Go Diaper Free Review & Promo Code: Is This eBook the Secret to Using Fewer Diapers?

In the U.S., the average toddler isn’t fully potty trained until age three, but internationally 50 percent of babies reach this milestone by 12 months old. (source) This is largely in part to a practice called elimination communication (EC). For many, those words conjure images of a naked baby running around, but Andrea Olson, a psychiatrist and author of the popular ebook Go Diaper Free says EC isn’t about being totally wild and free—it’s about gently encouraging your baby to use the potty from an early age.

Sound intriguing? This comprehensive review of her book, Go Diaper Free, will explain how this valuable resource can help you master elimination communication.

First Thing’s First: What is the Elimination Communication (EC) Method?

EC, infant potty training, or diaper-free are all terms for the same process. It’s a gentle, non-coercive alternative to diapers and traditional potty training to help your baby meet their elimination needs. In practical terms, caregivers respond to behavioral cues and help baby go potty in a small toilet (or something similar) instead of a diaper.

Pros to Elimination Communication

Why would anyone want to do this? There are tons of myths about EC—namely that it’s going to take forever and be really messy. While it is a commitment, it’s one that’s totally doable and there are tons of advantages to elimination communication:

• Relationship building: EC is a great way to build communication and trust between child and parent.
• Cleaner. Baby doesn’t sit in his waste, which—bonus—means fewer diaper rashes.
• More comfortable. Sitting in waste is obviously uncomfortable, but beyond that, diapers are bulky.
• Fewer diapers. Even if you only do EC part time, you’ll use fewer diapers—a win for the environment and your budget.
• Greater self esteem. With EC, baby begins to understand that what she communicates has value. This fosters confidence and a greater sense of self.

What is Go Diaper Free? A Look Inside the eBook

If elimination communication sounds like something you might want to try, Go Diaper Free is the ultimate resource.

In it, author and Psychiatrist Andrea Olson leverages over five years of research and hands-on experience to explain everything you could ever want to know about the process in detail. Here’s a summary of what’s included in this extensive elimination communication resource.

The basics

When does your baby need to use the bathroom? How soon after eating or waking do they poop/pee? Some babies give obvious signals, like squirming or a potty dance, while others are harder to read. Olson covers all of the most common baby signals in detail to help caregivers recognize baby’s potty language.

This stage, called observation, is done without a diaper so it’s easier to pick up on baby’s signals and natural timing. This isn’t a license for little ones to pee on the floor whenever and wherever, though, and the book covers ways to prevent that.

Helping baby eliminate

When its obvious baby needs to go (or is already going!), it’s time to move to the potty receptacle of choice. Olson explains that the best way to let baby know it’s ok to go potty is to use a sound cue or a word or sign language for older babies. Eventually your baby will use this sound, word, or sign themselves to tell you they need to potty.

As baby gets older, their signals may change, and this section helps you stay on top of that by including month-by-month examples.

Timing potty time

Other than baby’s signals, there a several ways to gauge when they likely need to go. Olson covers these in detail, including:

• Natural timing: How long after a feeding or waking does baby need to go? This timing is unique to your baby. Olson explains how to figure it out.
• Generic timing: Olson explains that there are also more common (or general) times when most babies need to eliminate, like during or right after a feeding. She provides all of the details in this section.

Elimination communication method step-by-step

After you’ve observed your baby’s needs, it’s finally time to implement the diaper free method. Olson breaks the process down and covers each of these steps in detail, but here are the basics:

1. Notice it’s potty time
2. Tell your baby it’s potty time
3. Help them get to the potty space and undress
4. Assist your baby into their preferred position and give the cue
5. Be patient and wait until they’ve wrapped things up (your baby will show you when they’re finished)
6. Provide affirmation, say nothing, or simply flash a reassuring smile (Olson also covers the reasoning and psychological differences behind these options)
7. Clean up the potty space (including details on how to clean the area and baby and what to do in various situations at and away from home)]

Modifying EC for older

The ideal time to start the EC method is between the newborn stage and four months old, but older babies can still benefit from EC. If you fall into this category, Olson provides tricks to make the process smoother.

She also includes suggestions for when to use cloth diapers vs. disposable diapers as a backup and at what ages. There’s also tips for what to tell your older baby to keep them on track when they pee outside their designated potty space.

What to do when EC isn’t working

If baby isn’t getting it and nothing is working, Olson explains how to get things on track. She calls this a “reset,” and this section of the book includes step-by-step tips to help troubleshoot and reset the EC experience.

