Question about "adjusted age"

Shilpa

I know that children born early often develop closer to their adjusted age than their actual age (lucky us moms- esp. when it comes to sleeping!).  But I have a question as to whether WE are supposed to shift milestones for this as well.

 Specifically, my kids are 5 months and we are probably going to start solids next month (6 month mark).  But I'm wondering if we should wait a bit longer b/c they were a month early, so are their stomachs and digestive systems still like a 5 month old?  I know it's perfectly fine to start solids at 5 months, but I really want to follow the pediatric recommendations for this.

 Would love to know what other early multiples moms did...

doublewhammy

I don't know that we necessarily do it the right way, but we don't account for an adjusted age b/c they were born at 36 weeks.  I think if they had been any earlier we might have adjusted. 

I get so frustrated with all of the milestone marks and stuff like that so I pretty much disregard the guidelines.  My girls are not on the size charts for 12 weekers, but that's ok because I see them growing and developing and that is most important.

togagirl

Did you ask your doctor?  We discussed it with our doctor and she recommended we wait until 6 months (which was what I wanted to do anyway).  My boys were about 3.5 weeks early.  I think most people start closer to the 4 month mark with full-term babies.

pea-kay

it really depends.my boys were 7 weeks early, but we mostly follow their actual age on things. solids, we kind of started at five months actual, but they didn't really get into it until closer to six months. and neither did we. but i wasn't going to start at six adjusted months. i really only consider them about a month behind, developmentally.

Dsugaree

My girls were born at 25 weeks and we went by their actual age for everything as far as food - development we went be adjusted age - until they were 2 - by 2 they are not considered adjusted any longer.