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 playground is less playground, more sprawling treehouse, complete with climbing structures, waterslides, and two toddler-friendly pools. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Oct. 2026

Months of text messages showed the farm’s owner knew from the start that a toddler was drinking her milk. — CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026

At some points in the footage, Sierra is seen carrying the toddler. — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 1 Oct. 2026

While Mattel’s Hot Wheels were hot and its party card game Uno attracted new fans last holiday season, the company’s Fisher-Price line, which makes educational toys for infants, toddlers and preschoolers, has lagged along with Barbie dolls. — Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 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