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

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 difference between offering too early, too late, and just in time
• the two foundational skills that make elimination communication dramatically easier
• how to recognize the subtle body language your baby is already using before they pee or poop
• why mobile babies often appear to "regress" even when their awareness is increasing
Heather also shares the simple shift that helped one First Catch Weekend mom go from frustration to catching two pees in a single day after months of struggling.
If you've started EC but feel like you're losing momentum, or you've wondered whether your baby has simply outgrown it, this episode will help you see what's actually happening—and once you see it, you won't be able to unsee it.
Ready to finally catch a signal...not just a poop?
Join First Catch Weekend, where Heather walks you through exactly what to watch for with your own baby over one weekend so you can experience your first confident catches together.
→ Learn more at Ready From Birth.

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 room, and a toddler who absolutely would not settle down. By the middle of the night, I was exhausted, frustrated, and completely out of ideas.
But there was one detail I almost missed...
And once I saw it, everything changed.
This story isn't really about travel. It's about what happens when you stop guessing and start recognizing what your baby is trying to communicate. It's about the difference between reacting to behavior and understanding what's underneath it. And it's a reminder that the "knowing" experienced EC parents talk about isn't magic, intuition, or a special gift—it's a skill you can learn.
If you've ever wondered:
How do EC parents know when their baby needs to go?
What does it actually feel like when it clicks?
Can this really work outside of a perfectly controlled environment?
How do I become more confident reading my baby's signals?
...this episode is for you.
Ready for your first catch?
This Friday, June 26, I'm opening the very first First Catch Weekend.
Over one simple weekend, I'll help you learn how to recognize your baby's signals, make your first potty catch, and experience the confidence that comes from truly understanding what your baby is trying to tell you.
Because once you experience that moment for yourself, you'll never see your baby the same way again.
Sign up now for the First Catch Weekend
We start Friday, June 26th at 5 PM ET, and I can't wait to show you what's possible with YOUR baby.

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 fully potty trained at home before his first birthday.
Then something happened that almost made me give it all up - three poop accidents in a single day.
Was daycare going to undo everything we'd worked for? What happened next completely changed the story.
In this episode, I'm sharing:
What those daycare accidents were really telling me
The simple adjustments that turned things around almost immediately
Why EC works even when you're a full-time working mom
Why successful infant potty learning has nothing to do with perfection
The hidden skill that matters far more than having a perfect routine
Most importantly, you'll discover why elimination communication is less about potty training and more about learning to understand the unique rhythms, patterns, and communication your baby has been showing you all along.
Whether you're practicing EC already, curious about starting, or simply looking for a more connected way to respond to your baby, this episode will help you see what's possible.
Ready to Experience Your First Catch?
Enrollment is now open for First Catch Weekend, a live guided experience designed to help you get your very first catch—even if you've never tried EC before.
In just one weekend, I'll show you exactly when to offer the potty, how to recognize your baby's natural timing, and how to experience that moment when you realize your baby has been communicating with you all along.
No special equipment. No complicated routines. No lifestyle overhaul.
Just one catch that changes how you see your baby forever.
Learn more and make this your First Catch Weekend.
 

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 independence. And many discover that the transition they assumed would happen naturally... never quite does.
In this episode, I'm breaking down:
The 3 signs your baby may be ready to stop relying on diapers
Why consistent dryness is not a prerequisite for underwear
The surprising connection between mobility and toilet independence
What potty refusal is really telling you
Why many EC families struggle after crawling begins
You'll also hear why we transitioned our own baby out of daytime diapers at just 7.5 months and what happened once he became mobile enough to communicate his potty needs more independently.
If you've ever wondered whether your EC baby is truly on track for toilet independence—or you're worried about ending up in a stressful toddler potty training battle later—this episode will help you understand what comes next.
Ready for the next step?
Ditch the Diapers is my step-by-step program for babies who are already communicating their potty needs and are ready to begin the transition toward daytime dryness and toilet independence.
Inside, you'll learn exactly how to reduce diaper dependence, introduce underwear strategically, handle accidents without frustration, and support your baby's growing independence without pressure.
Learn more and Ditch the Diapers.
 
