When does a child stop being a toddler?

[geekymommy]

DD will be 3 this summer. Will she still be a toddler then? Does toddlerhood end at 3, or does it go till age 4? Interested in hearing some opinions.

I'd say 2.5-3. Once they're walking steadily and talking fluently they aren't really toddlers.

A toddler to me toddles so one just after walking. For us that meant between around 12months-2 years.

Ds2 is 3. He climbed very high up a tree today and scared the wits out of me, he's definitely not a toddler.

My ds is just 2 and I'm starting to see him as a child/little boy rather than toddler, he walked quite early (10 months) so he's very steady on his feet now and he talks lots.

I'd say 2.5/3 too.

I would say at an age rather than when a developmental milestone is met, like walking and talking, as some children will meet those milestones a lot later, and others won't reach them at all.

Ds is nearly 5 but doesn't talk and walks in the way a toddler would (he is disabled) he has friends who will never walk, but they are not toddlers!!

Walking steadily,talking in sentences,going to nursery and toilet trained. So 2-3 for me.

Haha, well apart from the fact that he is it school not nursery, by those criteria, ds is still a toddler (walks very unsteadily - uses a buggy most of the time, can't talk and still in nappies at 4.9)

DS has just turned 3 and I refer to him as a toddler but it's just started to not feel right as he seems so grown up now. But I don't want to call him a pre schooler either as he doesn't attend pre school yet!

I would say 2.5 to 3 as well. Taking my 2:10 ds to a toddler group I really see the difference between him and the just 2 and almpst 2 year olds, its a massive developmental leap age.

Most have stopped toddling by 2 haven't they? Maybe 2.5 for some. Certainly by 3.

I always thought it was 2. In an labeling kind of way - I'd have thought after three they are definitely 'young children'

I think the development between 2 and 2 and a half/3 is so huge .. Moving from words to actually chatting in sentences and being a slightly rational being .. Definitely by 3 I think they are little people .. Sad to lose my toddler ! But amazing to have a little friend to chat to ..