comparing my preemie to full term babies

Marylea - posted on 05/10/2011

How do you know that there is no way he'll be starting to walk by one? Your premie will suprise you. One day you're going to look at him and you wont be able to tell the difference between him and other kids his age because like magic he'll be all caught up. My daughter was born at 28weeks and she didn't learn to crawl till about a month before her first birthday. I thought it would take forever for her to learn to walk and yet she learned how just after her first birthday. She's 2 now and you'd never know she was a premie.

Pamela - posted on 05/08/2011

My daughter was born 30 weeks, 2lbs 6 oz. She spent 30 days in the NICU. I thoguht most premies are cought up by age 2 and if not 3 sometimes. My daughter is 2 1/2 now and she is still smaller than some kids in her class, but she def keeps up with them. I looked at pics of her when she was 9 months old, we was rolling around on the floor and we put her in an exersaucer for the first time and she could only stay for a few mins cause she could not hold herslf up for very long. She was not walkng at one, might have been closer to 14 or 18 months. Now my full term son also did not walk until 13 months. Some kids can do it at 9 months, so it varies. My daughter did tlak and say words but her "talking" did not really take off until we put her in day care this past Jan. Just over 2 she staretd and wow what a difference. The nighbors have also commented, she has become out going and talks all the time, I was in your shoes as well, so my advice is to be happy at the milestones yur child achieves, when she achives them and try not to compare. And if you feel something is not right, most states have an EI (early intervention) program where they can evaluate your child for free! Our Ped did not think our daughter had any issues, but we wanted the experts to agree. They evaluated her and we had not issues. They look at thing differently than can they do this or that.

Katrina - posted on 05/06/2011

It is hard not to worry and remember even parents or "normal" babies do things in there own time. My oldest wee angel is 141/2m (12m adjust) and not walking yet. By 9m was sitting up and started crawling just before her first bday. I must admit im in no hurry for ehr to walk as I have a 5month ( 21/2 adjust) old also a 30 weeker like his sister so it is bad enough with her walking around everything and climbing... boy is she a climber! as well as having her little brother to contend with lol. Remember that babies do things in there own time and "normal" babies walk anywhere between 9-15 months so that isa huge gap! As long as happy and healthy is the main thing! They get to things in their own time and when they are ready...even if you are not lol

Schmoopy - posted on 05/05/2011

Bobbi, it takes at least 2 years for preemies to catch up - and MANY preemie parents will tell you that age should be changed to 3!

It's hard to be patient b/c we're so worried about "early intervention" as preemie parents. It's drilled into our heads from day one that if there's a problem, we have to attack it early to get the best results. But how do you determine if it's just a typical preemie delay or something more? Trust your gut!!!

It sounds like your baby is doing great, but if you feel uneasy, getting an eval done by a developmental specialist is the way to go. Are you in the U.S.? If so, try contacting your local Early Intervention program to schedule an eval - your ped can give you the info.

Hope - posted on 05/05/2011

My son was pretty much the same way at 9 months. I hate it when another mom will brag to me about how far a long her baby is and ask why my son is not at the same stage. I have to explain to her that my son had a lot of catching up to do and his rate of development is actually faster than her baby's even though he isn't walking yet( almost 1 yr now). Pretty much all babies develop in their own time. It sounds to me like your baby is developing very well- enjoy it. :)

Tracy - posted on 04/25/2011

bobbi-i am the same way. my daughter was born at 30 weeks and is 6 1.2 months old. all i find myself doing is comparing her to her older sister and other babies. and it tends to make me worry-ALOT! she only rolls over sometimes and is only a supported sitter.how was your baby at 6 months.its hard not to compare

Carrie - posted on 04/24/2011

My 30 weeker started walking at 15 months. He was a little delayed at some things and right on with others. They do catch up. No worries! Don't compare..each kid is different (preemie or not)

Claudia - posted on 04/24/2011

My 30 weeker was 3 lbs.6oz at born, and on his 9 month he was about 27 lbs!! he started to crawl on his 8 1/2 months( talkin about his adjusted age) he crawled for about 2 moths then he just started to walk on his 10 1/2 months!!! but I really dont like when people try to compared my preemie with a full term baby.

