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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To ask when does a baby become a toddler?

39 replies

wildflowerfable · 24/05/2017 19:29

I always thought it was when they started 'toddling', but then I thought if an 8 month old baby could walk I wouldn't call them a toddler.

I looked online and some places said one, some places said two. Dd is nearly one, and I don't want want think of her as being a toddler yet, she's still my little squishy baby!

OP posts:
KP86 · 24/05/2017 19:31

I would say from when they are walking (you'll know when you have a toddler!) or 15-odd months, whichever comes first.

Still getting myself around the fact that my 3yo is a preschooler. I miss the term toddler.

LadyGlitterSparklesSeriously · 24/05/2017 19:32

Yeah DD walked at 8-9 months and she definitely was just a walking baby!

I think around the 15-18 month mark.

wildflowerfable · 24/05/2017 19:34

At least I still have a few more months with my little baby then! Gosh pre-schooler sounds even more scary to me haha.

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paddypants13 · 24/05/2017 19:34

Ds is almost 2 and he has been in toddler territory for about 10 months. He's a little mischief but very, very cute.

MoominFlaps · 24/05/2017 19:35

I have a 14 mo. He's most definitely a cheeky little sod toddler.

wildflowerfable · 24/05/2017 19:36

I am looking forward to toddler-hood, as they are so cheeky and fun, but also a little aprehensive of the tantrums!

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MoominFlaps · 24/05/2017 19:39

I preferred him as a baby. He stayed in one place and didn't eat tubs of Vaseline,throw food at me or scream like I'm killing him when I don't let him throw himself down the stairs Grin

paddypants13 · 24/05/2017 19:44

Ds is so cute that when he throws tantrums we just have to laugh. After dd's they are mild!

wildflowerfable · 24/05/2017 20:01

Haha! (I laugh, but this will soon be my life).

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AndNowItIsSeven · 24/05/2017 20:02

Medically it's age 2.

weddingopinionsplease · 24/05/2017 20:04

I still think of my DD (19 months) as a baby but she's definitely getting more toddlery now. She runs around constantly and she talks loads more than my eldest did at this age. So I'd say the 18 month mark for most children.

Cellardoor23 · 24/05/2017 20:07

My DS started walking around 9 months. He's just over 1 now and walking confidently, but he still looks so small compared to other toddlers at playgroup. Obviously because he is small! But I don't know, I would say he's inbetween the two at the moment.

wildflowerfable · 24/05/2017 20:08

Thanks.

Is it more based on what they can do/their personality than a specific age then?

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EpoxyResin · 24/05/2017 20:08

Mine's two next month and whilst patently a toddler he's still a baby. He'll always be MY baby!!

LotisBlue · 24/05/2017 20:09

Ds is 18 months and I'm just starting to think of him as a toddler. The other day I gave him the wrong plate and he threw it on the floor, definite toddler behaviour!

Ecureuil · 24/05/2017 20:11

My DD2 is 22 months and I'd say has been a toddler since about 14 months. That's when she was running around/starting to talk etc and just felt like a toddler.
DD1 felt like a baby until about 16 months.

Whosthebestbabainalltheworld · 24/05/2017 20:12

I'd call an 8 month old walker a wobbler. Toddler is ~15 months onwards.

RosyGold · 24/05/2017 20:13

In my mind I'd say about 2. Although my wee girl is 18 months now but very much still a baby to me. She can walk quite well now and learning to talk and changing every day - but maybe because she's hit milestones "late" I think of her as a baby more than other kids her age who are more advanced. Also to be fair she STILL has hardly any hair!!! So she definitely looks like a wee baby still!

WinterWinds001 · 24/05/2017 20:18

DD is nearly 18 months and she's been a toddler to me for quite a while! She was walking/talking at 8 months though so she's almost like a 2 year old now.Climbing, running, jumping and answering back! I see some her age that I definitely still see as babies though!

Me264 · 24/05/2017 20:30

DS is 14 nearly 15 months and I've thought of him as a toddler for the last couple of months or so. He started walking a week after his first birthday, his speech is coming along and he has about 5 words now, and has plenty of tantrums. Definitely not a baby anymore!

londonrach · 24/05/2017 20:31

According to nhs poster on weaning... 12 months

HeadDreamer · 24/05/2017 20:35

I would say nearly 2. They start behaving quite differently from babies. But not like a preschooler whom you can reason with.

StarryCorpulentCunt · 24/05/2017 21:37

Once they start walking and eating nappy cream.

wildflowerfable · 24/05/2017 21:45

I'm pleased to hopefully still have a while of babyhood left with dd then, but she'll always be my baby really! It sounds as though becoming a toddler really varies between children.

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Spudlet · 24/05/2017 21:51

Ds is nearly 18 months and walking, and oh boy is he ever a toddler Grin. Wilful, curious, no sense of danger and he never, ever stops unless he is asleep. I am exhausted!

It is fun though Grin. I personally did not love the baby stage, but this is awesome. We can do stuff, outdoors! We go to the zoo and the playground! I know you can do all that with a baby of course but I feel he gets something out of it now. He walked for ages through the woods yesterday with Spuddog and I thought my heart was going to burst, I was so proud of him.

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