Anyone's baby born at 35 weeks?

[mum2b56]

I had my son in October and he is 10 weeks today. I am struggling so much as he hasn't smiled yet and I know I have to allow him an extra 5 weeks cause he was premature so I shouldn't start expecting it until 11 weeks. I am just finding it so hard as I am so desperate to see him smile, anyone else been in this position? What helped you?

Not 5 weeks early no but my daughter was 3 and a bit weeks early and was a tiny thing when she was born. I found not setting her up to milestones helped and knowing she would do it when she was ready. Staying off Google massively helped as well. Every baby is different. She didnt smile properly till she was 12 weeks old. There all different. Shes now a smiling and a giggling 5 month old.

Yes my baby was exactly 5 weeks early
She didn't smile till she was 12 weeks old
Although I never worried about her not smiling

My daughter was born in September at 36 weeks exactly. She didn't smile until 12 weeks, I can remember how stressful it was waiting for it!
It's easier said than done but try to stay away from typical milestones, if I do look at them I mentally add a month as a rough guide. There is so much variation even amongst full term babies.
He will get there!

DS was born at 34 weeks (DD at 36). To be honest I can't remember when he first smiled but he is now 11 and tallest in his year of 180 kids at school and has been tall for his age since he was about 4.
Please don't worry about milestones!

I had a baby at 33 weeks, and was told not to look for milestones at his actual age, but at the age he should have been, if that makes sense?
Best wishes to you and your little one. It does get easier - mine is a strapping, smiley 6-footer now
He walked late, talked early and is now fluent in 3 languages (and in his first week, he had a brain scan as I was so stressed about possible brain damage after hearing doctors talking over me before they decided I needed a CS)
I hope you're getting the support you need x

My lb was born at 34 weeks. She first smiled at about 12 weeks. And laughed about month and half after that. She's 6 months now and isn't sitting by herself yet (my other two term dc were at this age) but I've come to accept that she'll just do things in her own time and I've stopped worrying. She is only just trying to roll over now and has almost got it.

My son was born in July at 35+4 and he didn't smile until about 12 weeks. My HV had already said don't worry about milestones and if you are thinking about them then when they are under 1 year old always consider their corrected age so if 5 weeks prem then minus that (so my LO smiled at 12 weeks - 5 weeks = 7 weeks). The way I saw it was that he pretty much slept solidly until his due date so he can't have been expected to pick up any social skills.

My LO is 6 and a half months now and I really try not to focus what he should be doing at x weeks as all babies are so different, even those that aren't premature.

I'm sure your son will start smiling soon, it's worth waiting for 😊