Kimberly - posted on 10/13/2010

My preemie was quick even for full term standard's! She was walking at 10 months! She was born at 32 weeks. She's always been a mover. The nurses always had troubles with her because she wiggled so much! On the other hand, she has always had trouble with gaining weight. She's only been in the 10th percentile for height vs weight once, the rest of the time she's been in the 3rd or 5th, even with her corrected age! She has a cousin who was full term, who was born one month after her. My daughter was attempting to climb by the time her cousin took her first steps. Then again, her cousin can say about 10 words now at 18 months, and my daughter says about 5 (actual age, my daughter is 19 months, corrected age, my daughter is 17 months).

My point is, don't worry. You're son will reach these milestones in his own time. Just be patient and encouraging and enjoy the ride.

Brandy - posted on 10/13/2010

jenna was a 28weeker she was behind with everything, i worked and worked with her because she was so stiff from developing torticollis at 9 months i believe she was just learning to army crawl she didnt crawl on all fours till she was 13months and didnt walk until 18months, it was so discouraging and i was so worried but now shes almost 2 and she is surpassing some of these full term babies! her pt said that her muscle development is on an athletic scale and her developmental therapist told me that she is advanced for a full term 2year old in language and problem solving! so you never know what is going to happen :D im so proud of my baby!

Juliette - posted on 10/12/2010

My son was born at 26wks and was one of the biggest preemies in the NICU. He was 5 lbs 6 ounces at birth. now at 17 months he is 30lbs. He was a lil slow at picking up walking. Crawled at eight moths, But now trying to get his spend in walking going. I compare all the time. Its amazing to see my son grow faster than your average child. Its wonderful.

Melissa - posted on 10/12/2010

My 30 week preemie never learned to crawl, she did "scoot" which the drs all said was her way of crawling, she began doing that at 12 months and started walking at 15 months. My husband, who was a full term baby with no developmental delays at all, began walking at 18 months!!! So don't beat yourself up, some full term babies don't even walk this early. What I look for in my preemie is progress...even if she's not doing what her peers are doing, as long as I see her making improvement and progress (even if it's slow progress) then I know she's moving in the right direction...and it sounds like your LO is on the right path!

Candace - posted on 10/11/2010

My son came at 28 weeks and I never really thought of him as behind. He moves really fast. He was sitting up around 4 months adjusted, he was turning over and crawiling by 6 months and walking at 9 months adjusted. I reallly don't like to adjust his age cause babies develop at their own pace. I have been working at a daycare and there were two one year olds one of the boys were nine days older than my son, but my son does a lot more than them. Talking wise and moving. Then I have been at home with him since birth and now at one year he doesn't seem behind at all. Shows babies do things on their own time

Samantha - posted on 10/09/2010

My son now turning three in a week --was born at 30 weeks as well. It was very diffcult for me at first, My son didnt start sitting up and moving until around then too. But now i see him running, jumping climbling..he doesnt sit still haha. Its all about patience and understanding, you will get through it ! good luck :))

Susan - posted on 10/08/2010

Preemies don't always get "caught up" with full term children, but they may do things on their own schedule and pace. He is the equivalent of only 7 months old right now and if you have to compare, look at babies his corrected age and NOT his chronological age. Crawling well at 7 months is great. Typical babies may walk between 9 and 13 months on average, again, compare to corrected age.
My daughter was born at 24 weeks - nearly 4 months early. At 9 months chronological, 5 months corrected, she wasn't doing much at all. She didn't roll over until 11 months (7 months corrected), crawl until 13 months(9 corrected) and only after starting physical therapy, and walked finally at 17 months (13 months corrected. She didn't hold a bottle and couldn't touch her toes. But now at age 15, physically she is just fine, but extremely uncoordinated, with learning disabilities, sensory processing disorder and anxiety disorder. She is also labeled highly gifted, which makes for a very interesting life! So don't worry so much short term and let your preemie grow and develop at their own rate.

Anna - posted on 10/08/2010

Preemies are actually corrected for two years, so he has plenty of time. Your baby is hitting 6.5//7 month milestones perfectly, so I wouldn't worry.

