Looking for gear that makes elimination communication easier? You're in the right place.
I've used all the below gear with my 5 babies. Enjoy my personal supply list!*
Diaper Back-up
Most parents do EC with a diaper back-up to protect their carpet and to give baby something to “resist” going pee or poo into (which plays off the innate instinct to not soil their garments or sleep space). You can use disposables or cloth or a combination of the two - whatever works best to create the most signals from baby and the least stress for you! Here are my favorites.
Dyper Biodegradable Diapers
Dyper biodegradable bamboo diapers receive my highest disposables recommendation due to their ability to contain leaks while still feeling wet and their relative environmental-friendliness. Silky soft and they biodegrade (see their site for details) in 75 days - vs. 500+ years for regular sposies!
Daytime Covers - GroVia Hybrid Cloth Diaper Shell
These covers are very trim which helps baby move more easily. They also grow with your baby and have a series of snaps that enable this. Therefore, you do not need to buy any more than 3 or 4 to have in rotation (I have 4).
Nighttime Wool Soaker - Tiny WoolUps
You can add wool soaker shorts to ANY nighttime diaper for even more protection. You can also layer these wool soakers over underwear or trainers, day or night, for extra protection (as wool is liquid-repellant).
Diaper Belt
A diaper belt is an elasticized band covered with a moisture-resistant cloth outer covering (such as wool or fleece) which holds a prefold in place, Sumo Wrestler style. The belt stays on the baby’s waist between changes. These are awesome and water-repellent.
Daytime Inserts (TanPrefolds) - OsoCozy
These are great for my Quick EC Diaper set-up, for the Sumo-style Diapering Method, and for when you need more diapers or rags.
Daytime Inserts (WhitePrefolds) - OsoCozy
These are great for my Quick EC Diaper set-up, for the Sumo-style Diapering Method, and for when you need more diapers or rags.
Nighttime Inserts (Prefolds) - Thirsties Hemp/Cotton
I am so happy I discovered the Thirsties Duo Hemp/Cotton blend prefolds…they are amazing! They hold a lot more liquid in their fibers…and they line-dry much better than pure cotton or pure hemp diapers (ie: they dry soft).
Potties
Top Hat Potty
The top hat potty can be held between the thighs for baby to use at ages 0-12 months of age (sometimes older, depending on the size of the baby). It is great for nighttime EC, EC on the go, and travel, as well as for an everyday potty for a small baby. (Available at my other store.)
Potty Cozy for Top Hat Potty
Prevent the shock of cold plastic by covering your traveling, breastfeeding-friendly top hat potty with a Potty Cozy. Made of water-repellent polar fleece or hemp/cotton flannel, your baby’s buns will remain warm while your potty cozy stays relatively dry. (My top hat potty comes with a cozy.)
Mini Potty by The Baby Potty
My favorite potty besides the top hat. I designed this super-short potty after the Baby Bjorn Little Potty was discontinued. Easy to mount and very lightweight. It doesn’t have a removable inner container or a rubber grip - to keep it light - and it has a decent splash guard to contain boys’ pees.
Mini Potty Cozy
Prevent the shock of cold plastic by covering your mini potty with a Potty Cozy. These are ESSENTIAL for Elimination Communication, in my opinion. Made of 100% undyed cotton fleece your baby’s buns will remain warm while your potty cozy remains relatively dry.
Ginsey Toilet Seat Reducer
MY FAVORITE!!!
Walmart, Target, and now Amazon have an exceptional toilet seat reducer for about $12-$24, depending on the pattern. Handles, good splashguard with the boys’ version, and very comfortable for a small baby or toddler.
Potette Plus 2-in-1 Travel Potty and Trainer Seat
It doubles as a travel potty that folds up small enough to fit into your diaper bag and can double as a trainer seat whether you’re in a public bathroom or at home.
Potette Plus At Home Reusable Liners
Converts the Potette Plus into a standard potty. Ideal for use around the home. Simple to fit in the Potette, soft, and flexible for comfort.
Small Underwear and Training Pants
Tiny Undies
You can not find these anywhere else (not any that fit, anyway!). My first son had nothing to wear when he was out of diapers at 10 months old, so I created sweatshop-free, lowrise, unisex baby underwear that come in tiny sizes ranging from 6 months to 5T.
