Is an 18 month old a baby?

[Condragulations]

Or a toddler? When does the transition from baby happen?

As I understand it goes:
Newborn - first 4 weeks
Infant - 4 weeks - 1 year
Toddler - 1-3 years
Pre-schooler 3-5 years

So technically not a baby, but DC1 is 3 next month, I’m not ready for her to be a pre-schooler, she’s still my baby!

Toddler once they start toddling. But I wouldn’t count a 1.5 year old as a baby even if they arnt walking. It annoys me when people call 2-3 year olds babies!

I'm trying to adjust to calling my 18 month old a toddler not a baby but to say the cliche she will always be my baby.

My 21 month old is my baby. She's the youngest of my DC so I think she will always be the baby!

Mine were definitely toddlers at 18 months. On the other hand my friend has a 2 year old who she calls ‘the baby’. But call them what you want, no one really cares .

Thank you for your replies! My son has a rare form of dwarfism so he’s about the size of a six month old. He’s very capable with walking, running, climbing etc but he also has a receptive speech delay so doesn’t understand almost anything. We were with other families of children with dwarfism the other day and someone referred to my son as “that baby” and her dad said he’s not a baby! He’s a toddler! (HIs other daughter has dwarfism too and I’m aware people assume kids with dwarfism are babies well into childhood) so I thought oh is it time already to correct people? As I usually just smile when they call him a baby lol

Oh that’s should say so he’s used to correcting people saying his 2.5 year old is a baby!

Toddlers is from walking, however, I still class a toddler as a baby personally. I see them as a baby up until about 2? They are still in nappies, need carrying/prams/milk/cots/have limited speech. Definitely more baby than child.

Personally in your situation I wouldn't bother correcting anyone until he is old enough for it to upset him. Otherwise it's looking for an issue that isn't there. 99% of people think my 19 month old boy is a girl, I just smile and nod. No point getting worked up about it unless he is embarrased and he doesn't have a clue. You'll have a life time of correcting people, mostly children, ahead of you so I'd let it slide for now, he is really a baby. I think the other parent was ultra careful given their experience.

I see them as a baby up until about 2? They are still in nappies, need carrying/prams/milk/cots/have limited speech. Definitely more baby than child

Depends on the child! DD2 was out of nappies at 20 months, refused a pushchair from 15 months, was out of her cot at 18 months, spoke in full sentences from 18 months and didn’t drink milk after a year old. Would have felt weird calling her a baby! DD1 on the other hand was much more ‘baby’ at that age.

I call them babies till they're two. Airlines treat them as infants till 2 as well.

I’ve also had both my boys referred to as girls the whole time, they have gorgeous curly hair which I think gives that impression lol. It’s not bothered any of us, being a girl isn’t an insult.

Yes my eldest was a lot like what *SoyDora*s child was like. My youngest definitely wants to walk everywhere all the time but isnt fluently speaking and is still in nappies so on those counts it makes sense with him still being a baby.

I certainly wouldn’t be “looking for an issue” but just wondering if it’s time I ought to say “oh he’s not a baby, he looks younger than he is because he has dwarfism”. It’s not going to be something I ever show offence by because that just sets him up to feel like someone is being offensive, most of the time they are not but just mistaken. He will grow up knowing things like “big head” “short limbs” “short” etc aren’t insults because they’re not flaws, just features of his body.

you’ll have a lifetime of correcting people, mostly children

You’d be surprised. Adults are worse than the children in terms of actually being offensive tbh.

My youngest is 15 Months and I still think of him as a baby. He doesn't walk, he's still breastfeeding and is in a cot. He's also small so looks more like a baby than a toddler.

I like the way they do it at most childcare settings around here - there are babies, wobblers, then toddlers. They are divided roughly along age categories, but little ones are treated as individuals and moved when ready to socialise with the next stage.

I think wobbler fits quite well for that stage between baby and toddler when they don't really fit fully in either category.

I think it depends how old your own children are. Mine are grown up now so I would probably refer to any small child as a baby.

I wrote a reply earlier and it’s gone will post this to test and then try to remember what I said.

Oh I’ve just seen my reply is still there! But has appeared a few posts earlier even though I had read all these replies before I posted, strange!

But yes I think with the “!” I’ve probably made the other dad come across upset when really it was said in more of a “what are you like!” tone if that’s makes sense.

I don’t actually use any terms myself but in future if people say baby I think I’ll just go with it until he’s two/pipes up with “I’m not a baby!”

Yep toddler when they turn 1.