Does premature baby take more time to start walking,crawling....in comparison of full term babies.?

Answer 1

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Milestones

Milestones aren't typical when you have a premature baby. They may be delayed or come as result of tremendous courage and effort. For parents, their baby's milestones are often a reminder of how far their child has come since their early birth.

Our babies' milestones can be bittersweet and wildly joyful at the same time. Often they are also milestones for us, as parents.

Here are some postings from the Preemie-L list as parents discuss some of the milestones that their growing babies and children have recently achieved ....

Rolling over

I have to admit on our family calendar I keep track of such things...like the first time our son laughed, the day the 02 left, his coming home from the hospital, and one of may favorite milestones...the first time he rolled over which is one year ago tomorrow.

Our son has torticolis and has some stiffness on the right side which has benefited from his PT. We of course thought when he flipped over due to his stiffness that he had rolled over and waited for the next opportunity. When it wasn't happening we realized it never truly happened. We started working with him regularly and the day he started rolling over he got so excited (you could almost see the proverbial lightbulb go on) he kept doing it again and again...even in his crib, over and over.... It will always bring me a smile of remembrance.

Viviana (mom to 33 weeker Zachary, BPD...)

3rd birthday

I remember thinking age 3 would never come. I also feared what 3 would bring. The doctors gave us such a grim outlook in the NICU.

Well, Joseph celebrated his 3rd birthday on July 8th. With that brought such contentment for me. He is now a graduate of EI and of his Special Ed classes. He is no longer behind in any area and AMAZINGLY is way ahead in speech. One year ago he was testing at the level of an infant in speech (11 mos) and now he is testing 1 to 2 years ahead of his birth age.

He is bright as a tack and remembers things that blow us away. This being the same boy who at 5 weeks old was predicted to have a future of retardation, CP, deafness, yada yada yada... His NICU stay was marked by profound episodes of severe hypoxemia and also a small IVH which is what these docs based their predictions on.

Physically he is very well advanced (more amazement because he didn't sit without support until almost his first birthday). He is also growing like a little out of control weed ;) He is 36.5lbs and 38 1/4in tall.

So my advice to the new members to this journey. Take the predictions with a grain of salt because nobody ever knows for sure.

MIRACLES happen with this boy daily!!!

Keriann Mom to Krissy 13 -FT, Jeffrey 9 -FT, Donnie 6 -34 weeker, Joseph 3 -31 weeker SEVERE PPHN (almost ECMO), RDS, IVH, PDA, numerous transfusions, jaundice, etc.

Before you were conceived, I wanted you
Before you were born, I loved you
Before you were a minute old, I would have died for you.

Vincent's day out

My frail little 26 week baby is now almost 8, so there've been many milestones. He has mild CP so many of the milestones have involved the kind of physical achievement that most babies and children take in their stride, literally.

A few weeks ago we took a friend, visiting from Spain, on a tour of the Yarra Valley wineries (a goumet region 2 hours out of Melbourne, Victoria where we live). We picked a nice restaurant and had a very relaxing day. Anyone who goes to restaurant with a child with mild CP and has a relaxing time has reached a milestone that was unimaginable to us in the NICU :)

Vincent was delighted with it all. He picked the table, ordered his own food after extensive consultation with the menu, discussed his choices with the waitress - with a bit of flirting thrown in - managed all the cutlery, glasses etc on his own, took himself to the bathroom when he wanted to go (after excusing himself), enjoyed the meal, suggested we go "somewhere else for coffee and dessert" and generally had a very sophisticated time of it.

I thought my life was over when Vincent was born, and we were told about his brain bleeds. We spent all the first year sad beyond words, and living in dread of what time would reveal about the extent of his brain damage. So much has happened since that time, and the milestones have been legion.

Even until recently I thought it would be plastic plates and MacDonalds for another decade, and that he would always need help. I'm starting to see glimpses of the man Vincent will become and it's awesome. I believe he'll be able to manage the CP and still live life to the full. There's something in him that's so strong, so radiant and so joyful. I used to think it was his prematurity and the hardships of his life that had given him this.

