What does toddler mean?
A toddler is a young child who has begun to walk, most often a child between about one and three years old. The word captures a stage of early development characterized by tentative steps, rapid exploration, and increasing independence, although toddlers differ greatly in their physical and verbal abilities. As a noun, “toddler” is warmer and more specific than the general word “child”: it emphasizes age and the experience of learning to walk. As a verb, “to toddler” means to move with the unsteady gait of a young child, but this use is relatively uncommon. The word is familiar without being strongly informal and is equally natural in everyday conversation, parenting, education, and general writing. Its history also reflects that movement: “toddler” originally referred to anyone who walked unsteadily before becoming established as a term for a young child.
A young child who has begun to walk, especially one between roughly one and three years old.
"The toddler happily stacked wooden blocks while her older sister read nearby."
The word is neutral and commonly used for children in the early stages of walking.
To walk unsteadily, especially as a young child learning to walk.
"The toddler toddled across the floor, steadying herself on the sofa."
This verb is less common than the noun and normally describes a child's uneven or tentative walking.
The regular plural is formed by adding “-s” to the noun.
"The twins were among the youngest toddlers at the community playgroup."
Before it became a familiar label for early childhood, “toddler” simply meant someone who walked unsteadily.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of toddler
“Toddler” developed from the verb “toddle,” meaning “to walk unsteadily,” together with the agent-forming suffix “-er.” The verb appears in Middle English, while the modern sense referring specifically to a young child developed later, in the eighteenth century. The deeper origin of Middle English “toddle” is uncertain and should not confidently be assigned to a particular older root.
Related word forms
How toddler is actually used
The noun is neutral, familiar, and widely used in British and American English. The verb is much less common and usually describes a child walking unsteadily.