As more families look for ways to parent with intention and body awareness, interest is growing in approaches that treat babies as active participants—not passive passengers. On the Born Wild Podcast, midwives Leah and Sophia sat down with intuitive parenting advocate Erica Davis to talk about elimination communication (EC): a gentle, responsive way to tune into a baby’s cues around peeing and pooping.
Rather than a rigid method or extreme “no-diaper” lifestyle, Erica describes EC as a simple conversation between parent and child. It asks us to slow down, notice, and trust that even the smallest babies are communicating through their bodies—and that we’re capable of listening.
What Is Elimination Communication, Really?
Elimination communication is the practice of noticing when your baby needs to pee or poop and offering them a chance to go somewhere other than their diaper—like a small potty, sink, toilet, or bowl.
Erica explains, “It’s a way to communicate with your child and to really listen to their communication as to when they need to use the toilet… simple, but also very profound when you really embrace it.”
Key points to understand:
- EC is not about forcing babies to “hold it.”
- EC is not early, pressured potty training.
- EC does not mean you never use diapers.
In most EC families, diapers are still used, but as a backup rather than the baby’s only bathroom. You might catch some pees and poops in a potty and some in a diaper—and that’s normal. What matters is the ongoing relationship with your baby’s signals.
Baby Cues and “Easy Catches”
Just as we talk about hunger cues, EC simply extends that awareness to elimination. Many babies show clear signs before they go; we just aren’t usually taught to see them.
Parents may notice:
- Baby popping off the breast and staring, even when latch is good
- A shift from relaxed to suddenly still or squirmy
- Red face, bearing down, or grunting before a poop
- Older babies grabbing their crotch or looking down
Alongside cues, Erica leans on “easy catches”—times when babies are naturally more likely to need to go, even without obvious signals:
- After waking (morning and post-nap)
- After coming out of the car seat, carrier, or stroller
- During every diaper change
- When you see a classic poop face
In those moments, you simply offer a quick potty opportunity. Hold your baby in a supported squat over a chosen spot and use a consistent sound—like “pss pss pss” or a soft “shhh.” If nothing happens after a minute or two, you’re done. No pressure, no performance.
Observation Time and Deepening Connection
For families who want to go a step deeper, Erica recommends occasional observation time. It’s exactly what it sounds like: unhurried time to simply be with your baby and notice.
A basic observation session might look like:
- Laying your baby on a waterproof pad, naked or in light clothing
- Putting your phone away and minimizing distractions
- Spending 20–60 minutes watching what happens just before and as they pee or poop
This practice isn’t just about data collection; it’s about presence. “That level of connection and non-distraction is pretty rare,” Erica notes. Yet it’s often in these quiet moments that parents begin to recognize their baby’s unique rhythm and personality.
EC, done this way, becomes less about catching every elimination and more about building trust—in your baby, and in your own instincts as a parent.
Diapers, Culture, and Finding a Flexible Middle Ground
If EC feels radical, it’s partly because most of us grew up in a culture that:
- Normalizes years of round-the-clock diaper use
- Treats pee and poop as shameful or “gross”
- Keeps parents so busy that slowing down to watch for subtle cues feels impossible
Erica points out that disposable diapers are relatively new in human history—and part of a massive industry. They’re convenient, but they also disconnect babies from the sensation of wetness and fill landfills with long-lasting waste. At the same time, she is clear: using disposable diapers or potty training at three doesn’t make anyone a bad parent.
Instead of an all-or-nothing stance, she encourages flexibility:
- Use disposables, cloth, or a mix—whatever works in your season of life
- Try one easy catch a day and see how it feels
- Expect “misses” and potty pauses during teething or developmental leaps
- Let EC ebb and flow alongside real-life demands, health needs, and energy levels
The benefits can be surprisingly far-reaching: fewer poopy diapers over time, a gentler path out of diapers, and a child who grows up with less shame and more trust in their own body.
Final Thoughts: Honoring Your Baby’s Body Wisdom
Whether you practice EC once a day or weave it into most of your routine, the deeper invitation is the same: your baby’s body is wise. Their signals are not inconveniences, but opportunities to connect.
EC doesn’t have to be perfect or pure to be meaningful. Even small steps—a morning potty offer, a few minutes of observation, a shift in language from “gross” to neutral—can change the tone of your parenting and your child’s relationship with their body.
Want to Learn More?
To hear Erica Davis’s full conversation with Leah and Sophia—including real-life stories, humor, and guidance for making EC work in busy, modern families—listen to the episode:
“Elimination Communication, Conscious Parenting, and More with Erica Davis” on the Born Wild Podcast.
If you’re exploring home birth, postpartum care, or conscious parenting in Sonoma County, connect with Born Wild Midwifery to learn how practices like EC can fit into your family’s unique journey.
