What Is a Toddler?

My definition - walking, talking, tantruming birth control... Then again we are deep in the throes of the terrible twos in my house so that colors my viewpoint no doubt.

I think of toddlers as 1-3.

There are some people on here who still give their children's ages in months (like my 34month old) even though they should be in years. It can be confusing but we all look at things differently and that is OK.

My kids were 'pre-schoolers' after 3, b/c that is when they started pre-school....and after my kids 1st birthday I referred to their ages by years instead of months!

A toddler is a child that toddles. In my world that is under two years old.

Are these the same people that have 48 month old kids because that would go a long way to explaining this. :)

I'm with you. UNDER 3. Probably 2 1/2 or less, actually. Somewhere around 30 months, I start thinking of them as "almost 3" and not really a "toddler" anymore....

I'm on board with your definition! You've nailed it. Here's how I categorize the first few years:

Newborn...1st few months.
Infant.....up to 12 months.
Toddler...from the time they walk to age 3.
Preschooler.....age 3 thru PreK.
& when they start KG.....School age!

I also agree that there is a huge difference between a 2 & 3yo.

I agree - and in "Early Childhood" terms, yes, an Infant is 0-12 months. A toddler is 12-36 months (1 - < 3) and a preschooler is 3+

Hence, the difference between Infant/Toddler Development (0 - < 3 years of age) and Child Development (3 years - 10 years). :-)

I can see the mix that a 3 year old might still be a toddler, but 4 or 5 year old is definitely NOT a toddler...

The word "toddler" stems from the "toddling" (back and forth movement) a child does when they first start walking...a normal developing 3, 4, or 5 year old no longer "toddles".

Hi Sherri-

I, respectfully, have to place another age group IN the 'toddler' category...

Pre teens...and teens...

It is MY opinion that 'these' years are the 'toddlerdom' en route to adult hood.

Many of the same rules (and behaviors) apply during this period.

Just a thought!
lol
best luck!
michele/cat

Toddler is a loose term, and it can mean almost any age between the age they start walking and when they start pre-school.

My FIL would tell my children that they graduated from toddler to kid when they could reach their ear from over their head (left ear, right hand). It was hilarious to watch them struggle with their arms over their heads to reach their ear so they could be "all grown up".

I agree with you. Infant (0-1), toddler (1-2), preschooler (3-4), kindergartner (5-6).

I think the confusion comes over the definition of "toddler", which I think can be different depending on culture and where you're from, perhaps. Some people refer to toddlers only during the time period where a child is learning to walk and "toddles". But once they start running, then they are no longer a toddler. Some people go in months (like the popular 12-36 month range) - even if the 12 month old may not be walking yet and the 35 month old does nothing that remotely resembles "toddling". :) To others it's simply a general term for a young child - like the term "tot". I remember years ago watching a Dr. Phil where he referred to a woman's "4 year old toddler". And to get technical, if you look up the definition of "preschool" it is referred to as "infant school" or "schooling for children up to age of compulsory attendance. Mostly from birth to age 5 or 6, depending on the culture." So technically your newborn baby could be classified as a "preschooler", LOL. I think the best thing is not to get caught up in terminology, but realize we may all use certain words a little different. And that's OK. :)

I agree with you. 1-2 years old is a toddler and 3-4 years old are preschoolers and 5+ was a kid.

My definition of a toddler is a child who is anywhere between 15 months or so and 36 months. After 3, there is a gray area, but by profession (child care) we usually refer to threes and up as 'preschooler' or differentiate by age. To me, I think it's somewhat reflective of expectations and abilities. I have graduated expectations for kids from toddler to three to four, and so on.

I agree with your definition...when my kids turned 3, I no longer considered them toddlers, I always thought of them as "little kids"...not a very scientific term to say the least :-)

My quick answer is "one who toddles", but then that would include my elderly neighbor. I would say ages 1-2. I would say that calling a 3 year old a toddler is pushing it.

