For Parents of Preemies: How old was your preemie when they reached their developmental milestones?

Question

Rolling over, sitting up, crawling, walking, talking, etc.

Answer 1

Preemies may develop at their adjusted age (the age they would be if they had been born on their due date). However, if they are very early preemies they very well may lag behind their adjusted age. It's very traumatic for a preemie to be born early. The earlier they are, the more likely to be affected -- generally speaking.

Rarely, early preemies may develop on par with their full term peers. Sometimes early preemies will have problems sitting because of low muscle tone in their trunk, but high muscle tone in their legs. So they may cruise/walk before they can sit well. (That was the case with this 23.5 wk preemie here: www.preemies.us   He could walk at 8 months adj, which is very unusual, but his sitting was wobbly for a long time.)

If you are asking for your baby, go by milestones in a baby book, by adjusted age, then adjust further if your baby was very early or had a rough nicu stay. Be sure to contact Early Intervention and other programs that can help your baby. (I've spoken with hundreds of preemie parents over the past 13 yrs.)