# At what age is a child no longer a toddler? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 6, 2014, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-is-a-child-no-longer-a-toddler/694958 "2014-08-06T16:48:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Becky2844](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Becky2844](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Becky2844)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2014, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-is-a-child-no-longer-a-toddler/694958/1 "2014-08-06T16:48:15Z")
To me, “toddle” describes what babies do as they get the hang of walking. Most kids walk pretty well by two years old so a three-year-old would not be considered a toddler. What do other posters think? ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2014, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-is-a-child-no-longer-a-toddler/694958/2 "2014-08-06T16:54:01Z")
My scientific definition of a toddler: A kid that can walk, but still wears a diaper. If they can’t walk, they’re not a toddler yet. If they’re potty trained, they’re not a toddler anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2014, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-is-a-child-no-longer-a-toddler/694958/3 "2014-08-06T16:57:20Z")
Once they stop toddling, of course. Toddle: walk via short, unsteady steps. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2014, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-is-a-child-no-longer-a-toddler/694958/4 "2014-08-06T17:06:16Z")
Most kids walk well enough independently and are potty trained by 3. I would agree that most 3 year olds are **NOT** toddlers. ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2014, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-is-a-child-no-longer-a-toddler/694958/5 "2014-08-06T18:03:43Z")
this is a bit illogical. but… To me, a toddler isn’t just defined by the way the kid walks and pees…it’s also by his language skills. So 1). If he’s still wearing a diaper (nappy for you Brits)–he’s a toddler 2). If he toddles, well, yeah, he’s a toddler. But even if he’s advanced to the stage that he does not need diapers and can walking steadily… 3). If you have trouble understanding half the words he says, he’s still a toddler. So most 3-year-olds are toddlers. Even though they don’t toddle. ---
**Author:** ![yellowjacketcoder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/4bbf92/32.png) [@yellowjacketcoder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowjacketcoder)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2014, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-is-a-child-no-longer-a-toddler/694958/6 "2014-08-06T18:10:49Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > this is a bit illogical. but… > To me, a toddler isn’t just defined by the way the kid walks and pees…it’s also by his language skills. > So 1). If he’s still wearing a diaper (nappy for you Brits)–he’s a toddler > 2). If he toddles, well, yeah, he’s a toddler. > But even if he’s advanced to the stage that he does not need diapers and can walking steadily… > 3). If you have trouble understanding half the words he says, he’s still a toddler. > > So most 3-year-olds are toddlers. > Even though they don’t toddle. I agree with this. My son is about to turn three, and has no trouble walking or going to the bathroom (well, most of the time), but he’s still a toddler. What do you call a three year old if not a toddler? ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2014, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-is-a-child-no-longer-a-toddler/694958/7 "2014-08-06T18:17:19Z")
I agree about the language thing. Once a kid can walk and potty and talk well enough to hold a kiddie conversation. So I’d say 4-5 depending on the kid. ---
**Author:** ![Becky2844](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Becky2844](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Becky2844)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2014, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-is-a-child-no-longer-a-toddler/694958/8 "2014-08-06T19:34:40Z")
I hadn’t thought of language skills determining whether or not a child is a toddler, since pre-school kids can be pretty much across the board in communication. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2014, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-is-a-child-no-longer-a-toddler/694958/9 "2014-08-06T19:42:25Z")
My 3 1/2 year old can carry on a full conversation and has been able to for several months. She walks and runs, and has been potty trained for over a year. Yet, she only weighs 25 pounds. She’s not a toddler. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2014, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-is-a-child-no-longer-a-toddler/694958/10 "2014-08-06T19:45:28Z")
My first though was 3 yo, because by that point they are walking fairly well, potty trained and have a decent vocabulary. ---
**Author:** ![PeskiPiksi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e495f1/32.png) [@PeskiPiksi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PeskiPiksi)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2014, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-is-a-child-no-longer-a-toddler/694958/11 "2014-08-06T20:12:20Z")
> [@yellowjacketcoder](#): > > What do you call a three year old if not a toddler? A preschooler, IMHO. I agree with the rest…No longer a toddler once they walk normally. So it roughly breaks down like this (in my world, at least): Age 0-1: Infant/baby Age 1-3: Toddler Age 3-5: Preschooler Age 5-10: Grade-schooler, or just “kid” 😃 Age 10-12: Preteen, tween Age 13-18: Teenager Age 18 and up: Grown-ass adult ---
