when?

ok stupid question time...when are preemies not considered preemies anymore?

probably when theyare normal weight

We were told 2 years old.
I guess it depends on how prem and how healthy they were/are.

my son was born at 32 weeks..he's healthy...he's 4lbs 12oz..

Do you mean when do they "catch up?"That's around 2-3 years old.

But they'll always BE preemies.... that descirbes how they were born.

The doctors say that at around 2 is when the differences between preemies and term babies disappear. My niece and nephew caught up though around 1 year, by then they were almost the same size as my son who is 6 months older. Development can vary but should also catch up at around2 years.

I'm not sure what you mean by when they stop being preemies? My children will always be preemies. As far as how that defines their health though, my daughter stopped being a "preemie" around 12 to 18 months. That is when there was no longer any noticable difference between her and her peers. Her size and development were all on target for her "actual" age. My son is 6 months and already getting close to that point. I think it's kind of in the eyes of the beholer, ya know? Some kids are 6 or 8 and still dealing with preemie issues. So its different for them all! Like others have mentioned though, the 'standard' is 2 years old for a preemie to catch up. How old is Scott now?

Quoting Jessica [Slvrmoon]:“ I'm not sure what you mean by when they stop being preemies? My children will always be preemies. As ... [snip!] ... for them all! Like others have mentioned though, the 'standard' is 2 years old for a preemie to catch up. How old is Scott now?”

Scott is 7wks and 2days...the reason i'm asking this, and i know it's a stupid question, I just didn't know that worked...if i got to the doctor do i say he is preemie or he was preemie? What about his developemental state? when is he suppose to be able to lift his head comepared to full term babies? They don't have a book on preemies...i.e "What to expect?" books...they need to make one

As for the language involved, he IS (and always will be) a preemie, but he WAS born premature. Does that make sense? LOL

As for development, chart his milestones according to his due date (adjusted age). So, like, Paige was born Jan 28 but her due date was April 23. So I treat her as being 2 months old, not 5 months. She should be hitting 2 month milestones now like smiling and laughing.... not sitting like her 5 month old peers.

Quoting usagi:“ As for the language involved, he IS (and always will be) a preemie, but he WAS born premature. Does that ... [snip!] ... 5 months. She should be hitting 2 month milestones now like smiling and laughing.... not sitting like her 5 month old peers.”

ah ok...so he shouldn't really be lifting his head and stuff until after he's a month old from his due date?

yeah, what usagi said =) Scott is 7 weeks old and only 4lbs 12oz? Man, I'm seeing so many small babies lately! Wasn't he born at 32 weeks?

Quoting Jessica [Slvrmoon]:“ yeah, what usagi said =) Scott is 7 weeks old and only 4lbs 12oz? Man, I'm seeing so many small babies lately! Wasn't he born at 32 weeks?”

yep i had severe pre-e and low amniotic fluid he was born at 3lbs 9.8oz

Quoting Scott's mommy:“ yep i had severe pre-e and low amniotic fluid he was born at 3lbs 9.8oz”

Yeah, that's a good birth size, he's just very small still to basically be at term!

Quoting Jessica [Slvrmoon]:“ Yeah, that's a good birth size, he's just very small still to basically be at term!”

yeah he's having issues gaining weight..we had to supplement formula with his breastmilk to help him gain weight.

Oh well that makes more sense! Most preemies have to be on high calorie formula for some amount of time. My daughter was on it until she was 6 months old! Is he on high cal or regular formula?