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Sustainable Minimalists

Let's Talk Diapers

Sustainable Minimalists

Bleav + Stephanie Seferian

Kids & Family, Leisure, Parenting, Home & Garden

4.81.1K Ratings

🗓️ 5 July 2023

⏱️ 28 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Spoiler alert: Disposable diapers are terrible for the planet. They account for about 2% of all landfill waste in the US; worse – because they're made of plastics – they decompose very, very slowly. Before their arrival on the commercial scene in the 1960s babies were fully potty trained by 18 months. But thanks to this "convenient" option, these days the average potty training age is 3 years.  Andrea Olson is the voice behind the über popular method of bathroom training called elimination communication. On today's show Andrea explains the ways in which diaper companies play on our fears of being bad parents to push their single-use products; she also breaks down the steps she took to get her children out of diapers in half the time.   Here's a preview: [4:45] Thoughts on intentionality in potty training as being better for both our children and the planet they will inherit [9:00] A history of potty training: What did humans do before disposable diapers? [16:00] Addressing common criticisms: Does elimination communication have adverse effects on a child's development? [24:00] So how does it work, exactly?   Resources mentioned: Go Diaper Free podcast Andrea on Instagram Commons app   Our Sponsors:* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content

Transcript

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0:00.0

Well, hello there friends and welcome back. My name is Stephanie Safarian and you're listening to episode 382 of sustainable minimalists, a show about intentional and eco-friendly minimalist living.

0:13.0

On today's show, we are discussing elimination communication.

0:17.0

Oh my goodness, what is that?

0:19.0

I'll be honest, I had no idea what elimination communication was until I received an email back in January

0:26.4

I'm way behind but back in January I received an email from Madeline. Madeline's a listener to the show and she said that I should

0:35.8

interview Andrea Olson of Go diaper free because and I quote the environmental

0:41.6

impact of disposable diapers is devastating and

0:44.7

Andrea is doing an incredible job helping people get back to how humans used to

0:50.0

take care of our infant's potty needs.

0:54.7

So when I receive an email from a listener like this,

0:58.4

singing someone's praise, telling me

1:01.4

how much this potential guest has helped and improved her life, I listen.

1:06.0

This episode is for the new moms listening, for the expectant moms,

1:12.0

and for the maybe one day and the future moms of course but

1:16.8

this episode is also for everybody else who have noticed a troubling pattern and

1:22.2

the pattern is this advertisers have effectively

1:25.8

and continue to effectively market out traditional human behaviors by

1:31.8

inserting a product of convenience into our lives

1:35.7

and claiming it's the modern solution it's the solution for the modern man or

1:40.9

the modern woman plastic diapers diapers are, of course, one of those such products.

1:47.0

Andrea, I'm so excited to talk to you today.

1:49.0

You come with high praise.

...

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