What Finally Worked for Potty Training My Toddler - Lilly J.

I Tried 4 Potty Training Methods – This Was the Only One That Worked

After 4 failed attempts, ONE simple switch changed everything.

By Lilly J.

(mom of a 3-year old)

I was at my wits’ end. My toddler was over 3, still in pull-ups, and every attempt at potty training ended in tears, mine and his.

I didn’t want to push him, but I also didn’t want to wait until kindergarten. I tried everything people swear by – books, charts, bribes, the whole “3-day bootcamp.” And every time, it ended the same: messy floors, emotional outbursts, and feeling like I was doing it all wrong.

I wasn’t looking for perfection. I just wanted progress. I wanted something that respected his development, but also gave us a way forward. I didn’t know it at the time, but what we needed was a completely different starting point.

Here’s what we tried – and what FINALLY worked.

1. The 'Wait Until They're Ready' Method

2. The 3-Day Method (aka 3 Days of Chaos)

3. Sticker Charts & Bribes

Why it didn’t work for us:

We tried it all – stickers, gummy bears, dance parties. Sometimes he’d go, sometimes not. But once the novelty wore off, so did the motivation.

At one point, he was sitting on the potty just to get the reward, not because he actually needed to go. Then he’d get frustrated when there was no “success,” and we were back to square one.

We were rewarding something he didn’t fully understand yet.

And honestly? It felt like we were doing all the work – cheering, clapping, tracking. He didn’t own any of it.

4. Pull-Ups and False Starts

Why it didn’t work for us:

He treated them like diapers. He didn’t notice when he went. He’d say, “I didn’t pee!” even when he had. And we’d fall into this “maybe next week” loop.

At first, they felt like a safe middle ground. Easy for us. No laundry. But they blurred the line between “baby” and “big kid.” He didn’t feel the difference. And we didn’t realize how much that mattered.

Pull-ups gave us convenience, but no progress.

They extended the diaper mindset. And deep down, I think he knew they weren’t really underwear. He didn’t feel proud wearing them – he felt stuck.

5. The Loondie Method - And the Undies That Made it Click

Why it worked:

We finally discovered a system that didn’t rely on pressure or perfection. It started with something simple - undies that let him feel when he was wet. Loondie Potty Undies weren’t diapers, weren’t pull-ups. They were just real underwear with a little protection and a whole lot of learning built in.

Child playing with a wooden Montessori stacker while wearing his Puppies Loondie Potty Undies.

Close up of a blue liquid being poured onto the cotton insert of a Loondie Potty Undies, demonstrating it's leak-proof design.

Toddler wearing absorbent Loondie Potty Undies with a Penguin print.

Close up on an absorbent cotton insert of the Potty Undies, designed for toddlers who are potty training.

Infographic showcasing the elastic design of the Potty Undies by Loondie.

Close up on the 100% cotton material of the Loondie Potty Undies.

Infographic showcasing benefits and elements of Loondie Potty Undies.

SHOP NOW

He felt wet → he noticed → he started saying “uh-oh!” → he started using the potty.

That awareness was the missing piece all along. Loondie Potty Undies let him connect the dots between sensation and action, without the shame of soaked pants or big messes. It was like handing him the steering wheel for the first time.

It didn’t happen overnight, but it happened. For the first time, we weren’t stuck.

He started noticing the feeling. Then predicting it. Then asking to go.

And because they look and feel like real underwear, he felt proud. Confident. Like he was part of the process – not being managed through it.

The Loondie 3-Phase System made it so easy to keep going – Phase 1 (awareness), Phase 2 (consistency), and Phase 3 (overnight). We started with undies, then got the potty, mat, wet bag. Everything was designed to help, not shame our toddler.

There were no songs. No charts. No pressure. Just a system that made sense to his little body and his growing brain.

Final Thoughts (and a Little Hope for You)

If you’re feeling stuck, confused, or like you’ve failed at potty training, you haven’t. You’ve just been given tools that don’t match your child’s learning process.

We needed a new starting point. One that focused on connection, awareness, and comfort. Not speed. Not bribery. Not forcing.

Loondie Potty Undies were the tiny shift that made the biggest difference. And the whole system? It’s a game-changer.

You don’t have to figure this out alone. You just need the right first step.