The idea of pottying a baby from birth sounds strange, alternative. Maybe even extreme.

But historically, it was neither unusual nor niche.

Across many parts of the world, for most of human history, babies were routinely helped to wee and poo outside of nappies from infancy as a part of normal, everyday life.

Elimination communication—often shortened to EC—is the term most commonly used for baby pottying in the West.

But where did the phrase actually come from—and does it really reflect what’s going on in everyday life with a baby?

When we talk about breastfeeding support, we immediately think about supporting latch, positioning, or milk supply.

But there’s another piece of the puzzle that’s rarely talked about:

Your baby’s toileting needs and the role they can play in feeding.

If you’ve ever been told to “wait until your child is ready” before starting potty training, you’re not alone. It’s one of the most common things that parents hear, but it’s also one of the biggest myths!

In this post, I’ll correct some common misinformation about potty learning and explore what the research really says about babies’ natural abilities, development, and readiness.