I think there is a lot of difference in the approach between EC (elimination communication) and toilet training.

EC is all about communication both ways between parent and child about wees and poos, maintaining (or relearning) body awareness of impending elimination and HELPING the child to keep clean and dry by offering an alternative to going in the nappy. Generally you would start in the first 6 months of the baby's life but starting later than that is possible, but more of a challenge as the baby has learnt to ignore needing to go and is trained to go in the nappy.

It seems to me that toilet training is about requiring the child to communicate with the parent (or preferably just going and doing it in the toilet or potty) with the main responsibility being on the child to keep clean and dry. Usually the child has a big learning curve to go with the change in expectations of them: before it was expected (required) that they use the nappy, now they shouldn't do that but have to go in the potty or toilet...

Beginning toilet training with the expection of the child to take responsibility that they aren't ready for is only a recipe for frustration and worse on the part of parent and child.

That said, you can start EC at any age of the baby - and today is a good time for you to start :-) Part-time EC can be very effective - just pop the baby on a potty or over the toilet when you take off the nappy at each nappy change and when the bub first wakes up and when you get the feeling that they need to go. The baby/toddler will learn that there is a place to go outside the nappy, and will start to wait a bit to take advantage of it. Cleaning up a potty after a poo is ever so much easier than wiping a dirty bottom!

HTH
Marnie