These days I can recognize that it's just Vincent - the force of life that he's always been from the movement he was conceived. Realizing that is a milestone for me.

Anne, mother of Jessica (f/t now 10 and Vincent 26 weeks now 7, grade 4/grade2 IVH) Melbourne, Australia

Growth milestone

Seeing John Henry at the pool this summer, I realized he's not skinny/small anymore! He's edging toward the 75% for height and weight but it wasn't so noticeable among his schoolmates. Of course, he goes to school with quite a few children a year older than his adjusted age in his grade and some very large children so he's still smaller than many of them, but I could really see the difference when he was hanging out with a bunch of same aged boys at the pool. He's definitely not the skinny one anymore, still slender, but much sturdier looking. At the pool we saw a girl he liked in PreK, who used to be at least a head taller than he was, and now she and he are quite similar in height.

Suzanne (mom to John Henry, 24 weeks now 7 and at least a hefty 56.5 pounds)

Potty trained!!!

For those who don't know me too well, I am Tracy mom to Stephen. He was a 33 weeker due to an abruption and had (among other things) a grade three IVH. For those of you who do know me, you know I have long moaned about him still wearing diapers (he is now 6 years old) well here is the big news of the summer.... STEPHEN IS FINALLY POTTY TRAINED!!! He needs reminding, but he is in underpants during the day and finally has it down! Horray horray!!!

Hugs, Tracy mom to Stephen 33 weeker now 6, mild MR,CP, severe ADHD, SID, and probable autism. and wonderful and HEALTHY!

Kindergarten

Kahlila will start kindergarten in a week. I think that she is pretty excited, although she will be sad to leave friends from her pre-school, and she is probably a little nervous as well. She is also finally completely toilet trained (just in time for kindergarten!). :-) The book "Getting to Dry" was very helpful for us to help her stay dry overnight, which she is now doing on her own, with rare accidents. Her transition to kindergarten has inspired me to evaluate my priorities and stretch the boundaries of my work schedule. So, DH and I will alternate coming home early from work in order to meet her bus and have her home in the afternoons after school (we will by necessity bring a little work home with us). I am very excited about this prospect.

Someone had mentioned that they had been on this list for 4 years. Amazingly, so have I (just that the time has gone by so fast). I don't know where I would be, emotionally, without you.

With much love, Mary, mom of Khalila, former 24 weeker

Feeding milestones

Since feeding is Charlie's main preemie issue (or was, until his liver cancer was diagnosed a month ago -- I guess that trumps the rest of them!), most of the milestones we get excited about revolve around food. Last week, he accomplished a huge one, even in the throes of chemotherapy -- he ate an entire Oreo cookie! At almost four years of age, it was the first cookie he has ever eaten, and the first time he has ever tried anything like the sticky creme in the middle, a nearly impossible texture for him. Such a small, "normal kid" thing, but such a big deal to us...

I guess Jack had a milestone last night, too -- he had some rice cereal for the first time last night, and handled it masterfully. It's not so much a milestone for him as it is for us, though -- we've had no reason to anticipate any feeding problems with him, aside from some mild reflux and difficulty latching on. But it's a tremendously healing experience to wave that little spoon in the vicinity of his mouth and have him snap it up, while beaming with delight.

-- Terese, mom to 24-weeker Charlie (10/10/98), 31-weeker Jack (1/13/02), and FT Liam (10/17/95), newly minted kindergarten graduate!

Matty's Milestone

I was just thinking the other day, how since Matty's last visit to the NICU - he has seemed more settled to me. I was wondering if it was an artifact of my own expectation, or it this was truly related to him having gotten the answers he was looking for. And then my answer came -- (hence his milestone -- ah, MY milestone too!) Matty was looking at some more of his NICU photos and came to one of me holding him and he has his hand near his mouth...and he said "look mom, I'm blowing you a kiss when I was in NICU." This is the first time in his 3 1/2 years that he has ever attributed any positive comment about his NICU stay, or photos. In the past his comments have all been about -- "and you weren't there" or about his isolette being "scary." What a milestone! Thank God for receptive NICU nurses who've addressed the needs of one of their many graduates -- Thank God for healing!

