Development of a premature baby by months up to a year

All babies develop and grow at their own rate; premature babies are no exception. These babies, who were born before reaching full term, might experience particular difficulties during their first year of life. They can, nevertheless, catch up and flourish just like full-term babies if given the right care and attention.

Premature babies’ development is frequently monitored in a different way than that of full-term babies. It’s critical to keep in mind that reaching milestones later does not imply a lack of progress. A more realistic view of their development may be obtained by adjusting expectations to their corrected age.

We’ll look at a premature baby’s normal development month by month in the sections that follow, emphasizing the progress they usually make until they turn one.

Month	Development Milestones
1 Month	Focuses on faces, responds to loud sounds, and can lift head slightly while lying on stomach.
2 Months	Begins to smile socially, tracks objects with eyes, and starts to coo and make gurgling sounds.
3 Months	Holds head up to 90 degrees, begins to push down on legs when feet are on a hard surface, and can open and shut hands.
4 Months	Smiles spontaneously, especially at people, can hold a toy, and pushes down on legs when feet are on a hard surface.
5 Months	Reaches for objects with one hand, can hold a toy and shake it, and knows the difference between familiar people and strangers.
6 Months	Begins to sit without support, rocks back and forth, sometimes crawling backward before moving forward, and responds to own name.
7 Months	Develops a pincer grasp, can transfer objects from one hand to the other, and may begin to crawl.
8 Months	Sits well without support, can pull up to stand, and may start to use gestures like waving or reaching.
9 Months	Can understand “no,” makes a lot of different sounds like “mamama” and “bababa,” and may start to use simple gestures to communicate.
10 Months	Stands, holding on to furniture, can say “mama” and “dada” and knows what they mean, and looks for things he sees you hide.
11 Months	Walks holding on to furniture, may take a few steps without holding on, and can say “mama” and “dada” and exclamations like “uh-oh!”
12 Months	Can pull up to stand, walk holding on to furniture, and may take a few steps independently, starts to use one or two words.

Features of development in prematurity

• Babies master basic skills several months later than full-term peers. If the baby was born before the 32nd week of gestation, then the lag is 3-4 months, and for babies born after this period, the lag will be only 1-2 months.
• Babies weighing less than 1500 g require special conditions immediately after birth, so they are kept in incubators, in which conditions are close to intrauterine. After gaining weight up to 1700 g, the baby is moved to a crib that has heating. When the baby"s body weight reaches 2000 g, special thermal support is no longer required.
• Due to the special functioning of the baby"s nervous system, such babies need increased attention when born prematurely. It is very important to surround the baby with affection and create comfortable conditions at home after discharge.

A premature baby’s thermoregulation has unique qualities. The ideal room temperature and humidity levels are 20–22 °C and 50–70%, respectively. Watch the program with Dr. Komarovsky for more information.

Appearance

This is how a premature baby looks:

• The baby"s body weight is very low, and the height is tiny.
• The baby"s skin is thin, with many wrinkles, in the first days it is clearly red.
• The auricles are thin and soft, they can stick together.
• On the back and limbs (and sometimes on the face) there is soft hair called lanugo.
• The baby"s head looks disproportionately large, it corresponds to about 1/3 of the body length.
• The baby"s belly is large, and the navel is located lower.
• The neck and limbs of the baby are short.
• The plates on the nails are very thin, almost transparent.
• The external genitalia are not fully formed – in boys, the testicles have not descended into the scrotum, and in girls, there is a gaping genital slit.
• The large fontanelle has shifted due to the underdeveloped skull.
• There may be areas without skin on the small fontanelle.
• The baby is lethargic and weak.

Height and weight in the table

There are various levels of prematurity depending on the baby’s birth weight:

• 1 degree – children weighing from 2 kg to 2.5 kg. They are usually born at 36-37 weeks. By the age of one, such babies increase their weight by 4-5 times.
• 2 degree – babies weighing from 1.5 kg to 2 kg. This weight is typical for babies born at 32-35 weeks of pregnancy. By the age of one, their body weight increases by 5-7 times.
• 3 degree – babies weighing 1-1.5 kg. Such babies are called low-weight babies or deeply premature babies. They are born at 28-31 weeks of gestation, and by the age of one, their weight increases by 6-7 times.
• 4 degree – babies weighing less than 1000 g. Such weight is called extreme. They are born before 28 weeks and increase their weight by the age of one by 8-10 times.

Premature babies will gain weight at roughly the following rate during the first year of life:

One degree of prematurity

Second level of prematureness

Third-degree prematureness

Fourth stage of premature birth

The baby’s level of prematurity also affects growth gain, which will be:

One stage of premature birth

Two months premature

Three months premature

Four months premature

Taking care of a premature baby has unique demands. Make sure to peruse our piece.

