016 / The Diaper Effect: Why We Ditched Diapers at 7.5 Months (Even as Working Parents)

016 / The Diaper Effect: Why We Ditched Diapers at 7.5 Months (Even as Working Parents)

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 [https://pages.readyfrombirth.com/products/ditch-the-diapers] (without stress, pressure or perfection) ✨ Ready to make potty learning work in real life? Inside my courses and support community The Listening Circle [https://community.readyfrombirth.com/plans/1951718?bundle_token=20abbf482f916036d59e95927f056ff1&utm_source=manual], 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 [http://readyfrombirth.com]   — If this episode resonated with you, send me a DM on Instagram @readyfrombirth.ec or email me at hello@readyfrombirth.com [hello@readyfrombirth.com].

015 / How to Potty Train Your Baby by One (Even as a Busy Working Mom)

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 [https://hirodiapers.com/readyfrombirth]? 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 Easier [https://heldandheard.podbean.com/e/006-your-newborn-doesnt-have-colic-the-30-second-fix-your-doctor-didnt-tell-you/] If 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 Family [https://heldandheard.podbean.com/e/007-but-what-about-daycare-how-to-make-elimination-communication-work-as-a-working-mom/] Curious 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 [https://pages.readyfrombirth.com/products/born-ready]course is the place to start.  Inside Born Ready [https://pages.readyfrombirth.com/products/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 -------- 🐣 Learn more about natural infant toilet learning and elimination communication at readyfrombirth.com [http://readyfrombirth.com/] 🌱 Check out Hiro Diapers [http://hirodiapers.com/readyfrombirth], the healthiest diapers you can buy (for your baby AND the earth) 📲Follow along on Instagram @readyfrombirth.ec [https://www.instagram.com/readyfrombirth.ec]

014 / I Almost Became a Single Mom of 3: The VBAC Story That Changed My Marriage, Motherhood & Faith

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. [https://community.readyfrombirth.com/plans/1951718?bundle_token=20abbf482f916036d59e95927f056ff1&utm_source=manual] Learn more here: Ready From Birth [https://community.readyfrombirth.com/plans/1951718?bundle_token=20abbf482f916036d59e95927f056ff1&utm_source=manual]

013 / The Part of EC No One Talks About (Raw Behind The Scenes with a Potty Trained 1-Year Old)

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 [https://community.readyfrombirth.com/plans/1951718?bundle_token=20abbf482f916036d59e95927f056ff1&utm_source=manual]

012 / Think Your Baby Isn’t Signaling? 5 Signs They Need to Pee

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 [https://pages.readyfrombirth.com/products/born-ready] — 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.