Wondering which diapers to use for the early months?
Look no further than Hiro diapers, the only truly non-toxic disposable diaper on the market made of blanket-soft unbleached cotton and sustainable wood pulp, paired with Hiro's proprietary friendly fungi that break down the entire diaper and contents in just months in the landfill. Best yet? It's perfect for EC - a slower wicking core protects your baby's sensitive skin while also keeping the feedback and letting them know that something happened, so you don't lose your EC progress while they're at daycare or on the go. 
Use the code READYFROMBIRTH to claim your lifetime discount on a 🍄Hiro diaper subscription. 🌱

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 around one year old (with our youngest beginning the transition at just 7.5 months).
We’re talking about:
Elimination communication (EC) for working moms
Early potty learning and infant potty training
Why modern disposable diapers “mask the moment”
How diapers affect potty awareness and communication
Research on diapers and walking development
Why babies in underwear learn differently than babies in diapers
Responsive vs reactive potty learning
And how we made this work with two full-time working parents and three small children
If you’ve ever wondered:
“Why start potty training so early?”
“Can EC work for working moms?”
“What’s the benefit of ditching diapers before age 2?”
“Do diapers affect walking or potty awareness?”
“Can babies really learn to use the potty this young?”
This episode is for you.
Because this isn’t about pressure, perfection, or forcing independence early.
It’s about helping your baby connect:👉 bodily awareness👉 communication👉 and response
So that potty learning becomes something gradual, relational, and intuitive—instead of a battle later on.
In this episode, I also share:
the studies linking bulky diapers to altered gait patterns and increased falls
why wetness feedback matters
and how responsive parenting changes the potty learning process entirely
Whether you’re fully practicing EC already, just EC-curious, or somewhere in between, this conversation will completely change the way you think about diapers.
✨ Is your baby already cruising? Learn how to Ditch the Diapers here (without stress, pressure or perfection)
✨ Ready to make potty learning work in real life?
Inside my courses and support community The Listening Circle, I help postpartum and working moms build a practical, responsive approach to EC and early potty learning—from birth through toilet independence.
You can learn more at:👉 readyfrombirth.com
 
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If this episode resonated with you, send me a DM on Instagram @readyfrombirth.ec or email me at hello@readyfrombirth.com. 

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 communication can work for YOU too?
In this episode, I’m sharing how we used EC to potty train both our youngest two children by one (and why you'd even want to)  — while working, using childcare, juggling multiple kids, and living very normal busy modern lives.
Not by “training” a newborn.Not by forcing independence.And definitely not by sitting at home staring at our baby all day.
We’re talking about:
how elimination communication actually works in real life as a working mom
why early potty learning can make postpartum easier, not harder
why misleading guidance about “readiness” often delays toilet learning longer
how to lay the foundation during maternity leave before returning to work
what to do about childcare for EC
why consistency matters more than perfection
If you want a simpler, more connected and more sustainable way forward than diapers as usual — and you’re tired of being told to just wait until your child is older — this episode will open up an entirely different possibility.
Especially if you’ve ever caught yourself thinking:
“I would love this… but there’s no way it could work for someone like me.”
Friend, I work too. And this episode is for you.
And if this episode resonated with you, here are two more episodes to listen to next:
→ Why EC Makes the Newborn Phase EasierIf you’re pregnant, newly postpartum, or wondering how on earth you could add something “extra” during the newborn stage, start here. 
→ How We Make EC Work as a Working FamilyCurious how we make EC work with childcare? Here I share the behind-the-scenes logistics of how we’ve made early potty learning sustainable as a working family.
And if you’re ready to stop guessing and learn exactly how to start potty learning with your baby from birth to 12 months, the Born Ready course is the place to start. 
Inside Born Ready, you'll discover:
how to recognize your baby’s potty signals
how to respond confidently without stress or obsession
how to make EC work in real life with diapers, work, daycare, and modern motherhood
how to lay the foundation for easy, natural potty independence from the very beginning
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🐣 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
 

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 separation, rebuilding a relationship that I thought was over, and the unexpected faith journey that changed everything for me.
This episode explores:
postpartum marriage struggles
motherhood and identity loss
reconciliation after separation
faith, healing, and forgiveness
choosing repair over “starting over”
rebuilding trust after conflict
and what happens when postpartum cracks open every part of your life
Whether you’re walking through tension in your relationship, processing your own birth story, navigating early motherhood, exploring faith, or simply feeling overwhelmed by this season of life — I hope this conversation makes you feel less alone.
And while this episode is only loosely connected to elimination communication, it is deeply connected to the heart behind this podcast: connection, listening, healing, and learning to build strong families in a culture that often tells us to walk away instead.
✨ If you want ongoing support and real conversations about motherhood, postpartum life, EC, relationships, and family rhythms, you can join us inside The Listening Circle community.
Learn more here:Ready From Birth

