Resources for New Moms

Developmental Milestones for Premature Babies

Q:

My baby was born 10 weeks early, and seems behind compared to other baby's the same age. When will my baby catch up?

Age 2 to 2 ½

Correct!

Most premature babies will catch up developmentally by age 2 to 2 1/2 years.

Age 1 to 1 ½

Incorrect!

Most premature babies will catch up developmentally by age 2 to 2 1/2 years.

What are developmental milestones? 

Developmental milestones are things most children can do by a certain age. When your baby is born early (prematurely) you need to know both your baby’s due date and how many weeks premature your baby was to determine your baby’s corrected age. Your baby’s corrected age should be used to track developmental milestones. 

To calculate your baby’s corrected age: 

  • Begin with baby’s age in weeks (number of weeks since birth). 
  • Subtract the number of weeks old your baby was at birth from 40. This is the number of weeks your baby was premature. 
  • Subtract the number of weeks your baby was premature from your baby’s age in weeks. This is your baby’s corrected age. (A full-term pregnancy is 40 weeks.) 

 
(Baby’s current age in weeks) – (Number of weeks premature) = Baby’s corrected age 

For exampleAndrew is 6 months old (24 weeks since birth). He was born at 28 weeks. So he was 12 weeks premature (40 weeks – 28 weeks = 12 weeks). 

Andrew’s corrected age is 12 weeks or 3 months. (24 weeks – 12 weeks = 12 weeks.) 

What to expect: corrected age 

For Andrew, even though he is 6 months old, his parents should expect him to act and meet the developmental milestones of a 3-month-old. 

People may think Andrew is delayed for a 6-month-old, when in fact he is doing great and meeting milestones ahead of his corrected age of 3 months old.