Toddler: 1 to 3 years
Walking, talking, tantrums and meals — what is typical between the first and third birthdays.
Each age below has its own page with typical milestones, what to feed, how much sleep is usual, and what to keep an eye on.
Milestones are a guide, not a test. Children reach them at different times, and a checkpoint missed by a few weeks is usually nothing — the pages say what is worth mentioning to a doctor and what is not.
Every checkpoint in this stage
Related guides
- Childhood vaccine schedule — what is due, and when
- Warning signs worth acting on
Common questions
What should a child eat during toddler: 1 to 3 years?
Avoid whole nuts, whole grapes, popcorn, hard raw vegetables, chunks of meat/cheese (choking). Full family diet (appropriately textured). Cow's milk can become a drink after 12 months. Continue breastfeeding to 2 years and beyond. Introduce common allergens (peanut, egg) from ~6 months in age-appropriate form — early introduction reduces allergy risk (LEAP/EAT).
How much sleep is typical?
Ranges are per 24 hours and, for children through preschool, include naps. Individual needs vary. Ranges are per 24 hours and include naps where relevant.
What if my child has not reached a milestone?
Milestones describe what most children do by a given age, not a deadline. Variation is normal and common. If something worries you, or a skill your child had seems to have gone, that is worth raising with your doctor rather than waiting for the next checkpoint.
Show the evidence
Sources: CDC Learn the Signs. Act Early.; WHO Child Growth Standards.
This page gathers and links what the individual week and nutrient pages already publish — it introduces no figure they do not carry, and each one names its own source.
Educational reference, not medical advice. Pregnancies and the care offered around them differ; follow the team looking after you.