Are you a new parent? Then, why do you new parents always.....?

Question

Make me do the math when I ask you how old your baby is?
Why do you say: "12 months old" instead of 1 year? 15 months old instead of 1 year and 3 months? Why say 24 months instead of 2 years and 36 months instead of 3 years? (I actually had to ask the child how old he was when his parents weren't around and he said "3", why couldn't YOU just tell me that? ) Telling me how many weeks old a newborn - that makes sense. Months even makes sense, until the child is a year old - after that, you're making me do division in my head.

How would you like it if you asked me how old I was and I responded: "446 months old?" LOL! Now you know how we feel when we have to stand there for a second and do the math to figure out how old your child it. Why can't you just use "years" like everyone else?

And at what point do you stop reffering to their age in months and switch to years?

Life is complicated enough. Can't you make things a bit easier on us? Not everyone is a math wiz!

Answer 1

I don't know when my sons turned 1 they were 1 year old not 12mths

Answer 2

People usually stop at two. If you are not a parent is is hard to understand that there is a big difference in a child who is 12 months old and a child who is 18 months. Just like the first year they change so fast with developmental skills. If a 12 month old doesn't walk yet it is no big deal. But if an 18 month old can't walk then there is probably something wrong. So if you see a baby who can't walk and you ask the parents how old is he and they say 1 well that baby could be right on track for their age but if they say 18 months then you know that the baby should be walking by now. Both my kids were 10 and 9 months when they started walking so they were advanced and parents like that too. They like to brag like she is only 15 months old and she can do a sommersault but if she is 22 months that isn't a big deal.

Answer 3

I have a little boy who is now 19 months old. I say his age in months because babies grow a lot and hit different milestones in the first 2 years of life and 19 months is just easier than saying 1 year 7 months. But I do think parents should stop using months after the 2 year mark, i know I will.

Answer 4

As another post mentioned, up until about 2 years the development of a child is so fast and changing that saying my child is 1 for an entire year just will not be enough. A 1 yr old is so very different from a 1 and 1/2 year old or an almost 2 yr. old.

After 2 yrs, it does begin to level out so I think most people choose to say 2 or 21/2 , etc...

Answer 5

I only referred to her in months up until my daughter was 1, then it is either 1 or 1 1/2 or 2 and 2 1/2...I will say this..I doesn't seem as though you have children by the way that your post is written and as a parent I will tell you that with all the doctor's visits and shots and immunization that they need to get a different points that may be why new parents talk in long division.
:)
Mum of a Tiny Tyrant (aka 2 year old)

Answer 6

i am no math wiz by ANY means and as a parent it does make perfect sense to say the child "15 months" instead of 1 year and 3 months

most parents will begin to use years as telling of age by 2 years old or 24 months

Answer 7

my friends that don't have children always ask my this and when you have a child you will understand. every month that passes before age 2 is a milestone and in just one month a child can learn so much. say your son is 16 months old and my son is 13 months old. your son is not walking and my son is ha my son is smarter lol they're both 1 but the months matter soooo much. (it's the only example i could think of) but after age 2 i think parents should start saying 2,3,4 and so on.

Answer 8

I usely say a little over 1 year. My son is 3 and a half. He's been a half for 3 month after his 3rd birthday. I hate counting months. Too much thinking in it.

Answer 9

Until the age of 3 babies & toddlers are often refered to in terms of month as opposed to years at the Drs, office. So, one reason is we as parents are accustomed to it. Also, when speaking w/others, especially fellow parents, we refer to our children in terms of months because it can hold a lot of information. Growth & development milestones are measured in months. For example:
Parent 1, "Wow, your child sure talks a lot!"
Parent 2, "Yes, he's 18 mos now. Does your child say a lot of words yet?"
Parent 1, "Oh, no, he's only 15 months."

Answer 10

you said a mouth full!!! i was a new parent once, and i couldn't figure out how to answer in months how to tell ppl in the pediatricians office that my baby was 1 year and 4 months....lol. i actually think these other 'new parents' were looking at me like i shouldn't even have kids if i didn't know the right number of months my toddler was...ridiculous!!
i think all parents should take your advice and leave the math to the kids trying to pass state mandated tests!!!

Answer 11

Ahhh no. Really, my priorties are not about making life easier for you.
Babies ages (note babies not adults) are described in months due to the huge developmental differences at this stage. So the answer to whether a food/activity/show/furniture whatever "is suitable will differ between a 12 month old and a 22 month old quite drastically.
I would have hoped at your age the development differences were less substantial. "Everyone else" does use months to describe babies ages.

And most parents really just dont care if you or others cant cope.