| Baby/Infant (0–1 year) | A very young child, ranging from birth to about one year (or sometimes up to 2 years). Newborns are typically 0-3 months, while infants can go up to 1 year. |
| Toddler (1–3 years) | A subset of "child" or "baby" used to describe a child who is learning to walk, typically aged 1-3. |
| Child (Birth–Puberty/18 years) | A broad, formal term for a person who has not reached adulthood, generally defined as under 18 years in legal contexts. |
| Kid (Informal Child) | An informal synonym for child/children. While "child" is used in formal situations (e.g., "the child is ill"), "kid" is common in daily conversation (e.g., "the kids are playing"). |
Contextual Usage
- "Baby" is used affectionately, for newborns, or when describing small children.
- "Child" is used to emphasize a young person in a neutral, official, or legal manner.
- "Kid" is preferred for casual conversation, referring to children of all ages up to teenagers.
- "Child" can also mean a person of any age when describing family relationships (e.g., "my adult child").