:) Priscilla Hernandez Hacker, Ph.D. (Mom to Matty 26 1/2 wkr, now 3 1/2; and f/t Zachary 10 1/2)

Answer 2

I heard that with preemie babies you have to add how many weeks they were premature to the normal age for milestones. For example, a full term baby usually starts walking around 12 months. A baby that was born 4 weeks early should start walking around 13 months. My neighbors baby was born 5 weeks early. He didnt walk until he was 13-14 months old. He also doesnt talk as much or as well as a full term baby but knows things like mama, dada, baba, and bye bye. His doctor says hes completely normal though and will be just as capable as full term babies are (with such things as development and intelligence, etc) when he gets older. A preemies developmental delays become less apparent and eventually non-existent as they age.

Answer 3

yes. They have an acutal age that doesn't match other babies ages. So if you have a baby that is say 6 months old.. then that baby will be doing 6 month old things. But a premiee baby spend about a month or 2 just getting off of machines and learning to breathe and all that, so it didnt' start 'normal' baby deveolpment till later on. They do catch up though...

Answer 4

My girlfriends daughter was born at 28 weeks and she took until she was over 2 before she 'caught up' with other kids her age. BUT, then she took off at full speed and kept up with the norms. It depends on the child, health issues, etc. Patience and lots of love is best! Remember, that eventually your child will catch up, and just revel in the fact that your baby will be a cuddly baby longer than most. Unlike my bruiser that was a walking little man at 9 months who didn't need mommy anymore!

Answer 5

i dont think so. my baby sis is 2 and she was premature. she started walking when she was like 9 or 10 months. she started walking b4 my cousin who was not premature who started walkin when sh was like 14 months. she is also very very smart. she could identify some of her colors at the age of 18 months. i guess it would depend on the child. she had all of her teeth when she was like 18 months.

Answer 6

no.its not true.my first baby boy was also premature.he was born at 7 weeks earlier from the due date.he was not getting enough blood to grow in my stomach.ta birth he looked very weak.he was only 1780gms in weight.but with proper care and medicines he started gaining weight and his normal activities of sitting,crawling,walking.everything.so don't get panic.take full care of your baby and then see him grow faster like other babies.all the best.

Answer 7

My daughter became a 26 a million/2 weeks early. She have been given to depart the medical institution some weeks before her due date.She became approximately 5 or 6 months while she caught as much as toddlers her age- different then her length of course. So we now no longer had to bypass by utilising her "adjusted age". the only component that she became somewhat in the back of in became getting her first tooth. She have been given her first tooth at 3 hundred and sixty 5 days- the comparable age my husband have been given his first tooth-in accordance to his mama. So we don't recognize if it became genetic or if it became by way of fact she became early. different then her small length she's arising on time. each and each toddler, no remember in the event that they're preemie or finished term will improve precisely on time. some could be somewhat "not on time" or "progressed". some could be progressed in some aspects yet no longer progressed in others. My cousin's youngest became a 32 weeker and her woman offspring had lots of issues. they had to grant her thickening to characteristic to her drinks,etc. My cousin became irresponsible and executed stupid issues in the time of her being pregnant which did no longer help in any respect. She's truly small and became in the back of on some information- verbal yet her motor skills have been ok. She's ultimately off the thickening and her different wellbeing issues are not as undesirable as they have been. i think of its in particular by way of fact she's no longer in my cousin's care anymore. maximum preemies do capture up in length by utilising age 5 a minimum of. My MIL's superb chum's oldest became a preemie and at age 8 she seems and behaves like a typical 8 3 hundred and sixty 5 days previous.

Answer 8

yes and for miles stones they have an adjusted age. like if the baby was born 2 months premi. then he wouldnt be expected to that paticular mile stone for 2 months later. like 6 months should be staring to crawl, the premi wouldnt be expected till 8 months.

Answer 9

Definitely because they were born earlier.