Baby toddler or child?

[Zeroperspective]

My DS was 3 in Jan of this year, of course he could be 33 and would still be my baby! I have a relative that insists on calling him " The Baby " or " The Toddler " and it irrates me! (Yep I'm aware this is a petty 1st world problem) to me he is a child at this age, but what age does the switch from toddler to child happen?

YABU Age 3 is a toddler

YANBU Age 3 is a child

Small child/ preschooler.

For me, toddle toddler just walking and still very baby like. Once they’re (for instance) doing ballet lessons and having semi-sensible conversations it doesn’t really fit.

YANBU. They stop being toddlers when they turn 3.

YANBU. He's a child, or a pre-schooler. Give it a few months and he'll make a huge fuss if someone calls him a baby. Mine doesn't even like being called a little boy (because he's a big boy, obviously).

I would say age 1 and 2 is toddler, they're past that stage when they turn 3.

As the owner of a 3 year old who would be most put out to be referred to as a baby I use preschooler or child.

At 3 most children are very vocal in not wanting to be thought of as babies.

Mine is newly three and starting to not fit “toddler”, though he’s still in the Toddler Room at nursery so I guess it seems less weird.

YANBU. I have a nearly-3 year old and I’m searching for the right term because she’s just not a toddler anymore 🤷🏻‍♀️ She tells me she’s not a baby, she’s a little girl, so I guess child or pre-schooler fits pretty well

Baby until 2, toddler until 4, small child until 7, child until 13.

I am aware this is very specific but generally how I see things!

My DS has additional needs (ASD and speech/communication delay) so he doesn't really notice what he's called. I think it wouldn't annoy me as much if he was able to say, no I'm a big boy etc and now I've sat thinking about why something so petty annoys me disproportionately I think it's because they are infantalising him because he can't hold a conversation yet when actually he is really smart and advanced in other areas.

I can definitely see why that would annoy you more given the circumstances and I'd wager you were spot on with your belief that because he isn't able to communicate properly they are treating him as younger.

Unfortunately there isn't much else you can do except correct them continually. Does he attend nursery maybe if he moved to the preschool room they would see him as older? Although probably not if they still call him baby.

In my head it’s baby until 1ish, toddler until 3, and preschooler until they start school… my 2.5 year old does like to tell me he’s a baby when he wants me to do something for him though (and he will always be my baby, even if he’s definitely not a baby anymore).

Is he the youngest child in the family by any chance? In my family he would be called 'the baby' until the next one came along, no matter the age!

I do understand why it would bother you more given the additional needs though.

@MuffinToSeeHere he is in preschool in a special programme designed for children with his difficulties and his progress has been incredible 🥰 he starts nursery in Sept
@TidyDancer he's my youngest but there are 2 younger within the family of the relative concerned

Sounds like he's doing well but as suspected they wouldn't change what they called him if he moved up.

Have you asked why they call him baby? I mean it's a reasonable question and him being your youngest isn't really a good answer.

@MuffinToSeeHere I haven't pulled them on it I've just quietly seethed lol if they say how is "The Baby" I usually answer "Name" is doing well for example. I'm not one to hold back usually but it just seems so ridiculous to get riled up by it hence my post here to see if I am being overly dramatic or not!