Culture Apothecary with Alex Clark

Episode: “Taking A Crap On Big Diaper” | Elimination Communication Expert Andrea Olson

Date: August 29, 2025
Guest: Andrea Olson, author of Tiny Potty, founder of Go Diaper Free

Episode Overview

In this lively and eye-opening episode, host Alex Clark interviews Andrea Olson, a mother of six and leader of the Elimination Communication (EC) movement. Together, they challenge the prevailing “diaper culture” and explore why most American children are in diapers well past age three—an immense shift from just two generations ago. Olson details how corporate interests, outdated research, and lost cultural wisdom have shaped modern parenting and discusses how EC can save families thousands of dollars, benefit the environment, and foster deep attachment and communication with babies. The episode is packed with practical advice and a call to question the normalization of extended diaper use.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Rise of "Big Diaper" and Changing Potty Training Norms

• Historical Shift: In 1957, 92% of U.S. babies were potty-trained by 18 months. Now, the average is over three years.
  “In 1957, 92% of babies were potty trained by 18 months old. Now it's over three years old.” — Alex, [00:00]
• Why the Shift? Andrea attributes this to a clever marketing push by diaper companies, especially after disposable diapers debuted in the 1960s.
• Corporate Influence: Pampers and other big companies funded studies (notably by Dr. T. Berry Brazelton) to push the “wait for readiness” narrative, correlating with increases in diaper sales. “They hired a pediatrician to do a study... if you read it, which you can, it's by P. Barry Brazelton. If you read it, you'll see there's nothing scientific about it...” — Andrea, [03:12]
• Diaper Rash on the Rise: Before disposables, diaper rash was rare and a source of shame; today, 92–95% of babies will get it. “Used to. Nobody got diaper rash at all. No babies did... Now it's about 92 to 95% of babies get diaper rash at some point...” — Andrea, [02:51]

2. EC: Elimination Communication Explained

• What is EC? A practice where parents respond to a baby’s natural signals around elimination, assisting them to use the potty from birth rather than relying primarily on diapers. “EC is basically a modern take on that, where we are using the baby signals and the baby's natural development... we're helping them go to the potty hygienically until they're walking.” — Andrea, [06:10]
• Natural Readiness: Babies have innate sphincter control and, like all mammals, prefer not to soil themselves. “No other mammal wears diapers.” — Andrea, [08:30]
• Not Just for One-Child Homes: Andrea has six kids and practiced EC with all, adapting the practice to fit a busy, multi-child household.
• Financial and Environmental Impact:
  • Families can save roughly $2,000 per child by practicing EC.
  • No disposable diaper has ever fully biodegraded, contributing massively to landfill waste. “In 2009, 27.4 billion disposable diapers were landfilled in America alone... No diaper has ever biodegraded since they were invented in the 60s.” — Andrea, [09:46]

3. How to Practice EC — Practical Advice

• The Four “Easy Catches”:
  1. Right after baby wakes
  2. After feeding
  3. Before naps
  4. “Poop face” signals
• How to Get Started:
  • No need for perfection; start by simply offering the potty during one of these predictable times.
  • Even part-time EC (e.g., only at home or during mornings) provides benefits. “Just do the four easy catches. Just try the wake up. Try the first fuss after feeding. Try when you see the poop face...” — Andrea, [51:58]
• Adapting to Modern Life: EC can be done part-time, even if a child is in daycare. Communicate with caregivers for consistency.
• Physical Gear: Andrea recommends using cloth or disposable diapers as back-ups and small, portable potties (like the “top hat” potty) for car or airplane travel.

