? Understanding your baby's natural potty cues
[03:30] Why EC matters: How humans have cared for babies throughout history
[04:37] Your baby is already aware - Understanding infant body awareness from birth
[05:53] The truth about "colic" - Why babies cry at 4-6 weeks old
[08:15] How ignoring potty cues affects your baby and future potty training
[10:27] You don't need to do it perfectly - Starting with awareness and one offer a day
[12:00] Heather's personal story - The difference between baby #1 and babies #2 & #3
[13:19] Trusting your maternal instincts - You already know what your baby needs
[14:36] The relief and calm that comes from responsive pottying
[15:37] Take the next step - Don't wait for perfect conditions
______________________________
🎧 Learn more about natural infant toilet learning and elimination communication at readyfrombirth.com🌿 Explore EC courses + The Listening Circle community at Ready From Birth📬 Grab the free EC Quick Start Guide
Follow Heather on Instagram @readyfrombirth.ec