A toddler is a child between 1 and 3 years old, or 12 to 36 months. That is the range the American Academy of Pediatrics and the CDC both use. Some experts, like Zero to Three, start the toddler years closer to 18 months, once walking is steady. Around the third birthday, most children move into the preschool stage.
Free printable Toddler Age Chart Printable
Quick facts:
- Toddler: 1 to 3 years (12 to 36 months).
- Early toddler: 1 to 2 years. Older toddler: 2 to 3 years.
- Before: baby or infant, birth to 12 months. After: preschooler, 3 to 5 years.
- Want it on the fridge? Print our free toddler age chart, with a milestone checklist for 18 months, 2 and 3 years.
SaveToddler age range at a glance
Here is how the stages line up, using the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) names and the CDC’s age groups.
| Stage | Age | Months | What most kids are working on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baby (infant) | Birth to 1 year | 0 to 12 | Growing fast; first steps often come between 12 and 18 months |
| Early toddler | 1 to 2 years | 12 to 24 | Walking on their own, first words, copying you |
| Older toddler | 2 to 3 years | 24 to 36 | Running, two-word phrases, pretend play |
| Preschooler | 3 to 5 years | 36 to 60 | Conversations, “why” questions, playing with other kids |
| Grade school | 5 to 12 years | 60+ | Kindergarten and school |
Months to years: 12 months is 1 year, 18 months is 1½, 24 months is 2, 30 months is 2½, and 36 months is 3. Doctors and the CDC count toddler ages in months because a lot changes in six months at this stage.
What age is considered a toddler? Why the answers differ
Search this question and you will see 1 to 3, 18 months to 3, and sometimes 1 to 4. They are all describing the same stage from a slightly different angle.
| Source | Toddler age | Why |
|---|---|---|
| American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org) | 1 to 3 years | Splits childhood into baby (0 to 12 months), toddler (1 to 3), preschool (3 to 5) and grade school (5 to 12) |
| CDC | 1 to 2 and 2 to 3 years | Same range, split in two because a 1-year-old and a 2½-year-old need different things |
| Zero to Three | About 18 months to 3 years | Ties the word to walking: by 18 months a child is “firmly in toddler territory” |
For everyday use, go with 1 to 3 years. It is what your pediatrician’s handouts, most childcare centers and the toddler aisle of a store mean.
When is a baby a toddler?
A baby becomes a toddler at the first birthday. That is the line both the AAP and the CDC draw between the infant and toddler stages.
In real life the shift is gradual. The word comes from “to toddle,” meaning to walk unsteadily, and many children take their first steps somewhere between 12 and 18 months. So a 13-month-old who is not walking yet is still a toddler on paper, and by 18 months most children are walking without holding on, according to the CDC.
SaveHow old is a toddler? Early toddlers vs older toddlers
A toddler is 1, 2 or almost 3 years old, and the two halves of that stage look very different.
Early toddler: 1 to 2 years
This is the “on the move” year. Children go from first wobbly steps to walking, climbing on and off the couch and scribbling. Words start to come, and copying you becomes a favorite game: sweeping, stirring, wiping the table. Toddlers this age need 11 to 14 hours of sleep per 24 hours, naps included, according to the CDC.
Ideas for this age: activities for 1-year-olds.
Older toddler: 2 to 3 years
This is the “I do it” year. Running, kicking a ball, putting two words together, then short sentences. Pretend play takes off, and so does the wish to do everything without help. It is also when big feelings get loud, which is where the “terrible twos” nickname comes from.
Ideas for this age: activities for 2-year-olds and our sample toddler schedules by age.
SaveIs a 3-year-old still a toddler?
A 3-year-old is at the line between toddler and preschooler. The AAP and the CDC both put age 3 in the preschool stage (3 to 5 years), while Zero to Three calls 3 a transition stage, and many parents still say “toddler” for a while after the third birthday.
There is no hard line here. If your 3-year-old is in a preschool class, “preschooler” fits; if not, “big toddler” is fine too. See our activities for 3-year-olds for what this age enjoys.
Is a 4-year-old a toddler?
No. A 4-year-old is a preschooler. The AAP’s preschool stage runs from 3 to 5 years, and by 4 most children hold real conversations, play with other kids and handle a lot of their own dressing and eating. Some parents still say “toddler” out of habit, but stores, doctors and childcare programs use “preschooler” or “pre-K.” Ideas for this age: activities for 4-year-olds.