4. Cultural and Emotional Implications of Diaper Use

• Self-Esteem and Attachment: Keeping a child in diapers and ignoring their elimination cues undermines their self-trust and attachment security. “There is no way that being told to ignore your instincts and to dedicate in your own pants for three years is not damaging to a child.” — Andrea, [35:30]
• Bedwetting and Physiological Impact: Delaying potty training may be connected to higher rates of bedwetting and a weaker pelvic floor. “We're teaching them to ignore those signals from their bodies, to not trust their own body cues. And those muscles, they stop getting used.” — Andrea, [37:34]
• Culture of Low Expectations: There’s a broader trend of underestimating children’s competencies, starting with potty training. “Are we doing this? Is this actually starting as young as potty training... undercutting [kids] as young as just days, weeks, months old?” — Alex, [39:43]

5. Dealing with Skepticism and Pushback

• Against the Mainstream:
  • Many pediatricians and family members advise later potty training, but Andrea urges parents to trust their instincts and private successes. “If the mom does everything the pediatrician says, there's no help in her.” — Andrea, [38:08]
• Pushback Resources: She suggests keeping EC private if needed and letting results speak for themselves (“the proof is in the pudding”).

6. The Path Forward: Changing Diaper Culture

• Early Potty Training as Cultural Remedy: Andrea advocates for moving back the average age for potty training by at least a year to improve outcomes for children and families. “If we bring it back from 36 months average to 24 months average, it's going to be easier for parents, easier for daycares, and our kids are going to be more well-functioning adults.” — Andrea, [54:06]
• Call to Action: Andrea views herself as “the mother of this movement,” aiming to restore ancient wisdom. “We know no other way. We've lost that wisdom... So I'm bringing it back.” — Andrea, [51:36]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Diaper Company Influence:
  “They want us dependent on their product for longer and longer.” — Andrea, [02:23]
• On the Psychological Effects:
  “Babies are so much more capable than we—and we really dumb it down.” — Andrea, [39:51]
• On Skepticism:
  “Elimination Communication is the new old thing... If you don’t want to do it, that’s cool, but maybe you want to early potty train.” — Andrea, [37:02]
• On Cultural Brainwashing:
  “We have all collectively fallen for a complete indoctrination scheme when it comes to diapers.” — Alex, [50:34] “It's pseudoscience garbage. Read the thing. It's terrible.” — Andrea, [51:30] (referring to readiness research)
• On Practicality:
  “You don't need their approval. I would also say the proof is in the pudding.” — Andrea, [47:26] “Just take the diaper off. There—you started.” — Andrea, [45:12]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Introduction & Cultural Framing (Big Diaper): [00:00–02:13]
• Origins and Corporate Agenda Behind Diapers: [02:13–04:25]
• The EC Movement Explained: [06:06–07:24]
• Environmental and Financial Impact: [09:42–10:41]
• EC in Real Life, Even With Multiple Kids: [11:09–13:01]
• Practical How-To: EC for New Parents: [13:01–16:30]
• When and How to Start EC at Any Age: [18:58–23:13]
• EC and Daycare/Modern Constraints: [23:44–26:23]
• Transition to Toddlerhood & Travel Logistics: [26:23–31:26]
• Exposure of Diaper Company Research: [33:37–35:05]
• Cultural and Emotional Impact of Diaper Use: [35:30–38:52]
• Skepticism & Managing Naysayers: [46:52–48:48]
• Diaper Culture as Collective Indoctrination: [50:34–51:36]
• How to Start and Advice for Nervous Parents: [51:53–54:46]
• Advocacy for Early Potty Training: [54:06–54:46]
• Closing Remarks and Andrea’s Cultural Remedy: [56:11–56:34]

Final Takeaways

• The normalization of extended diaper use is a recent, corporate-driven phenomenon.
• Babies are far more capable of communicating their elimination needs than the mainstream narrative suggests.
• EC isn’t about perfection or hovering—it’s a spectrum, and even minimal practice yields benefits.
• Lowering the average potty training age could have massive benefits for families, children, and the environment—while costing “Big Diaper” billions.
• “Elimination communication is not potty training; it’s teamwork and respect for your baby’s instincts.” — Andrea

Resources & Follow-Up

• Andrea Olson:
  • Website: Go Diaper Free
  • Social: @godiaperfree everywhere
  • Books: Go Diaper Free, Tiny Potty Board Book
• Alex Clark:
  • Culture Apothecary Podcast, Mondays & Thursdays, 6pm PST/9pm EST

If you’ve never considered what life without diapers could look like, this conversation just might change your mind.