What's the fascination with counting a child's age in months?

Question

This is coming from someone who has neither had children or really been around them, so I'm just curious.

It seems like most people refer to young children's ages in months, rather than years, calling them an 18 month old or a 22 month old, for example.

I understand the need to differentiate between, say, a 13 month old and a 20 month old, because of the vast amount of mental and physical development that would occur during that time period. But, I've known people to carry it out quite a bit further than that, and refer to their children as 40 month olds. To me, figuring out how old a 40 month old would be is like trying to figure out military time. (Although I suppose to someone used to military time, it would be easy. Am I just an outsider?)

Wouldn't it be just as logical to say that your child is two and a half, rather than 30 months? I wouldn't say I'd worked at a job for 30 months, I'd say I'd been there two and a half years. It just seems less awkward.

Insight?

Answer 1

A lot of it has to do with the doctor's visits the kids have during their first 2 years. Initially, you have the 1 week well-baby check, 2 week well-baby check, etc. Then it moves onto months (6 month, 9 month, 12 month, etc.). It isn't until they are 2 years old that they only go for a check up once a year. Prior to that it is all based on months, so you kinda get caught in the habit of referring to your child in terms of "months" rather than "years."

Additionally, clothes, toys, books and medicines are referred to in terms of months, not years until the children are over 2 or 3 (although medicines do have a weight chart that go along with them).

And as was stated here earlier, the development of the children is referred to in months as well. For example, at the pediatricians office, we recently had to fill out a questionnaire on our 18 month old son to see if he was hitting his "benchmarks" (and ok, proud Mommy moment, he was and then some!! =) ) They didn't refer to the questionnaire as the "year and a half form" - it was the 18 month "form."

I can honestly say that in my family and amongst my friends, once the children hit two, I've never heard any of them refer to their children in terms of months; it's always been "he just turned two in November" or "she'll be 3 in July." Simpler, I think.

Answer 2

For the most part it is just to as you said differentiate between a 13 and a 20 month old. I have never heard anyone use it as late as you have heard. I used weeks for probably the first 12 weeks, then months until 24 months and then 2, 2 and a half, 3, etc.

Answer 3

well when the child is young ... less than I'd say 36 months or 3 years AS a mother I think it's ok to use months since children this age grow and develope so much from one month to the next...
but as a mother of a 44 month old...lol...I never reply to " how old is your son" "oh he'll be 44 months old tomorrow" nor do I teach my son who knows he is 3 and a half to say his age in months..I had a hard enough time getting him to say 3 1/2 ...
next time you hear someone say that you should reply ...Oh I'm..._ _ _ months old! ...lol... maybe they'd get the point?

Answer 4

I think most people refer to children in age according to months until they hit around 2 years old.

Alot of the toys and clothes at the store list the age group and size in months as well. You just get used to doing it that way.

Answer 5

I don't know what it's all about either and I'm the mother of two, with one on the way! The only time I ever said __ months, was when they were less than a year, after that they were a year and a half or two or whatever.

Answer 6

Anything under 2 I understand refering to months. I have 16 month old twins....which is different than 18 month olds. Even a couple of months makes a pretty large diff.

Answer 7

because when a child is in their younger years they develop very rapidly. A good example is when kids start talking at 16 months they may only be saying ma-ma and da-da but at 17 or 18 months old they may be say 2 words put together.....when you have kids you figure it all out

Answer 8

i dk just some people rather do that because that makes them seem younger or just simpler for them to think of or say, you never know it is a choic i think it is stupid because if they are 24 months they are 2 years jist say 2 years right but iuf it is like 14 months i can understand cause it is close and people want to know the specific age.

Answer 9

I am a mother and i do think saying my kid is 24 months is so stupid. I never did that past 12 months of age with my son.

My god 40 months old, that is just uncalled for

Answer 10

Great question! I completely agree with you. My friend told me her doctor said they go by months initially to ensure the infant is on target with physical and mental standards. I have no clue why it exceeds past 12 months though.
Actually, they go by weeks before 12 months don't they? Regardless, I think it's frivolous.When a doctor asks..use months, when a stranger asks...use years.