1 month

Babies born prematurely may not be active during their first month of life. Their muscle tone is diminished, and they are frequently inactive. They typically just gain weight to make up for weight loss during the first few days of life, and they gain weight very slowly.

The infant is fed via a tube since the sucking reflex is frequently absent. Artificial ventilation is provided to children who are incapable of breathing on their own.

The baby should have constant physical contact with his mother during the first month of life, as well as the chance to hear her voice.

2 months

The baby starts gaining weight and lengthier body than his full-term peers at the beginning of this month. But just like before, he becomes extremely weak and tired very quickly. Providing the baby with improved nutrition is crucial. It’s best to express milk and feed the baby the recommended number of times if he refuses to nurse.

The baby learns to lift his head into a tummy position by the end of the month.

3 months

Many babies at this age double their birth weight because weight gain is quite active. Although the baby reacts well to light and sounds, the majority of the day is still spent sleeping.

4 months

At this age, a premature baby can already lift and hold his head for a short while. The infant can now focus his attention on an object that contrasts with his surroundings and is starting to make noises similar to cooing. It is imperative that the baby’s daily schedule include walks, gymnastics, massages, and baths.

Muscle tone tends to increase around this age, which is why the baby frequently wakes up or finds it hard to get in bed.

5 months

A premature baby smiles for the first time at this age, consciously, at his mother. The baby’s movements are still a little convulsive because of the slightly elevated tone of the limbs, but he can already hold a tiny rattle in his hand. The rate of mental development is accelerating. A baby’s head can turn easily to locate the source of a sound.

Compared to full-term babies, the first year of a premature baby’s life has a different course and milestones are frequently reached at a different rate. This article gives parents a month-by-month overview of what to expect, outlining significant cognitive and physical developments and providing advice on how to foster their child’s development. Even though premature babies may initially lag behind, many eventually catch up to their peers with the correct care and attention.

6 months

At this age, a baby starts to catch up developmental milestones with peers who are born full-term. In comparison to the baby’s birth weight, his weight has tripled. He laughs a lot, plays with toys, recognizes and distinguishes the voices of loved ones. The baby will rest his feet on the surface and push off like a spring if you support him under the armpits.

Babies as young as six months old can roll over from their backs onto their stomachs.

7 months

At this age, babies can roll over onto their stomach with ease, grab toys with both hands, crawl a short distance to a toy in front of them, talk for extended periods of time, and begin to eat with a spoon. The baby’s "speech" is quite similar to full-term babies’ babble because it is so varied. The baby’s first teeth erupt between 35 and 37 weeks of pregnancy.

8 months

The infant has already mastered self-control over his body at this age. He deliberately topples over, attempts to sit up and crawl, and stands on all fours and rocks.

The infant’s psychological growth is also advancing. The infant actively absorbs all the information that is presented to him, comprehends the speech that is directed at him, locates the object that is named, and enjoys listening to songs and poems.

9 months

Many babies can already sit independently at this age, and they can also start to stand up and sit back down while holding onto the crib or playpen’s railings. At 32–34 weeks gestation, babies begin to erupt teeth.

The baby plays with his toys for a long time when he is awake. The child is already able to comply with basic commands, like waving good-bye or offering a hand in greeting. The toddler’s "speech" consists of short words or just word beginnings. The baby picks up on mimicking the adult’s speech intonation.

10 months

Most babies learn to stand on their own by this age and can walk along the fence while holding onto it. Babies born earlier than 31 weeks have their first set of teeth.

The toddler can already focus his attention on a moving toy for extended periods of time. The infant is particularly drawn to different inserts and balls.

The infant is already quite familiar with his name, and he pays attention to what the adult says as he picks up new vocabulary.

11 months

At this age, some babies walk for the first time. Children who aren’t quite ready to walk can stand up and sit down with ease, crawl quickly, and so on. Babies who are 11 months old have a strong affinity for cars, ride-ons, and cubes and pyramids. The child can carry out a lot of commonplace tasks when asked to. He uses a lot of short words in his speech to refer to objects and animals.

Following a premature baby’s growth during their first year of life can be a rewarding and challenging experience. New developmental milestones are reached every month, and it’s crucial to keep in mind that every baby grows at their own rate. Support and early intervention can go a long way toward ensuring these young children thrive.

It’s important for parents and other caregivers to stay educated and ready for deviations from the usual developmental timeline. You can successfully support your baby’s growth and development by recognizing little accomplishments and creating a loving environment. Having regular check-ups with medical professionals will guarantee that your baby is developing normally.

In the end, every family’s experience raising a premature baby is different. You can face the upcoming months with confidence and love if you embrace understanding and patience while concentrating on your baby’s specific needs.

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