toddler

noun

tod·​dler ˈtä-dᵊl-ər 

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

ˈtä-dᵊl-ər-ˌhu̇d 

ˈtäd-lər-

noun

Examples of toddler in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Charging documents indicate that Abarca had a physical altercation with his ex-wife during the incident, and missing persons reports were briefly filed for both Abarca and the couple’s toddler son in the following days. — Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 25 July 2026

Most parents can expect at least some developmental pushback in the toddler years or early adolescence. — Jillian Pretzel, Parents, 25 July 2026

If running is important to you, having a baby or toddler to look after doesn’t mean giving up on it. — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 24 July 2026

Her feet, in slip-on sandals, rested on the ground near a blue toddler-size chair. — Caitlin McGlade, Charlotte Observer, 22 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1815, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

toddler

noun

tod·​dler ˈtäd-lər 

-ᵊl-ər

: a young child

toddlerhood

-ˌhu̇d 

noun