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 stop feeling clear.
In this episode, I’m sharing a real, unfiltered excerpt from one of my Listening Circle coaching calls—where I talk through what actually happened when:
👉 my baby clearly needed to poop…👉 I gave him the space to get there on his own…👉 and he did THIS instead...
But that doesn’t mean failure.
It means the process is working.
We’re talking about:
Why misses and messes are part of learning
What “progress” actually looks like in EC
Why independence comes after awareness and communication
And what to do when you’re no longer a beginner—but not fully confident either
Because EC isn’t something you learn once and master.
It’s something you live with your baby—and it changes constantly.
—
✨ This is exactly why I created the Listening Circle.
A space for moms who are already practicing EC and need support in the real-life moments:
when your baby stops signaling
when they resist the potty
when you’re thinking about ditching diapers
when you’re not sure what to do next
Inside, we get on live calls together and work through what’s actually happening with your baby—in real time.
Not theory. Not guesswork.
Real support, so you can stop second guessing and make this work in your life.
You can join us here:
👉 Join the Listening Circle

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 during feeds is really telling you
Why babies lose interest in food mid-meal
The truth behind fussiness in the carrier
And one of the most overlooked sleep disruptions that’s actually a potty cue
These aren’t advanced techniques or complicated routines.These are real-life moments—things you’re already seeing—that can completely change how you approach elimination communication.
If you’ve ever felt like:
“I don’t know when my baby needs to go”
“I think I’m missing the signals”
“I don’t want to guess and get it wrong”
This episode will give you a whole new lens to see what’s already happening.
Because EC isn’t about doing more.It’s about noticing what’s already there.
—
✨ Ready to stop guessing and actually understand your baby’s signals?
Inside my Born Ready course, I walk you step-by-step through:
How to recognize your baby’s unique signals
How those signals change by age and stage
And how to build a simple, repeatable rhythm that actually works in real life
So you can move from “hoping you catch it” to confidently knowing exactly when your baby needs to go.
👉Learn more about Born Ready here
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If this episode gave you an “aha” moment, send me a DM on Instagram @readyfrombirth.ec—I’d love to hear what you’re noticing with your baby.

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 mornings that don’t go as planned, missed cues, messy moments, and yes… poop on the floor.
You’ll learn:
Why you don’t need to catch every pee or poop for EC to “work”
How to practice elimination communication while still using diapers
What it looks like to follow your baby’s signals without pressure or perfection
Why missed catches still build your baby’s awareness and communication
How to approach EC with confidence—even if you work or your baby goes to daycare
💛 Ready to Start (but don’t know how to begin)?
If you’re pregnant or newly postpartum and thinking,“I want to do this… I just need a clear, simple way to start…”
👉 Born Ready walks you through exactly how to begin EC from day one (or wherever you’re starting), without overwhelmYou’ll learn what to look for, when to offer, and how to make this feel natural in your real life
[Explore Born Ready here]
🤍 Already Trying… but It Feels Inconsistent?
If you’ve gotten a few catches, but you’re still wondering:
“Am I doing this right?”
“Why did signals disappear?”
“Why does it feel so hit or miss?”
👉 The Listening Circle is where you get real-time support, troubleshooting, and reassuranceThis is where we take everything from “I think I get it…” to “I feel confident doing this every day”
Join us for our next live call + ongoing support:[Join the Listening Circle]
🚽 Ready to Move Toward Independence?
If your baby is standing, cruising, or walking—and you’re starting to think about life without diapers…
👉 Ditch the Diapers shows you how to transition from assisted pottying to true independence(without power struggles, pressure, or waiting until age 2+)
[Learn more about Ditch the Diapers]
If you’ve ever thought:
“I love this idea, but I could never do it like that”
“I tried EC and it didn’t go perfectly”
“I don’t have the capacity for one more thing”
I want you to hear this clearly:
You can do this imperfectly—and it still matters.
Because EC isn’t about being diaper-free.It’s about learning to listen to your baby—and trusting yourself to respond.