Freedom and independence are big parts of growing up. And as your little one grows from a dependent baby into a confident toddler who's ready to take on the world, he will want as much control over life as he can possibly get. So naturally, by the time your child is 2 1/2 to 3 years old, he will start to express the desire to dress himself. And this is a big step toward your child's independence.

By 18 months, your little one will be able to help you dress her by raising her arms to put on her shirt and lifting her legs into her pants. And at this age, toddlers probably won't care what they're wearing as long as it's comfortable. But by 2, your child may want more control.

"By 2, they can do more than help; they can do some of getting dressed themselves," says Dr. Charles Shubin, the director of pediatrics at Mercy FamilyCare in Baltimore. "And by 3, most kids are able to do most of it themselves." However, you won't be able to tell your child to go get dressed on his own, and expect results, until he is about 4 or 5 years old.

For parents, allowing a toddler to dress herself can present an entirely new set of challenges. What if you have a little one that refuses to let you help – even when you're in a hurry? How can you end the battle? And what if your child refuses to even try to dress herself? How can you encourage her to start taking over?

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