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

In the sweet photo, the toddler could be seen wearing the fuzzy costume with the hood up, posing in a bathroom. —Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 11 Dec. 2025

Nationally, Head Start serves roughly 750,000 infants, toddlers and preschool-age children, providing childcare, early learning, free meals, health screenings and family support. —Cory Turner, NPR, 11 Dec. 2025

Following their split, Brawner cited concerns about the safety of their toddler daughter, Zoey, in McCrary's care. —Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Dec. 2025

Their case received public attention because Pacheco-Acosta had been working as a nanny for a Madison couple, helping to take care of their toddler daughter. —Natalie Eilbert, jsonline.com, 9 Dec. 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