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

My toddler ate his whole serving, and cleanup from dinner was minimal. —Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 11 Jan. 2026

The restaurant team wears its impressive training lightly, dipping into an encyclopedic knowledge of Sicilian wine and cheering up a grumpy toddler in the same breath. —Rosalyn Wikeley, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Jan. 2026

When Toddlers and Preschoolers Lie For toddlers and preschoolers, lying is not entirely intentional. —Sarah Vanbuskirk, Parents, 10 Jan. 2026

Ride-on cars are small toy vehicles designed for toddlers or young children. —Eva Remijan-Toba, Chicago Tribune, 10 Jan. 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