how do you know when they are ready?

[cheapandchic]

everyone keeps telling me to do it when the child is ready. but how do you know.

Right now my 2 year old uses the potty quite a lot, but mostly when I make her. If she is naked on bottom, no mistakes. However with a nappy or pants on she often tells me as she is doing it. She has only managed to ask me to go about 3 times. Every day at nursery she poos in nappy and doesn't tell them. She has recently started not liking being changed. Some days she asks for big girl pants other days she asks for nappy.

Is she ready? How do you know when is right?

She sounds ready to me assuming she has produced both poo and wee on the potty.

I kept waiting and waiting for DS to show any signs of being ready but he never did, so at the age of nearly 3 decided might as well try it and put him in pants. He got the hang of it in a couple of days and I wish I hadn't waited so long.
Even if your DD doesn't get manage it first time round there should be no harm done and you can just try again a little later.