**Author:** ![lorene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/65b543/32.png) [@lorene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lorene)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2014, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-is-a-child-no-longer-a-toddler/694958/12 "2014-08-06T20:54:18Z")
> [@PeskiPiksi](#): > > A preschooler, IMHO. > > I agree with the rest…No longer a toddler once they walk normally. So it roughly breaks down like this (in my world, at least): > > Age 0-1: Infant/baby > Age 1-3: Toddler > Age 3-5: Preschooler > Age 5-10: Grade-schooler, or just “kid” 😃 > Age 10-12: Preteen, tween > Age 13-18: Teenager > Age 18 and up: Grown-ass adult I live in the same world as you, evidently! Although my FIL still calls my 11-year-old daughter “the baby” sometimes…despite the fact that I also have a 9-year-old son. He means it in a loving way, and I think it’s because my daughter was the first grandchild to come along in quite a few years and also the only one who lived close by until my son came along 2 years later, so for a while she was THE baby. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Panic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/don_t_panic/32/398_2.png) [@Don\_t\_Panic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Panic)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2014, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-is-a-child-no-longer-a-toddler/694958/13 "2014-08-06T22:39:28Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > this is a bit illogical. but… > To me, a toddler isn’t just defined by the way the kid walks and pees…it’s also by his language skills. > So 1). If he’s still wearing a diaper (nappy for you Brits)–he’s a toddler > 2). If he toddles, well, yeah, he’s a toddler. > But even if he’s advanced to the stage that he does not need diapers and can walking steadily… > 3). If you have trouble understanding half the words he says, he’s still a toddler. > > So most 3-year-olds are toddlers. > Even though they don’t toddle. Agreed. In the Sims, the three things you’re supposed to learn before finishing the toddler stage (to get a top “score”) is toilet training skills, walking and talking. So I’m just going with that as a definition. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2014, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-is-a-child-no-longer-a-toddler/694958/14 "2014-08-06T22:47:20Z")
[when they’re old enough to steal a car](http://www.nbcnews.com/id/6927845/ns/us_news-weird_news/t/-year-old-takes-moms-car-midnight-spin/). ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2014, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-is-a-child-no-longer-a-toddler/694958/15 "2014-08-06T22:54:43Z")
Some people, 45. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2014, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-is-a-child-no-longer-a-toddler/694958/16 "2014-08-06T23:15:32Z")
> [@PeskiPiksi](#): > > A preschooler, IMHO. > > I agree with the rest…No longer a toddler once they walk normally. So it roughly breaks down like this (in my world, at least): > > Age 0-1: Infant/baby > Age 1-3: Toddler > Age 3-5: Preschooler > Age 5-10: Grade-schooler, or just “kid” 😃 > Age 10-12: Preteen, tween > Age 13-18: Teenager > Age 18 and up: Grown-ass adult Yep, this. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-is-a-child-no-longer-a-toddler/694958/17 "2014-08-07T10:49:28Z")
> [@yellowjacketcoder](#): > > I agree with this. My son is about to turn three, and has no trouble walking or going to the bathroom (well, most of the time), but he’s still a toddler. > > What do you call a three year old if not a toddler? > [@PeskiPiksi](#): > > A preschooler, IMHO. Yep. A child is a toddler from the time they can walk until their third birthday. Three and four year olds are preschoolers (and I guess any five-year-old still in preschool due to where their birthday falls in the school year too). ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-is-a-child-no-longer-a-toddler/694958/18 "2014-08-07T11:16:20Z")
It’s just weird calling a kid a preschooler if they aren’t actually in, well, preschool. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-is-a-child-no-longer-a-toddler/694958/19 "2014-08-07T11:49:32Z")
> [@Rhiannon8404](#): > > My first though was 3 yo, because by that point they are walking fairly well, potty trained and have a decent vocabulary. Agree. Usually around the third birthday or shortly thereafter\*, these things happen and I no longer call someone a “toddler.” (\*our 3.75-year-old isn’t yet fully potty trained, though. But he’s no longer a toddler, in my book.) ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-is-a-child-no-longer-a-toddler/694958/20 "2014-08-07T12:25:25Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > It’s just weird calling a kid a preschooler if they aren’t actually in, well, preschool. It’s a new use of the term, now that preschool is an actual thing, instead of a term that means a kid’s too young to be in school. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-age-is-a-child-no-longer-a-toddler/694958.md?page=2)