What does it mean if a toddler does not recognize objects?

This is a serious problem which needs to be investigated by a doctor, and it can have a number of causes.

Possibility 1: Vision Problem

If the child seems to squint fairly often, this may be a reason.

Possibility 2: Hearing Problem

The child's hearing might cause a problem understanding Words, which means that they might not be able to identify ceryain objects if they are asked.

Possibility 3: Neurological Problem or Head Injury

This would be one of the most serious causes, and it is usually the hardest to treat. Some examples of things which might cause this confudion are things like head injuries, blood clots, or developmental disabilities such as autism.

Possibility 4: Poisoning or Severely Low Blood Sugar

Either of these things can cause confusion, which could cause trouble recognizing certain objects in the toddler stage.

It really does need to be checked out by a doctor. I cannot stress that enough. In the meantime, watch carefully for signs of dizziness, vomiting, headaches, lumps or bruising on the scalp, low blood sugar, pupil dilation (which means that the inside, dark parts of the eyes do not respond to changes in light),or so on. If you see any of these and/or know that the child has bumped his or her head recently, then call 911 immediately.