Amber - posted on 10/07/2010

at 9 months my son has just begun to roll over! I thought for sure he'd just never walk or do anything when I'm seeing other babies do so much so fast. Well at 18 months he took his first steps and now at almost 2 (nov 21st is his bday) hes running so fast I can hardly keep up! The great thing about preemies is that they will always surprise you and that every little thing that they do is miracle because they are alive and they fought and they made it :)

Sarah - posted on 10/07/2010

I think my dd (born at 30weeks) was sitting at 9mos. She starting inching forward a little bit at 12mos. I could never tell when she "officially" rolled over, because there was a small sprinkling of rolling over throughout her first year, but she didn't *really* roll over until after she was sitting and crawling around 12-13mos. (She found it necessary to roll in order to sit and crawl, but never did it just for the heck of it like other babies do). Now at 17mos, she's taking some steps across the room, but still prefers crawling. Some full term babies don't walk until 18mos, and that's considered normal, so I'm not worried. My dd is a happy lil thing that takes her sweet time.

Jessie - posted on 10/04/2010

I compare my daughter to full term babies too. She was born at 34 wks. I try to not read about what she should be doing...but end up doing it anyways. I get rather defensive when the doctors say she isnt doing something that a 2 month or 4 month old is doing. At 2 mos, she wasnt grabbing at things, at 4 months she isn't at all interested in rolling over. It breaks my heart when im told shes not doing what a full term baby should be doing, even tho i know its silly because shes actually 6wks behind. AT her 4 month appt, the doctor tol dme to start feeding her cereals, and if she did well with that to start with foods. I think its too early. She still only eats 4oz a meal, 6 times a day. During the day she eats every 3 hrs, at night she usually gets up 1 time...then a second around the time i need to be up anyways. She already weight 13 lbs 6.5oz, shes only 4 months old! She already at 50% for a full term baby on the charts. But it breaks my heart. I think because she was a premie, i have a need for her to stay small for some reason. It kills me to see how big she already is and to hear shes in the 50% for full term babies. She's my last baby(my second) and it took us 2years to have her. I read everything i can...but still, i cant help but to compare her to others. I think its natural. We all want our kids to be successful and to be doing things at the right times, and i think if they aren't we can't help sometimes but to feel like perhaps we aren't doing something right. I know i'm doing all i can and hope what im doing is right, but i still second guess myself all the time.

Michele - posted on 10/01/2010

honestly, preemie or not. all babies develops and do things differently. babies crawls, walk talk eat sleeps and potty trains when each one is ready. i think its very important to not pressure your child to do things. but your interaction is very important in these steps. I think some may jump to fast in putting a title on a child if they are not doing what we want them to as soon as we want them to do it. I really think interaction; talking to baby, helping with movement, massage, touch, music, expression help in all these ares of development in earlier stages are vital . I am a mother to a 33.3 week born preemie. Hes now 3 months old. I really believe your interaction with your child of course induces the greatest results as far as learning and small and large motor development goes. telling another parent not to worry is completely pointless because no matter how much we are told or warned we do it anyway.

Cecilia - posted on 09/30/2010

That is head to me, my preemie born at 30 weeks who is now 2 she didnt start crawling till 13 months and didnt start walking till 17 months and at 25 months she only has 5 words in her vocab. so ur lil guy is doing great!

Liz - posted on 09/29/2010

Hi. I had a set of b/g twins who were born at 33 weeks six days. My son started to crawl at ten months ( 8 and a half months adjusted) my daughter didn't start crawling until nearly a year old. My son started to walk at about 15 months ( 13 and a half months adjusted), my daughter not until 19 months ( 17 and a half months adjusted). You never know, despite what they say he might surprise you. Being a mom to a set of preemies and then having a full-term baby ( july of this year) I find that kids are full of surprises. My daughter was really subborn about everything, and if anyone saw her doing something ( ie, crawling or walking) she'd refuse to do it anymore. And now at 2 years old they are both running around and jumping and doing all sorts of things that kids their age do. Just because they say he won't catch up until then doesn't mean he won't. But if you are worried about his development, I'd suggest looking into an early intervention program in your area. They have people there that can gage a child's development ( they adjust the age until two there), and can then offer help to help your child meet the milestones, should he/she need it.