Development milestones in preemies

[mscongeniality]

Hi all,

My DS was born early at 34+4. Physically he was fine (although tiny at 2.2kg) but we were able to take him home after only 3 days which was a blessing.

Fast forward to now at 17 months (15.5 months corrected). I am still doing his age correction because he has been delayed in almost all his milestones. He sat up on his own quite late at around 9 months, crawled at 11 months and only started walking at 16 months. Physically now he is fine (except for his teeth, he only has one so far). It is his communication and cognitive development which is worrying me a lot. I am doing a lot of reading and a lot of things keep pointing to ASD but I don't know if its too soon to tell.

He is a very happy little boy, loves playing and socialising. When anyone smiles at him, he smiles back happily. However, he doesn't say any words yet. He hardly ever responds to his name when I try to get his attention. He's very very hyper and always on the go looking for things to explore and get into. He doesn't understand simple tasks like, come here, bring that etc. Sometimes I don't know if he actually doesn't hear me or is just ignoring me. I'm taking him for a hearing test next week to check if that's the issue. But he does hear other things like when I turn on his nursery rhymes on the iPad on low volume, he'll hear it right away and come running.

He only claps, doesn't wave or point either. When I try to sit and read a book with him he just wants to grab the book and play with it and examine it. It's just so hard to get him to focus on something unless he wants to focus on something.

Sorry for the long post but I'm just getting very worried that something isn't right with him. I don't know if this is normal for preemies and he will catch up in his own time? In general there is nothing in his behavior that points to anything and anyone who spends time with him sees him as a normal happy boy, but since I know him so well I can tell what he is behind in.

Can I ask what your experiences have been like?

Thank you x

[eurochick]

I'm not sure what's normal but my experience with physical milestones has been similar. My daughter was delivered at 34+0 weighing only 1.53kg (iugr). She Was in hospital for just over three weeks.

She crawled at 12 months (actual) and walked at 15 months. Teething was very late. She got her first ones at 14 months and only got the last ones around 2. However she seems to be doing brilliantly - she seems to be quite advanced in language and in doing things like puzzles. But this has only become evident in the last few months ( she is 2.1 now). She is still a titch but otherwise her early arrival is largely forgotten. I no longer mention her corrected age.

I read somewhere that premmies are usually fully caught up by age 3. I'm not sure if that's right. You might find your baby does some more "catching up" over the coming months. But if you feel something is not right, trust your instincts and talk to your GP or hv.

[AbbeyRoadCrossing]

DS is 2 and was born at 36 (35 weeks by my dates) and we were in hospital 8 days.
He still doesn't point and has only just got waving. His motor skills were very late and he's still a bit wobbly at times. I remember his 10 month check he hadn't moved at all - no crawling, rolling nothing. But he walks fine now. It just all took him quite a while longer.

If you are worried though I think asking for a referall can't hurt and might set your mind at ease

[Ginmummy1]

My DD was born at 29+3, weighing 1.36kg. In hospital for 6 weeks. She's now 5 and fine in every respect.

You asked about personal experiences of meeting development milestones, so here's my recollections about DD.

She didn't 'do' anything for her first year. Just smiled! She didn't crawl until 13 months, or walk until 17 months. She was not a 'grabby' baby and we couldn't have attempted BLW as she would have starved. She was a contented baby, and just sat there, taking it all in. Basically, she was behind with gross motor, but part of this may have been that she wasn't a 'driven' baby in that way. She got her first tooth 5 days before she turned 1.

She wasn't early to speak but I think had a word or two at about 14 months. By the time she was 2 though, she had hundreds of words and little phrases. I'm pretty sure she pointed and responded and obeyed straightforward commands by then as well. For my DD the delay was chiefly gross motor, but the cognition, social and speech side were pretty normal.

That's just one experience though. I'd agree with a PP - go with your gut instinct and if you're concerned, go and see your HV or GP and ask for a check. Meanwhile - enjoy your lovely little boy and remember that they all progress at different rates.

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

Tbh I don't think what you describe is particularly late. I have looked after children who haven't walked until 16-18 months and they weren't prem.

Ds was born at 32 weeks and 3lbs 9 but he was 7lbs by his due date so we didn't adjust after that. He spent 3 weeks in scbu.

Lots of children can't focus on books ,it usually comes eventually. Does he babble, make noises of excitement, make his feelings known if he wants something?

Good idea to get his hearing checked but I really wouldn't worry just yet, just chat to your HV about your concerns and monitor things.

