There are many different things that mark the change from baby to toddler. Here, we will guide you through what to be on the lookout for as your baby grows into a toddler.
The first few years of your child’s life will be filled with many changes. The most significant changes will be in their physical growth, cognitive development and social-emotional skills.
These first few years are known as newborn, baby and toddler. But, quite often, these words are used interchangeably which can become confusing, especially for first time parents.
Within this guide, we will look in detail at the different stages your child will go through in their first few years and answer the question – When is a baby a toddler?
What Is The Age Of A Newborn Babies?
There is actually no set age range for when a child stops being a newborn but many experts use the term “newborn” for babies who are 3 months and under.
The term ‘baby’ will be used from when the mother is still pregnant to, usually, when your child is 1 year old.
Development Stages: Your Baby’s First Year
There are many changes and stages that will happen with your baby’s first year. Some of the most significant are:
- Their first smile
- Your newborn’s vision becoming more focused and being able to see colours and objects in the distance
- Reaching out for items
- Starting to understand certain words, such as ‘no’, and recognising the names of people
- Waving ‘bye-bye!’
- Babbling or saying ‘mama’ or ‘dada’
- Developing bonds and trust with loved ones and caretakers
- Playing games, such as peekaboo
- Crawling or pulling themselves up to stand
- Walking along while holding onto furniture
- Possibly taking their first steps
- Developing fine motor skills, such as the pincer grasp, picking up small objects using their thumb and pointer finger.
When Is A Baby A Toddler?
Now we know the development stages that happen within your baby’s first year, we can begin to look at when your baby will become a toddler. Your baby moves from being a baby to a toddler when they reach the age of 1 and they will stay a toddler until they are 3 years old.
Development Stages: From Baby To Toddler
When your baby becomes a toddler, there are many significant changes that will mark this change, particularly in their physical and cognitive development. These are some of the most significant changes that will happen during this time:
- Starting to walk and learning to walk alone and walk well
- Beginning to run
- Pulling their toys along behind them
- Kicking a ball
- Climbing
- Feeding themselves
- Imitating others’ behaviour
- Developing an awareness of themselves and understanding ‘I’, ‘mine’ and ‘you’
- Playing enthusiastically alongside other children
- Engaging in pretend play and make-believe
- Sorting by shape and colour
- Saying four- and five-word sentences.
So, When Is A Baby A Toddler?
There are some words that are used interchangeably when speaking about young children – baby, infant, toddler – but experts do have a view on when your child is a newborn, a baby and a toddler.
A baby is considered a newborn when they are under 3 months old and then, between the ages of 3 months and 1 years, they are a baby. From 1 to 3 years old, they are a toddler.
So, your baby will become a toddler when they reach 1 year old and they begin to start walking (or toddling about), kicking balls, climbing, feeding themselves and much more.
We hope this guide has been helpful and that you now feel in the know about when a baby becomes a toddler.
If you would like to help your baby or toddler with their physical and cognitive development, our football classes can be attended from as young as 6 months old. Please click here to find your local class.