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

Zúñiga was a toddler when her mother started the group to defend indigenous Lenca land from commercial interests that local communities say harm and exploit it. —Hira Humayun, CNN Money, 20 Sep. 2025

Balancing the needs of a newborn with the needs of a toddler wasn't easy, but Maddy said one-on-one time was key. —Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Sep. 2025

Merage also features a health and fitness complex, licensed preschool and toddler care, teen lounge, gymnasium, junior Olympic swimming pool and facilities for social occasions. —Greg Mellen, Oc Register, 19 Sep. 2025

Those geared toward younger babies hold approximately 5 to 8 ounces, where sippy cups for toddlers can hold closer to 12 ounces. —Bestreviews, Mercury News, 19 Sep. 2025

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