What are 5-year-olds called?
Five-year-olds are usually called preschoolers or kindergartners, depending on whether they have started school. In the AAP’s stages, age 5 is where preschool ends and the grade-school years (5 to 12) begin, and most children start kindergarten around 5.
What is age 1 to 5 called?
There is no single official name for ages 1 to 5. It covers two stages: the toddler years (1 to 3) and the preschool years (3 to 5). In everyday speech people say “the toddler and preschool years,” “little kids” or “early childhood.” If you need one word for a form or a program, “early childhood” is the usual choice.
SaveToddler milestones at 18 months, 2 and 3 years
The CDC lists milestones that most children, 75% or more, reach by each age. That also means 1 in 4 children have not done a given item yet, so one missing skill is not a verdict. A few from each CDC milestone checklist:
| By this age | Most children… |
|---|---|
| 18 months | Walk without holding on, try to say 3 or more words besides “mama” or “dada,” scribble, follow one-step directions without gestures, climb on and off a couch or chair |
| 2 years | Kick a ball, run, say at least two words together (“More milk”), point to at least two body parts when asked, eat with a spoon |
| 3 years | Have back-and-forth conversations, ask “who,” “what,” “where” or “why” questions, say their first name, draw a circle when shown how, use a fork |
If your child is not meeting milestones, has lost skills they once had, or you are simply worried, talk with your child’s doctor and ask about developmental screening. The CDC’s free Milestone Tracker app keeps the checklists on your phone, and our printable below has them on paper.
SaveWhere the toddler label actually matters
Most of the time “toddler” is just a word. In a few places, the age line changes what you buy or do.
- Toy labels: under US safety rules (CPSC), toys made for children under 3 cannot contain small parts, and toys with small parts made for older kids carry a choking warning that says “Not for children under 3 yrs.” For a toddler, that label is a hard stop, not a suggestion.
- Clothing sizes: baby sizes run by months (12M, 18M, 24M) and toddler sizes by T (2T to 5T, where T means toddler). Sizes go by fit, so many 2-year-olds still wear 24M.
- Sleep: the CDC’s 11 to 14 hours (naps included) is for toddlers 1 to 2 years old. Nap needs keep changing through the toddler years, and a steady toddler schedule helps.
- Car seats: the CDC advises keeping your child rear-facing until they reach the top height or weight limit of the seat, not until a birthday.
- Childcare: many centers group children into infant, toddler and preschool rooms. The age cutoffs vary, so ask your center for theirs.
Free printable: toddler age chart
The free toddler age chart is a 2-page PDF:
- Page 1: the stage chart from baby to grade school, with ages, months and a months-to-years strip.
- Page 2: milestone checkpoints at 18 months, 2 years and 3 years, with boxes to tick and a “date checked” line. Bring it to your child’s next checkup.
SavePrint on US Letter paper with “Fit to page” turned on. Free for personal and classroom use, no email required.
Toddler age FAQ
Is 18 months a toddler?
Yes. An 18-month-old is a toddler by every definition: the AAP’s and CDC’s 1 to 3 years, and Zero to Three’s 18 months to 3. Most children are walking on their own by this age.
Is a 12-month-old a toddler or a baby?
Both terms are fair at 12 months. On paper a child becomes a toddler at the first birthday, but many 1-year-olds are not walking yet, so plenty of parents still say “baby” until the first steps.
Is a 3-year-old a toddler or a preschooler?
A 3-year-old is in the transition. The AAP and the CDC count 3 as the start of the preschool years (3 to 5), while Zero to Three calls age 3 a transition stage.
How long does the toddler stage last?
About two years, from the first birthday to around the third. The early half (1 to 2) is about moving and first words; the later half (2 to 3) is about language, pretend play and independence.
Is a 4-year-old considered a toddler?
No. A 4-year-old is a preschooler. Some people use “toddler” loosely for any little kid, but doctors, schools and stores use preschooler for ages 3 to 5.
What comes after the toddler stage?
The preschool stage, from 3 to 5 years. After that come the grade-school years, starting around age 5 with kindergarten.
More by age: 1-year-olds · 2-year-olds · 3-year-olds · 4-year-olds · preschool activities at home
Many toddlers show the first signs of potty readiness between 18 and 24 months. Our potty training chart page has the AAP readiness checklist and free printable charts.
