4 month adjusted baby development

[JunoBJB]

Hi everyone - this is my first post so please be kind! I’m not even sure if I’ve posted in the right place or created it correctly, so forgive me if not.

I don’t know whether I should be concerned about my 5 month old (4 month corrected) baby girl or not. She seems to be doing well but the pregnancy was pretty difficult for various reasons (my health and growth restriction) and I can’t shake the feeling that something is just terribly ‘wrong’. As a bit of background, I suffer with health anxiety and am about to start receiving CBT for this so I am hoping it will help me to put things in perspective more easily.

Back to my daughter... she can hold her head up well during tummy time, hold herself up on her forearms, smiles and laughs, is starting to reach out to grab things but they do have to be quite close by. I have noticed that she tends to tilt her head to one side although her head control in general is ok I think. We have been seeing an osteopath for this and it has improved massively since we started going a couple of months ago - we’ve been trying to position her differently as she tends to sleep with her head one way a lot. She can sit in one of those inflatable rings but is nowhere near sitting without it and is still quite wobbly/leans forward even in the ring after a while.

Does this all sound normal? I’m worried that she isn’t rolling or grabbing/chewing her feet yet but I’m not sure if I’m expecting too much?

Thanks everyone x

Sounds perfectly normal to me. I have two sons, my first was full term and didn’t crawl until he was 10 months. My second was born at 32 weeks and crawled at 10 months corrected. It sounds like she is doing well. Having a prem baby is hard as they don’t follow the general development paths (and many non prem babies don’t either!) but it sounds as if she is doing pretty well to me!

Also I don’t remember exactly what age my prem sat up but it was a lot later than four months. We had to delay weaning him as he wasn’t holding his head up at 6 months. He’s 15 months now and apart from being small and not walking, is pretty much the same as all other babies

Thank you so much for the reply - think it’s been difficult as we don’t have a lot of outside perspective due to Covid and lockdown. That’s great to hear though - really appreciate the reassurance, especially coming from another prem mum! I know I shouldn’t compare, but a lot of my friends have had babies at a similar time (full term) and it’s hard not to! Plus you only see what they post on Instagram haha. Thanks once again x

Hi OP,

My LO was born at 36 weeks and couldnt sit up until 8 months!! Everything you have said sounds normal. Please don’t worry!

My second was also born at 36w after growth restriction. He was exactly the same as yours, didn’t sit or roll until over 10m. He has been 4-8 months later than his sister on many milestones but when he did reach them he cracked the whole thing in a day rather than over 2 weeks like his sister. He walked at 14 months and since then has been ahead on all his milestones, especially speech, so he has really caught up.

Oh thank you so much for these lovely posts - as a first time mum I’ve felt totally clueless and my anxiety has spoiled my time with my daughter at some points. Not going to baby groups or clinics hasn’t helped either I don’t think! I also left hospital without much of a clue about ‘adjusted’ ages and I think I expected her to be the same as a full term baby. Luckily I have a very supportive health visitor and she has really helped. Thanks so much again x

My daughter was born at 36 weeks (IUGR - only weighed 3lb 9oz). She’s 10 months old now but only rolled front to back at 5 months, back to front at 8.5 months, could sit with support at 6 months but not unaided until 8.5 months. She still won’t crawl or be on her tummy. I’m a FTM too so I’m always worrying but I’ve learnt now that she’ll do things in her own time; all babies are different!

Oh, she also didn’t grab/eat her feet until she was 5.5/6 months!

Thank you so much for your reply - it’s really hard to remember that it’s not a race isn’t it? I’m not bothered at all about her being ‘ahead’ but just worry that there might be something I’m missing! It’s really lovely to hear of everyone’s experiences - thanks again x

Your daughter sounds just like my 36 weeker son who is now 7 months (6 corrected). His development is spot on for a 6 month old.
I always go by corrected age as it gives them just a bit more time to catch up.
For reference my 33 weeker always did everything 2 months after he should have but he's always done things when he was ready.
Your daughter sounds perfectly normal but I do get it as my first was prem so I've only known prem development for my own children.
If you're UK based there's a Facebook group called parents of preemies UK. There are about 10000 of us and we all have premature children. Its been massively helpful. there's no question to daft and a massive amount of support. I think it might be helpful to you to have other preemie parents to talk to

Thank you! I’ve found the Facebook group and joined it - will be nice to share experiences with parents in similar situations. Much appreciated x

You're welcome @JunoBJB, hope we can help

She sounds like she is doing perfectly! I have a term 38+2 week and a preemie 31+4 week so I've had both... what you're describing sounds really good for her age :)