Infant vs. Toddler

Difference Between Infant and Toddler

The word infant has its origins in the Latin. An infant is a very young child. It is basically a medical term for ‘baby’.

The word infant is mainly used in academic textbooks. It is not very common in ordinary speech or writing. For example, parents are unlikely to refer to their babies as infants.

Interestingly infant has a slightly different meaning in British English. In Britain, children as old as 7 years can be called infants. An infant school, for example, is a school for children aged about 5 to 7.

The word toddler refers to a relatively older baby who has just started walking or toddling. To toddle is to walk with short, unsteady steps. Although toddlers toddle for only a few months, all pre-school children can be called toddlers.