[suzietonbridge]

My son was born six weeks early weighing 5ibs 5oz. he was in special care for a few weeks due to yaundice.
When we got home from special car, he was a good baby, slept alot. As he progressed he was highly interested in everything and alert. He had no brothers or sisters and this is VERY IMPORTANT as they aid ttheirr sibling to come on. Matthew botttom shufffled (as iI did) and didn't walk until around nearly two. He was a very chunky baby and drank me dry, loved his food as he always has. He didn't talk properly until around 3 when his Godmother refused to give him what he wanted unless he asked for it properly/ That was a mile stone as he then said dink for 'drink'. He refused to go to the 'grownup toilet and wanted a 'pullup' to do his poos in. I then decided on psychology to work and said to his father whist he was listening that he was not yet old enough as he cannot use the toilet to have a buzz lightyear. ok, within two minutes, Matt had gone upstairs and done a poo and said 'look Mummy what i've done' So I have no problems with Matt at all except his short term memory. I have had to deal with his short term memory for years. He is a strapping football and rugby player now but his short term memeroy is causing so many problems. He is now sitting on box 24/7 smoking pot and yes, I think he is depressed. I give him guidence and am here for hiim, but, he can oonly do things for himself and just ask me and I'll be there. Just to say that all our stories are different re prem babies.. perhaps me having my son later in life at age of 40 and him boing prem made a diffrence.. Who knows.. Luv you ladies and take care xx

[Nottsangel2015]

My daughter was born at 30 weeks and weighed 2lb 9oz she is now 14 months and still quite tiny at only 16 lb. she has just started to be able to feed herself (not with a spoon or fork though) she has been on spoon feeding for what seems like forever! She cut her first 2 teeth 2 weeks after her first birthday and last month cut 2 more she is now cutting another. So we have 5 altogether. I think this has helped with her eating massively!
She has been commando crawling since around 11 months actual and literally the last few days can actually crawl on her knees! She has been pulling herself up and trying to climb on and over everything this last couple of weeks so hoping walking may follow soon! Tomorrow marks her due date from last year so her corrected age as of tomorrow is 12 months so I actually think she is doing ok for her corrected age. She has also in the last couple of weeks started to get very vocal and laughing at things on tv or her toys, she is also making lots of different noises and sounds and showing excitement such as making 'oooohhh' noises. She cannot point not even to me or daddy. Nor can she wave yet. She cannot do puzzles or fit shapes in the sorter yet, she does however love to put things inside things so I keep finding toys and balls in my shoes lol
We too worry about long term learning and the autistic scale but I'm hoping she isn't showing any signs although at one point we did worry because she wouldn't go near anyone that wasn't her immediate family not even grandparents and she hated lots of noise and busy places but thankfully that seems to have passed now and she seems quite happy and content in between the teething. She is also starting to throw little tantrums so I gather that's a good thing? Lol I would also point out that she has 2 older sisters so maybe that does help them with learning etc...
Anyway we are still under our consultant care until she is at school and she said they allow them until they are 2.5 to catch up, if at this point they are not doing milestones they should be they look into it further but before then they just let them get on with it.

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

He had no brothers or sisters and this is VERY IMPORTANT as they aid ttheirr sibling to come on

It's not 'very important' that preemies have siblings

[Pardalis]

My son was born at 28 weeks. It seemed like he was a little baby forever! We did worry for ages - he had his check ups until the age of two. We did try hard not to worry and not to over analyse - just took his lead.

He's almost 5 now and no different from any other 'normal' 5 year old. Just started reception, learning at the expected rate. Happy. Has friends. Is just the right amount of naughty!

[Pardalis]

At about 10 days old weighing 940 grams. For comparison and to help all of you new preemie mummies. They will get there!

[mscongeniality]

Hi mums,

I want to thank you all so much for sharing your experiences.

I posted this when my son was 17 months actual (15.5 corrected). He is now just coming up to 21 months actual (19.5 corrected) so its been about 4 months. He can now wave hi and bye, on command or without, when he sees someone waving or saying bye he waves automatically. He was clapping before anyways but now can clap on both sides and gives hi-5s!

His understanding is getting better daily as well. He almost always responds to his name now, and generally comes over if you call him over. He is obviously still a toddler so it depends on his mood too! He is beginning to understand a few simple things although still a long way to go. No real words yet apart from 'tea' oddly enough. When we point to a cup he says tea.

I'm just hoping that in a few more months there will be even more progress? Does this sound good in your experience? He's still not pointing but he gets his needs across in other ways and is generally a very happy child. He sleeps really well as well and has been since he was a year old. No tantrums or meltdowns yet either....fingers crossed it stays that way.