I think of toddlers as starting from walking (about 1 yr old give or take a few months) to ending about 3 1/2 or 4 - when they start preschool.
Then they are preschoolers.
I'd never call a 4 or 5 yr old a toddler.
There is a lot of difference between a walking 1 yr old and a 3 yr old - but it's a rapid time of growth and cognitive development and terrible 2's and 3's are all part of this.
A toddler generally has no sense of shame - they'll strip down to nothing and think nothing of it - they are still potty training.
Preschoolers is really when they begin social development - begin to play cooperatively and share - they are more self aware.
When they are 5 or in kindergarten, they are done with being preschoolers.

18 months to 3 years. Pre-school is 3 - 4 and pre-k is the year right before entering Kindergarten(this changes with the child's birthday, so they may be 5 in pre-k or younger)

Funny question. I always thought of a toddler as one who toddles, not yet a skilled walker. I figured that by the time the kid is running, toddlerhood is over. Then, my husband defined a toddler as any kid before kindergarten age. I don't think about it anymore.

ETA: What's confusing about a child's age in months? That is more specific than years. I don't care either way, but I just wonder where the confusion comes in. I'm confused when somebody says 1 or 2, because they don't always mean 12 months or 24 months, and I have to wonder...or ask if the moment isn't over. I'm scratching my head now.

My definition is the same as yours :-)

Between 1 and I would say 2 1/2.

I consider a toddler to be a child between infant and preschool. Since my son (almost 4) is old enough to be in preschool, I no longer consider him a toddler. My daughter, 2 and a half, will probably be a toddler for at least another six months or so.

However, there are things like toddler beds and climbers that are marketed at kids ages 2-4, and I can see that.

You are right.

We kind of enjoy the innocence and general walking accident that toddlers can be.

At 3, there is an intelligence that lies.

A toddler is a little human that toddles. Toddle defined as...to walk with slow unsteady steps. Literally this also defines some of our elderly as toddlers. For the little ones they generally refer to the kids between 1-3 years of age although in buying clothing they do list 5 year olds as toddlers as in 5T.

My definition is a one to two year old tyrant. MAYBE count 3 year old in there, too, but definitely by 4 I consider them preschoolers.

To me a toddler is between 1-3 years old, then they become a pre-schooler, then school-aged once they are in kidergarten.

I share your same definition. I used the term from my son's first birthday until he turned 3.

Developmentally a toddler IS a child from the age of 12 months/1 year up to 24 months.

A child that is 2 years old is often called a pre-schooler because they are cognitively able to process learning to go to the bathroom, learn letters, they are starting to be able to write/color from their wrist instead of their upper arm and elbow, they are moving their wrist while coloring instead of the whole arm in the elbow region. They are at a much higher level of brain activity.

A toddler on the other hand is still learning to walk and talk at the same time. A toddler toddles, learning to walk. That is what they are accomplishing in this stage. Not much else.

Once they get that done they will start growing mentally by leaps and bounds. That is what makes them a preschooler, their brain takes off and they are suddenly able to start processing higher functioning work. They become a preschooler mentally.

If you look up a toddler on just about any parenting page it will refer to a child in the 12-24 month age group. It is a developmental stage and not always carved in stone to stop at 24 months. It may go into the very first few months of a 2 year olds life but most of the developmental milestones that signify a toddler is done by 24 months.

http://www.babycenter.com/toddler-milestones

http://www.babyzone.com/toddler/toddler-month-by-month/

http://urbanext.illinois.edu/babysitting/age-toddler.html

http://www.cigna.com/individualandfamilies/health-and-wel...

http://www.pbs.org/parents/childdevelopmenttracker/two/in...

I agree. I think that, sometime around or shortly after your third birthday, you switch from toddler to preschooler. You become a toddler when you learn how to walk and literally toddle, or by about 12-15 months of age (whether you can walk or not!)

I think some three year olds still seem toddler-ish, especially younger threes, but certainly not by 3.5 and I would never call a 4 or 5 year old a toddler.

A toddler is a baby between one and three years old.