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

The toddler stopped crying about 15 minutes after she had been put down for a nap. —Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 July 2025

The toddler was with his father, Aaron Dontay Williams, 41, whose car was located in Giles County, Tennessee, the Auburn Police Department said in a Friday, July 11, news release. —Miami Herald, 11 July 2025

From toddlers enjoying trampolines to parents using adjustable dumbbells, the space offers options designed to support physical activity across age groups. —William Jones, USA Today, 10 July 2025

The woman from the couple appears to shove the family’s toddler daughter in the face while in her mother’s arms. —Colson Thayer, People.com, 10 July 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