Tiny Trainers
For the best in training pants…I’ve created Tiny Trainers. Finally, 100% cotton training pants that really fit any baby - sizes 6 months to 4T. You can experience the most absorbent (keeps approx a medium-sized pee off the floor) and natural fully-cotton training pants out there.
TinyUps
I could never find a cloth Pull-Ups alternative, so I created one myself! TinyUps have a soft bamboo fleece lining and can be used over Tiny Undies, Tiny Trainers, or solo. 3 snaps on the side for easy removal. Avoid diapering struggles when your baby ONLY wants to stand..and still use cloth!
Tiny Boxers
Small unisex boxer briefs for babies and toddlers, gender-neutral for girls and boys, ages 6 months to 5T. The "pouch" is flat so that, while boys' parts are properly contained, girls don't have a bulge - making these the first truly unisex children's boxer briefs.
Clothing
Tiny Chaps
Baby chaps are perfect for diaper-free observation time for elimination communication, wearing under a diaper back-up for easy baby pottying (without making baby chilly), and enabling young toddlers, who can’t yet manipulate their clothing, to independently use the toilet or potty.
Teach Leanbh Cotton Footed Pants
These baby pants were our household favorite during the pre -standing months. The great thing is: no snaps! Easy on and off made possible by grabable feet and very stretchy elastic, these pants are super easy to practice Elimination Communication in.
juDanzy Tube Socks
Baby tube socks...need I say more? These are excellent socks that won't fall off baby's feet. They are a bit thicker than the ones I used to recommend, but if you need more warmth you can couple with baby legwarmers or wool or cotton baby socks on top of these long baby socks.
Baby Leggings
A less expensive option than BabyLegs is to use my coupon code (GDF16) at BabyLeggings.com to get 5 free pair. You just pay shipping and handling and they'll hook you up! We ordered 18 pair for baby #2!
Pads
Tiny Undies Waterproof Pad
It has a 100% cotton upper layer and a waterproof TPU underlayer. I’ve washed them 100s of times and they’ve kept fabulously. Now I use them in the car seat when my baby’s wearing undies or trainers, just in case. You can get some for pottying and some for changing diapers.
Wool Puddle Pad
If you wish to leave your baby diaper-free (or in undies) at night, or just want extra bed protection, investing in a 100% wool felt puddle pad is a great idea. It will air-dry if peed on and is naturally antibacterial, so you won’t have to launder it very often.
Car Seat Protector
Made with soft, absorbent layers next to baby's body and a waterproof outer layer to keep car seats and strollers dry and clean.
Wipes
Dyper Compostable Wipes
I used to use 7th Gen but recently switched to Dyper's wipes. They are thin like 7th Gen used to be, and only 5 ingredients. Love them. These are great for on-the-go and the busy early months of red crevices and occasional EC messes and misses.
Thirties Fab Wipes
My favorite cloth wipes are Thirsties Wipes. I bought three 6-packs and found that there were plenty in rotation. They wash well and maintain their softness after endless use for poo, pee, spit-up, and other random baby messes.
Munchkin Warm Glow Wipe Warmer
One of the greatest tools I've had during the newborn weeks, at the times when a water bottle and cloth wipes weren't’ handy (or warm!), my babies prefer the warmer disposable wipes.
Creams
Earth Mama Organic Diaper Balm
Seeing as you’ll probably avoid diaper rash because you EC, you still could use a cream. Sometimes your baby will get a red ring around the anus (possibly means a food allergy, or drool stool from teething), or might be red and raw after you clean her smelly crevices (including neck rolls, leg rolls, wrist rolls!).
Earth Mama Organic Nipple Butter
By the way, for sore nipples, Earth Mama also makes an Organic Nipple Butter that I highly recommend! Use copious amounts on one nipple while you nurse with the other breast for 5-6 hours, then switch!
Swimwear
iPlay Baby Swim Diapers
Absolutely the best. Find them in a variety of colors and styles and know that your EC’d baby will likely signal to go potty while in the water…take him or her out each time. Their instincts tell them to not potty in the water.
Accessories (General Baby Stuff)
Burp Cloths
For the baby who spits up or even for use in a sumo-style diaper with diaper belt (because these bad boys don’t hold much liquid!), burp cloths are a necessity. I like the economical and thin ones by Gerber.
