toddler

noun

tod·​dler ˈtä-dᵊl-ər How to pronounce toddler (audio)
ˈtäd-lər
plural toddlers
: a person who toddles
especially : a young child usually between one and three years old
It's no secret that kids need plenty of sleep. For a preschooler (3 to 5 years old), that's as much as 11 to 13 hours, including naps; for a toddler (1 to 3), 12 to 14 hours; for a baby under 1, 14 to 15 hours. Stacey Colino
toddlerhood noun

Examples of toddler in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In 1942, the mother of a toddler was given a shocking order: She was told that her child must be sent to a detention facility without her. Sacha Pfeiffer, NPR, 22 July 2025 Some of the parents who say their toddlers were abused by employees at Parker-Chase Preschool in Roswell, about an hour north of Atlanta, were in the courtroom Monday waiting to voice their opposition to the pretrial diversion deals when Carnesale recused herself instead. Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 22 July 2025 But a toddler’s contributions are often clumsy and, like the efforts of my Montessori preschoolers in September, may actually result in more work for the adult—so the adult shoos the child away. Christine Carrig, The Atlantic, 21 July 2025 The teen appeared in more throwback photos as a toddler, including one taken on a mini golf course with dad Steph playing in the background. Escher Walcott, People.com, 21 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for toddler

Word History

First Known Use

1815, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of toddler was in 1815

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Toddler.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/toddler. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

toddler

noun
tod·​dler ˈtäd-lər How to pronounce toddler (audio)
-ᵊl-ər
: a young child
toddlerhood noun

More from Merriam-Webster on toddler

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!