Any other preemie moms here? My little guys due date was March 3rd but was born January 11th (7 and a half weeks early). And since preemies are known to develop at a slower pace than full term babies I want some input on where your baby is developmentally. My little guy doesn't roll (or attempt), doesn't smile on purpose. When he does, its pretty random or I have to tickle his cheek. He doesn't laugh (except twice he has laughed in his sleep) he also has a hard time lifting his head at all during tummy time.
Re: Moms of premature babies
It took DS quite a bit of time to get his head lifting up pretty regularly and to get him swatting at toys and being more mobile with his legs and arms. He slept ALOT the first few weeks of birth. I suggest you download and/or buy the Wonder Weeks app/book. It discusses developmental leaps that babies make and for mommies like you and I, it goes off of adjusted age, versus birth age. It may give you more insight on the things LO might be doing during certain developmental stages as well as signs to look out for when the leaps are going to occur and tips to help work through the leaps.
i second the wonder weeks app goes by due date
My preemie has reached all goals based on that - immunisations they base from birth and I understand they may wean based on birth date depending on the baby - they should also really make two markers on any weight charts for a while yet...
My daughter is 20 birth / 12 gestation and not rolling over yet - that isn't for several weeks yet but she is smiling plenty, cooing and blowing a kind of raspberry - sadly teething early also! But that is generally based on when the parents teethed as children rather than being a preemie I think.
What was his birth weight? Hope you are doing ok - it's a stressful time - we bought mine home at 3lb 5oz after 4.5 in NICU but at 11 weeks she was 11lb 4oz thanks to a growth formula.
He can push up to his elbows/hands on his tummy and is rolling from side to side but not to his back yet.
For the most part he has stuck with the timeline of his due date and the wonder weeks app though he has honestly hit a few of the skills early.
For instance he is already grasping at toys and bringing them to his mouth, something he shouldn't be doing until closer to 4 months adjusted.
My pediatrician, who is the father of preemie twins, said that he will be somewhere in the middle for some developmental things. He will do them faster than a 3 month old but behind a 5 month old, if that makes sense. It does seem to be true for everything except his motor skills which I have heard will always go by his adjusted age.
Congrats on your little preemie!
Married 2012
TTC #2 since July 2016
PCOS diagnosed 2008