Did being premature affect your child's development, and how much?

[Callieco]

I'd like to know how much other people's premmies were affected by their birth in relation to hitting developmental milestones. The reason I ask is that DS, although seemingly fine, is definitely behind even his adjusted age peers in gross motor skills. He's 13 actual/11 adjusted months and is only just starting to sit by himself. He's always been strong in his legs, and has pushed up on them from the time he should have been born, or before, but to date he has never rolled over, or crawled, hates being on his tummy still, and as I say is only just beginning to sit unaided, and that is generally with him leaning forwards a bit rather than straight backed. Now that he is starting to do it, I'm relaxing a bit, but I have been quite worried that there might be something undiagnosed wrong. He was born at 31+4 weeks and was on SCBU for five weeks, was on CPAP for 12 days but never fully ventilated, was vag birth, only things wrong were jaundice for a bit and anaemia of prematurity, as the red book puts it! He weighed 4lb2oz.

In terms of other skills, he has always been very vocal (and how!) and his fine motor skills are great. He has no problem picking up food for example, including things like peas, and has done that for quite a long time. The sitting thing has worried me because he tends to keep his head turned to the right more than straight, but medics have assured me everything's ok on that front, although I'm not certain they are right. However, that's probably another issue.

I don't know how much this could be genetic, as I don't know about DP's development milestones because his mum's dead, and his dad is useless at that sort of thing. I was an early walker and talker (walked at 10 months so definitely sitting before that) - but then I'm a girl . My mum said that she doesn't think me or my two sisters ever crawled.

my dd1 was born at 35 weeks weighing 4lbs so was small for dates and early, lost weight rapidly and had suck problmes, she stayed absolutely tiny until 3 then suddenly grew and now is pretty much average height and weight in her class, she crawled at 5 months and walked at 9 months but didn't speak a single word until she was 2 , i remember being highly anxious about all her milestones, now I look at my gorgeous 9 year old who is no different from any of her peers and wonder why i was so worried, i firmly believe they will all "even out eventually"

Dd was born at term. She sat at 8 months, crawled at 10, walked at 13 months.

Ds1 was 6 weeks early. He sat at 11 months, crawled at 12 months, and walked at 16 months.

Ds2 was 7 weeks early. He sat at 9 months, and looks like he will crawl in the next week or so - he is 10.5 months.

Genetics plays a part, and so does prematurity. Personality makes a big difference - ds1 is cautious and laid-back while ds2 appears to be determined and impatient!

It is really hard when your child takes a while to start doing things. My friend's baby was born (2 weeks overdue) 5 days after ds2. Today in Tescos my child was falling over sideways cos he couldn't sit in the trolley seat properly. Hers was trying to stand up and climb out (he can walk).

soapbubble my ds (7 wks prem) didn't walk until he was 22 mths. He fell off the chart completely for quite a long time but now at 4 it is hard to believe he was ever so tiny or developmentally delayed. His gross motor skill are definitely behind those of his peers but his fine motor skills are way ahead and always have been. At the time I used to be sad at what my ds couldn't do compared to others. Now it no longer bothers me (took some time to get to that way of thinking I must say!).

Ds was born at 34 wks at 2lb 7 with pe and IUGR.

He's now a year old and has always been about two months behind and more developmental milestones (except crawling). As he was so small when he was born, I go by the fact he was born about the size of a 29/30 wker and correct accordingly.

Ds is also just learning to sit by himself and has get to say ma or da, although he mastered ga last week. We worried a bit too about torticulous (sp?) as he tended to slump his head for a long time to one side but the ped said he was ok and he's beginning to straighten up now.

If your still not happy with his gross motor skills I would ask to get referred to a ped again, if only to put your own mind at rest.

My ds saw a paediatric consultant every 6 weeks for his first 3 years for various health problems so we had the opportunity to check any developmental concerns at the same time. It was very reassuring so I agree with trixie's suggestion. I was told that my ds would catch up by the time he was 2 but that didn't happen. There is still a gap at 4 but it is closing all the time and what is left I think is down to genetic problems (inherited hypermobility from me!).