• How To Hold Your Baby: Potty Positions

EASY START GUIDE: PART 3 OF 4

Baby pottying positions are the ways you hold or support your baby so they can comfortably wee or poo outside of a nappy.

The position you use helps your baby relax their body and release naturally — often using a supported squat.

Elimination Communication (EC) / baby pottying positions are simple and flexible. You can hold a newborn in your arms, support your baby over a potty, or help an older baby sit independently. As your baby grows, the position naturally evolves.

The Basic Baby Pottying Positions

A woman holding a baby doing Elimination Communication in the classic EC hold in the bathroom, holding the baby over the sink. standing by a white sink with a brass faucet, with plants on the windowsill and a reflective backsplash.

The classic hold

This is where your baby's back is placed against you, with each hand under baby's thighs. This puts baby's bottom hanging down.

A woman is sitting on a blue couch, breastfeeding a newborn baby whilst also pottying her from birth. She is holding her baby in the cradle hold (Elimination Communication).

The cradle hold

Rest your baby’s head on one of your arms and hold their legs with your arms. This hold is particularly helpful for very young babies or newborns.

The Physiological Benefit of Squatting

The physiological benefit of squatting has been shown in several studies. This position straightens out the passage that stools pass through and relaxes the pelvic floor muscles, which results in less straining and complete emptying of the bowel. And this is for all humans: babies, children and adults!

Diagram of a human rectum showing muscle tightening and bending to create a passage.

SITTING

Illustration of a person sitting on a toilet, viewed in profile.
A close-up of two long, slender, yellow sticks or rods against a plain white background.
Illustration of a person sitting on a toilet, with a foot on a small stool, appearing to be in a thoughtful or contemplative pose.
Diagram of the rectum showing muscle relaxation and straightening of the passage.

SQUATTING

The Basic Baby Pottying Positions: Mobile Babies

A baby sitting on a yellow potty on a wooden deck surrounded by green bushes and plants.

Sitting on the potty

As soon as your baby can sit up, they can use a potty.

Child sitting on a toilet on a toilet seat reducer with legs spread apart, wearing a striped dress, with a focused or neutral expression.

Sitting on the toilet

Another option is a toilet seat reducer. Some babies love to feel as though they are copying you by using the big toilet.

A young child using a potty in a bathroom, smiling and wearing a colorful striped sweater over a red and white striped shirt, with a green step stool and a small rug on terrazzo flooring.

Standing up

Babies are also good at peeing standing up. Either outside, in the shower, or on the potty.

Your Next Steps to Start Pottying Your Baby

PART 1

Get Started With Baby Pottying  

LEARN MORE

PART 2

What Are My Babies Signals?

LEARN MORE

PART 3

How To Hold Your Baby: Potty Positions.

YOU ARE HERE

PART 4

Cueing: Sound Association.

LEARN MORE
A person sitting on a gray couch reading a pamphlet about baby potty training, with a photo of a baby on their lap and a woman holding the baby. The pamphlet discusses what baby potty training is, why it's important, and its benefits.

Download my easy-start information as an offline PDF guide to print and share with your loved ones!

Included: benefits, what age to start, potty positions, when baby needs to go and common signals.

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Let’s make this ancient wisdom feel second nature again.

Access The Full Baby Pottying Course

ESSENTIALS

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✓ Bite-sized video lessons designed for busy parents
✓ Full transcripts for quick, easy reference
✓ Downloadable tools to support you day-to-day

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What You’ll Learn

The philosophy behind baby pottying, exploring global traditions, historical shifts, and the beliefs that shaped modern potty training.

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The science of pottying, from bladder and bowel development, to what the research says about “readiness,” muscle control and long-term health.

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Clear guidance to get started, including when to begin, how to spot signals, natural timings, positioning, cueing and building a daily rhythm.

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How to navigate real life, with guidance on nighttime, out-and-about pottying, childcare, siblings and busy family life.

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Supporting your baby’s development, covering capability stages, fostering independence, temperament differences and going nappy-free.

Cute cartoon baby with curly hair, smiling and spreading arms while sitting on a potty, surrounded by sparkles.

Troubleshooting common hurdles, including potty pauses, resistance, missed catches, illness, developmental leaps and feeling overwhelmed.

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Three folded cloth nappies with colorful prints, placed on a wicker basket outdoors with white flowers beside them.

Product Recommendations

Whilst you don’t need any special products to get started with, check out the products that have helped me along the journey.

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