There isn't a simple answer for this question. The truth is each child decides on his or her own when it is time to start peeing in the potty. There is however a general age range and somewhere during that time your child will be ready for potty training. We'll talk about what the age range is and how you will be able to tell that your child is ready.

Most children will potty train when they are between 2 and 4. Girls tend to be ready a little sooner than boys. If there are older siblings in the house, your younger child will also get interested in using the potty sooner than a single child. I have seen children as young as 18 months, who could barely walk wanting to use the potty like their older sibling. These children were ready for potty training and were out of diapers in no time.

Your child will give you quite a few signals to let you know he or she is ready to give the potty a try. Pay attention to your child's behavior and you will know if it is time to start the training.

A child that is ready for the potty will start showing interest in what mom, dad and older siblings are doing in the bathroom. Take some of the mystery out of the potty for your toddler, by allowing him to accompany you to the bathroom, or leave the door cracked. Curiosity will get the better of him and sooner or later he will take a peak. When he does, explain what you are doing in a simple, straightforward way.

Does your child start pulling on his clothing or ask to have a diaper change? Is he getting increasingly more uncomfortable running around in a wet or soiled diaper? This is another sure tell sign that it is time to start potty training.

If you think your child may be ready, give potty training a try. If you read your child's signals wrong, he will let you know and you can just give it a little more time before trying again.