To ask why some parents do this?

[bantuknots73]

Can I ask why some parents refer to their child's age in months? For example say if a friend, family member or even someone random asks how old your child is now and you reply saying, 'oh he/she is 28 months.'
Can I ask why?

When I was a teenager I never understood why people did this but thought I just didn't understand enough about having kids😂
But even now I seriously don't understand. Isn't it easier to say 'oh he/she just turned 2?' Please let me know!! It's seriously been bugging me since joining MN😂 I saw a comment recently where someone said their child is 37 months. I was so confused!

@DustyMaiden

I’m 717 months.

And I bet your health visitor 717-month check found you were on target development-wise for your age.

The one that puzzles me is why a mum was referring to her premature DC's age as his birthday being his due date.

Not sure I understand fully, but with preemies you do talk about corrected age.

@Simonjt

Once they’re two there really is no need, a colleague still refers to months (39 at the moment!), but then she still posts a monthly photo with a card saying how many months.

She's still do monthly photos at 39 months?! 3 years 3 months?!

Crazy! Where does she even get the cards from? they stop at 12 months don't they?!

Depends on context.
To a doctor the actual months will be relevant.
To a curious stranger on a bus etc, "just turned 2" is fine!

@headtotoesno I agree! I could never keep track anyway!

@KirstenBlest

Don't worry about it bbut brush up on your 12 times table.

The one that puzzles me is why a mum was referring to her premature DC's age as his birthday being his due date.

It's easier to explain re the prematurity/development/size if you think of due date as "birthday".

Yes. I did sort of ask but she didn't explain very well and I didn't like to probe. Thanks. I did wonder if he'd always use both

@Simonjt

Once they’re two there really is no need, a colleague still refers to months (39 at the moment!), but then she still posts a monthly photo with a card saying how many months.

I’d hide her from FB. I’m cringing for her 🤣

Like pp said I think it's relevant up to 2. A "1 year old" could be 12 months or 23 months and there is a massive difference, developmentally.

You get used to referring to months it probably sticks but at some point you must lose count? My baby group is still doing weeks at 4 months I’ve definitely lost count of weeks 🙄

i knew a significantly premie mum who was still using the adjusted age in reception/yr 1, but her daughter was born at something like 28wks and it did really impact on her development next to my DS who was the oldest in the year and born a couple of days before his due date.. something i had to remind a couple of friends with august babies when they were upset by how far 'behind' their kids were compared to him.

As for the months, i think up to 18mo is fine, and after that its time to get out of the habit of using it and into using 'nearly' 1.5, or 2 in a couple of months...etc.

It’s fine to use months until they turn two because there’s a huge difference between a 12 month old and a 23 month old so saying one is often too broad. After they turn 2 there’s very little difference so weird to still use months.

I don't get it after 2. Trying to work out how old the 39 month old is in years hurt my brain

I never used months post a year - another one who's brain melts trying to work it out

I’ll never forgot when DP introduced me to his DB and his family. I asked how old his daughter was and he replied ‘51 months’

I think beyond the age of about 2 it’s daft (unless you’re talking to a doctor, in which case it might be essential) but for under 2s it makes sense to me. A 13 month old is vastly different from a 23 month old but they’re both one.

I went up to 19 months, then 'two in (month)', 'just turned two', 'two and a half', 'three in (month), half years until five then just years.

I thought it was bonkers until I had a child and now I understand why people do it. Not past two, really. But it’s because months make a huge difference to development.

The people who obstinately refer to their child’s age in years even when it causes confusion annoys me more. I remember one mum who told me her child was one and I was so puzzled - he was tall and walking very confidently and talking in quite advanced sentences. It turned out he was 20 months. Even ‘one and a half’ would have been clearer.

Months can make a huge difference when little imo.

There is a huge difference between a just turned one year old that's 12 months, an 18 month old and a 23 month old! Both size wise and developmentally.

Similar at 2. Developmentally there's a huge difference between way a 24 month old than 35 months old when nearly 3.

developmentally months make a huge difference in the small years! Not so much once they hit 3/4/5. But even so my daughter is the youngest in her class and there's a huge difference but I don't use months for a 6 year old 😅

I tended to use 1 or 1.5 or nearly 2 for example rather than months.

@SpiceRat

You get used to referring to months it probably sticks but at some point you must lose count? My baby group is still doing weeks at 4 months I’ve definitely lost count of weeks 🙄

😂 I think I counted up to 12 weeks then I was just like fuck this, this is so long!😂

I’m 596 months, don’t feel a month over 590.

I think it should be up to 18 months old and then after that just refer to the child as 2 1/2, 3, 3 1/2 etc.

I'm 5 and a half and don't feel a decade over 3

It get ridiculous after age 2 as you have to do an age conversion calculation in your head.

They say "26 months" I think so just over 2 then. It would be easier for everyone if they just says "just over 2 in the first place"!

Clothes also come in months sizes at that age