Back in April of 2022, we aired an episode on potty training, which was pretty comprehensive. We looked at potty training around the world and how it differed from the US. Told a bit about our own experience and gave a lot of suggestions for what works, lots of tips to try if you’re a parent in the throes of potty training.
Fast forward to 2025…and there are some growing trends out on the interwebs. One of them is called “Elimination Communication,” and its advocates demonstrate that parents might start introducing kids to that potty right off the bat.
Today our guest is Lauren Stamper, who you might know from her IG account @diaperfreediaries. Welcome, Lauren!
Can you tell us a bit about yourself? (Where are you located? married? Kiddos?)
Located in Louisiana, married with 2 kids–toddler age. First child potty trained by 18 months. Second is doing pretty well at 9 months.
The method you advocate—Elimination Communication—can you define what that is?
How did you come to be a “go diaper free coach”?
In our previous podcast on this subject, we mentioned that in the US, in 1947, 60% of kids were toilet trained at 18 months. Today the average age is 3 yrs. Child development hasn’t changed.
More than 50 percent of the world’s children are toilet trained by the time they turn 1, according to Contemporary Pediatrics magazine.
The typical American child goes through about 6,000 diapers total before being toilet-trained, with just under half occurring in the first year when the changing derby is really on. That’s a lot of waste, and a lot of money!
If you’re a mom in the US to a child under two, you may not even be thinking about this yet. You’ll just keep on filling that Diaper Genie and shelling out the big bucks for disposables or washing endless loads of cloth alternatives. Diapers can run upwards of $900/yr for ONE child, not counting wipes & other supplies.
(**Fun fact many people may not know: if you’re on TennCare, you’re eligible to receive a box of free diapers each month from participating locations/pharmacies.)
Besides cost & environmental waste, what’s wrong with diapers? They’re really convenient!
–prolong the potty training process
–interfere with walking/motoring
–contribute to fussiness?
Diaper free doesn’t mean naked peeing everywhere. You’re just not AS DEPENDENT on diapers.
Ok, so walk us through what this process looks like. I’m a new mom with a new baby, and this sounds interesting to me. What do I need to get started? Special gear, supplies?
You actually have your own podcast & age-based guides for this method on your IG linktree, so we want to be sure to send listeners there.
You can find early potties and little undies at tinyundies.com
How do babies communicate potty signals? (besides hiding behind the chair to poop) From the free easy start guide from your website godiaperfree.com
5 common signals
What to look for when doing naked diaper free observation
4 low stress easy catches to start with
4 smart EC positions
What if I’m not with my child 24/7? I’m using a daycare or part-time caregiver?
You’re just going to do what you can do, when you can do it. It’s more about “exposure” than 100% perfection. Like baby-led weaning, (“food before 1 is just for fun”), this early potty exposure simply helps them down the road be less resistant to going potty and more used to the process.
Sign language communication? (“I’ve got your nose”)
Bluey: Bluey & Bingo often go for a “bushwee”…. This is early potty training!
Come clean, Lauren. Are you just “one of those crunchy moms”? Do you also have a sourdough starter and can all your food for the winter?
What would you tell parents who might be curious about this but they’re thinking “I’m already overwhelmed & now you’re giving me something else to monitor and stay on top of?”
Again, the way I use it is making sure I’m doing the “easy catches,” when they wake up from nap or nighttime, after a meal, etc. If I notice other signals throughout the day, then great. If not, I’m not berating myself and it’s not a big step backwards for the child. Diaper free means less of an overall dependence on diapers, not LITERALLY totally naked without diapers ALL the time. Of course there’ll be times when you’re in the car or out somewhere and you don’t catch the signals or aren’t able to address them. That’s all ok.