How long did it take for your preemie to start to catch up?

Debbie - posted on 09/10/2010

wow catching up zack is still he is 20 months 19 adjusted and im waiting om him to start to put little sentces together i guess i will hve to wait

Tawana - posted on 09/08/2010

My son was born 10wks 3 days early. He is now 10 months. There are some things that is he behind on, other on time and the rest advanced. All based on his corrected age(8mos). But all babies are different. Dont worry he will be fine.

Amanda - posted on 08/30/2010

my son is now 3 and a half months, and he was born at 30 weeks, weighing 3 lbs, 2 oz. He just recently (at about 3 mths) started giving me little smiles here and there. I was the same as you, in the sense that a month went by and then 2 mths and I just wanted him to smile sooooo bad and reach other milestones.
Your time will come...itll take patience, but he'll be hitting those amazing milestones before you know it!! Don't (or try not to) worry about his progress, just enjoy each moment with him because he will change soooo quickly!!
Congratulations on your little miracle :)

Angel - posted on 08/30/2010

I know it is hard not to compare your child to full term children but there is just NO comparison. My daughter was born 33wks at only 2lbs 11oz and came home before her due date, not all children do though. It seems to me that you are blessed to have a child and when that smile does come ohhh how it will melt your heart. Dont get discouraged.

Heidi - posted on 08/28/2010

Our 29 week preemie twins were smiling and responding way before they were released from the NICU on their due date. Usually preemies start developing social skills earlier than full term babies just because they have had more time in the outside world. If you haven't already talked to someone I would suggest having him see a developmental pediatrician by the time he is 6 months old. They will be able to better evaluate his strengths and weaknesses.

Jennifer - posted on 08/27/2010

My son was born at 32 weeks. I know it's hard not to compare, but believe me, you'll feel better if you don't. I used to have such a hard time with that when my son was a newborn. I felt like he was going to be like a newborn FOREVER. However, he started smiling around 12 weeks. By the time he was 6 months old he could roll over and sit up and stuff. He didn't crawl until he was about 10 months old, but he just turned one on the 11th and he was walking by his first birthday and jabbering and doing everything a one year old should be doing and even more. Don't worry....he will be fine....just let him do things in his own time and be proud of all his accomplishments. Try to ignore all the "is he doing this yet?" questions from other people....they just don't understand and don't know how hard it can be for a parent of a preemie because you just want to see your child excel and not have any difficulties.

Schmoopy - posted on 08/26/2010

A good rule of thumb is to view your baby's timeline on his "corrected age" rather than his actual age. That means that whenever you're watching for a milestone, you should add 11 weeks to the age when most babies would do it.

Courtney - posted on 08/25/2010

My son was born almost at 26 weeks, he just turned 1 the begining of August. It is best you go by his orginal due date. All babies are different and develope at different rates. Liam just started around his b-day belly crawling. I dont have trouble with looking at babies his age comparing him to what I stuggle with is my friends babies that were born in Nov or after that are doing more things than my son is, but as everyone tells me just concentrate on your son and be happy his is doing as good as he is. Your baby will get there it just takes time. Good Luck!

Natasha - posted on 08/25/2010

Just remember the preemies are behind a bit. My son is three and was born right at 35 weeks. Some milestones cmae later but i had to keep in mind he was six weeks early. sometimes by two they catch up in height and weight. My son looks like a two year old and now is talking and very smart. Hang in there. It is very hard when they are preemies. it can be an emotional rollercoaster. as he gets older early intervention in some states can help with the developmental milestones. Don't compare him with other babies, each baby is unique and develops at thier own pace. Hang in there.

Sarah - posted on 08/25/2010

My little girl was also born at 29 weeks and is now almost 5 months old, she started smiling socially when she was about 3 months old, but remember you need to adjust your little guy's age by his due date, not necessarily his birthday for awhile, and also remember that all babies and children develop at their own pace, give him some time and he will be doing all of these things and you'll wonder every day how he got so big and where your little baby has gone! just enjoy every minute with him and try not worry!

Candace - posted on 08/24/2010

I agree Maria it's so hard not to compare! especially when you see a baby that's the same age or younger. I just saw my cousin's baby who is a month younger than my son and he can hold his head up completely and my little one is still having a little trouble with that. He's doing everything else that he's doing but can't hold his head up that good yet

Maria - posted on 08/24/2010

Hi my baby was born on the 23rd of May this year at 29weeks .. He was due on the 2nd of August and started smiling a few days ago, around the 20th of August so he was 12 weeks! Ive been told countless times to count his development by his due date but it is hard not to compare them to other babies born at term! Personally I think all babies children and adults develop at different speeds and things so I just take each day as It comes and do what I can to promote each stage of my sons development.

Cindy - posted on 08/17/2010

My son was born at 30 weeks and is now 15 months and almost caught up to his "term" friends. I almost drove myself crazy comparing and worrying but he will get there. Besides he is still in the minus so he is ahead of all those other term babies cause they weren't doing what he's doing when they were minus :)

Raven - posted on 08/17/2010

My daughter was born at 29 weeks too. She will be 5 on Oct. 25th, and she starts kindergarten next week. I have a few friends who I met through the NICU, and I have noticed that all of our children have different strengths and struggles. My daughter was very watchful and smiley by about 3 mos. She started walking while holding onto things at 8 months and walked without any assistance just after her 1st birthday. She was always very small (13lbs at 1)but easily caught up after she turned two. We are not sure what to attribute to her prematurity because I was diagnosed with leukemia at 24 weeks and had to start chemo immediately. I received two rounds of chemo when I delivered via c-section at 29 weeks.

Lydia - posted on 08/14/2010

My Jolie was born at 24 weeks, and its been about a month and a half that shes been smiling, spontaneously i asked the doctor if it was normal he said that this was a muscle reflex because usually babies start smilling socially after they are 3 months old! I like to believe that every child is not the same so soon those smiles will start coming!

Christina - posted on 08/14/2010

My son was only born three weeks early.. but was in NICU for those three weeks because he was only four pounds and had respiratory issues. He's almost three months old now and he's further ahead than my first son was at my preemie's age. Like you said, all babies are different. Just extra bonding time for you and the little one so take advantage of it.

Candace - posted on 08/14/2010

It's best to go by his due date and not his actual birth date, that way you wont drive yourself crazy by worrying. My son was born at 33 weeks and is now three months old. He's been smiling in response to us talking to him for about two weeks now and he also coos and baby talk when we talk to him and this started about two weeks ago as well. Your little one may be getting ready to do these things pretty soon, it was just something that happened out of the blue. He's also caught up on his weight and height already too. No two babies are alike so try to remember that as well and just go by the due date and not his actual age, that will help you relax a little bit