toddler

American  

[tod-ler] / ˈtɒd lər /

noun

1. a person who toddles, especially a young child learning to walk.

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toddler British  

/ ˈtɒdlə /

noun

1. a young child, usually one between the ages of one and two and a half

2. (modifier) designed or suitable for a toddler

   toddler suits

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Other Word Forms

• toddlerhood
  noun

Etymology

Origin of toddler

First recorded in 1785–95; toddle + -er ¹

Explanation

Use the noun toddler to describe a small child who is just learning how to walk. A toddler is older than a baby but not quite old enough for elementary school. It's the time in a child's life when she reaches all kinds of milestones: walking, talking, playing with other kids, and more. The word toddler was first used in 1793, and it developed out of the Scottish word toddle, or "to run or walk with short, unsteady steps."

Example Sentences

One of the nurses, who came to the U.S. from the Philippines as a toddler, said she applied for renewal on Dec. 1.

From Los Angeles Times • May 27, 2026

Now she is the mother of an infant and a toddler – both girls.

From BBC • May 24, 2026

Not too long ago in this very galaxy, audiences watched a helmeted bounty hunter meet a mysterious big-eyed alien toddler on their TVs, and “Star Wars” was changed forever.

From Los Angeles Times • May 21, 2026

What was once a sacred nightly routine—putting the toddler to bed, collapsing onto the couch and opening their laptops to finish their work in peace—had become anything but peaceful.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 10, 2026

Klaus, meanwhile, had his pajamas removed by the other white-faced woman, and was hurriedly stuffed into a blue sailor suit that itched and made him look like a toddler.

From "The Bad Beginning" by Lemony Snicket

Related Words

• child
• infant
• kid
• youngster