Swaddles
I love, love, love Aden + Anais’ swaddles.
Great for anything from swaddling, to blanketing baby, to using as a beloved “blankie” as they age.
Ingenuity Portable Baby Swing
If your newborn won’t sleep unless he’s sleeping in the carrier, on you, and you would like a break, enter “Auntie” swing. In the absence of intact culture and village life, a baby swing can give you a long-awaited rest while baby sleeps soundly.
Baby Trend EZ Bouncer
Another surrogate “Auntie,” the chair I prefer most.
Homedics White Noise Machine
Although I don’t suggest using these at high volumes, a white noise machine can help if you have a baby who wakes easily, or other children who have trouble staying quiet.
Tiny Wet/Dry Bag
These are great for those who are potty training, doing EC, or experiencing the occasional potty accident. Put spare Undies in the unlined pocket and wet ones in the waterproof pocket while on the go.
Carriers for Babywearing
Babywearing helps you stay in touch with your baby’s potty signals much better than if you didn’t wear your baby. Here are my suggestions….
Ergobaby Omni 360
It is definitely worth the expense, as you can carry your baby in it from about 12 pounds (with an infant insert) through toddlerhood, and beyond if you transition to your hip and back! It is so comfortable and adjustable.
Baby K’tan (a Moby Wrap Alternative)
I’ve used the Moby Wrap for both my first kiddos when they were teeny-tiny. Now I’ve gotten smarter! The Baby K’tan is a shorter, simpler version that feels identical to the Moby.
Beco Gemini
I was given my first Beco when my second child (my daughter) was in utero. It is awesome, primarily because I’ve never seen a carrier that can be used for all ages, newborn through toddler, via a series of snaps and folds, without an insert. We used it immediately after her birth and it was just perfect.
Mexican Rebozo
Mexican Rebozos are generally very long, elaborate, and expensive. I've found one that is smaller, less expensive, and still just as functional.
Instructional EC Books (for parents)
Go Diaper Free by Andrea Olson
My book - love it! It's got everything you need, nothing you don't, and is easy to digest (written, audio, and video media are all included!)...plus a private support group run by my certified coaches.
Infant Potty Training by Laurie Boucke
A wonderful, encyclopedic volume that has an extensive section on pottying habits and customs around the world.
The Diaper Free Baby by Christine Gross-Loh
The first EC book I read. While the how-to in it is fuzzy, what got me going is the multiple testimonials and case stories of people who actually did EC, and how it affected their lives.
The Tiny Potty Training Book by Andrea Olson
My second book! If you've missed the 0-18 month EC "window," you can easily potty train with this book. You can also wrap up EC with this book (do a "potty training experience" to seal the deal). Also multimedia, plus a private support group run by my certified coaches.
Board Books (for babies + kids)
Tiny Potty by Andrea Olson (ages 6mos+)
I wrote this book because there wasn’t one on the market that omitted images of diapers, taught the actual steps of pottying, and didn’t mention “wait for readiness” messages. So I made Tiny Potty for babies and toddlers ages 6 months to 3 years. The child in the book is gender- and age neutral. Good for EC or potty training.
Night Potty by Andrea Olson (ages 6mos+)
I wrote this book because there wasn’t a pre-bedtime book that reminded the child to wake-to-pee (and keep the bed dry). Also, not a one that didn’t mention “wait for readiness” messages. Night Potty is also for babies and toddlers ages 6 months to 3 years. The child in the book is gender- and age neutral. Good for EC or potty training.
I Go Potty
This is the first book I got with my first child. It is a
fun, quick read and shows a hippo and his bear
pottying together. Doesn’t really show the process
so much as it does show a “kid” enjoying the
potty!
Pete’s Potty / Lilly’s Potty
This book is a gorgeously illustrated book. It is very large with fold-out flaps which may be difficult for small hands. The book’s last few pages demonstrate the “how to” of using the potty, but the rest of the book is a game of “where’s Pete’s potty” - which you may or may not think is relevant to your child when trying to solidify the potty process in his/her mind.
Everything above is kept as up-to-date as possible. Also. Psst...I just discovered how to make a share-able list on Amazon for all of you mamas and daddies who shop primarily there. Check out most of the below items on Amazon in one nice, neat list, by clicking here (except for the biodegradable Dypers mentioned above).
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