Positions Gallery

Classic cradle, straight leg potty, breastfeeding sink position… Olson provides detailed examples of common (and not so common) EC positions so you can choose which potty positions will work best for your baby. This section also includes information about:

• What positions work better for different ages and as they gain more muscle control
• What positions work better for different genders (since some boys pee straight ahead!)
• How to clean up after using a potty in the car
• Indoor positions to use over a sink
• Different ways to hold baby over the bathtub, shower, or toilet
• Potty options for when there’s no potty around, and different portable potties

Unique Potty Situations

It’s important to know how to position baby in different situations, but there’s more to it. This section of Go Diaper Free covers the how behind pottying baby in unique situations, including how to:

• Potty while breastfeeding
• Go in nature, like on a walk or while camping
• Potty in the city, even if there’s no public restroom
• Go in—and next to—a parked car
• Dress baby in layers, so they can pee when it’s cold out and still be comfortable
• Implement EC when traveling or on vacation

EC at Night

Olson explains that caregivers can choose to skip the EC method at night and rely on diapers or continue the process, but notes that co-sleeping makes EC easier, as your baby adapts to your rhythms and it’s easier to pick up on their nighttime signals. Olson also covers how to EC at night if baby has their own sleep space.

In this section, you’ll see examples of the nighttime EC potty set ups Olson used for her children as they transitioned from newborn to potty independent stage.

Part-time elimination communication

Even working parents can successfully use the EC method with their little ones. Go Diaper Free has tips to help avoid confusion and interruption of your baby’s adopted EC routine. Some of these tips include co-sleeping and babywearing.

Caregivers and EC

If you’re away at work, Go Diaper Free explains how a babysitter or daycare can still help with the EC method to prevent regression and confusion for your little one.

Olson explains that daycares won’t EC to the same extent, but there are reasonable ways caregivers can help keep EC a constant for your little one. The bonus readers area includes a template letter to a daycare that can be given to the supervising attendant and a real life example of a day in the life of a working EC parent.

Diapers and a diaper-free baby

Diapers are a great teaching tool and a backup safety measure, but not always necessary with EC. In this section of Go Diaper Free, Olson covers when your child may benefit from a diaper and times they may do better without one. She explains that the point is to have good communication, help set them up for independent potty use, and avoid peeing everywhere in the process.

Other helpful resources

At the end of the how-to part of Go Diaper Free, there’s even more EC info, including:

• Vocabulary of EC terms and definitions
• 13 keys to help you navigate the EC journey, including getting support and how to keep things non-coercive
• 25 benefits of the EC method, including easier future potty training, money saved on diapers, and a deeper connection with your baby
• Troubleshooting to overcome various EC hurdles
• A supply list of items recommended for the EC journey, like a top hat potty and easy access clothing
• Resources to learn more, including websites, podcasts, books, and even where to buy tiny underwear for your baby
• If you want to dive deeper, you’ll also get access to a private support group that includes a video library, extra troubleshooting, and downloadable forms.

What Moms in Our Community Say About Go Diaper Free

Ashley L. recently wrote to us with this feedback about Go Diaper Free:

We actually used this book to potty train at 18 months. It took two weeks, and my son who is now almost 20 months, potty trained himself through the night as well. ??‍♀️ Don’t ask me how. He just wakes up on his own and says “pee-pee.” Of course it helps that we still bed share at his age. I can see how not bed and room sharing could complicate night training.

My son has not had any accidents after the two week mark of training. We are super proud of him.

My husband was reluctant at first and I put my foot down to tell him that I’m the potty training boss and he had to follow me. ? Our next step is to teach our son to pull his pants up and down better. 

Thanks for listening and sharing!

Go Diaper Free Review: Why You Need to Read This eBook

The EC method can be confusing to navigate, but Olson lays it all out in this comprehensive guide. Go Diaper Free helps give parents the confidence they need to successfully implement EC, while guiding their child to potty independence.

• Authoritative: Olson has a master’s degree in psychology and spent many years in practice. She’s also the director of several elimination communication organizations. This mama knows her stuff when it comes to gentle and non-coercive potty independence.
• Comprehensive: At well over 300 pages, Go Diaper Free is the most comprehensive, evidence-based resource on elimination communication. Although there are detailed instructions, don’t feel like you have to read the whole thing at once. There’s a ton of tips, position images, and troubleshooting guides included, so after you have the basics down, Go Diaper Free can be used as a reference in your EC arsenal.
• Easy to navigate: Olson wrote Go Diaper Free for tired, busy mamas. The nitty gritty details of EC are at the very beginning, so it’s easy to dive right in. Even if you’re a brand new mom and recovering from a tough delivery, Olson includes easy ways to begin elimination communication.
• Offers real support: With the private support group upgrade you get access to other mamas going through the same stage of babyhood (or toddlerhood). You’ll get even more support, tips, and personalized advice from fellow EC mamas.

Looking Ahead…

If you’re interested in learning more about potty training, you may be interested in Andrea Olson’s other ebook, The Tiny Potty Training Book. The book promises to help you potty train any child ages 18-30+ months in just seven days.

How About You?

Are you on board with the EC method? Willing to try? Not so sure? Let us know in the comments!