Development of Premature Babies

A baby is considered premature if he is born before the 37th week of pregnancy. Premature development varies widely depending on how early the baby was born. A baby born in the 24th week of pregnancy will generally have more developmental problems than a baby born in the 35th week of pregnancy. Many premature infants will catch up to full-term babies developmentally by their second birthday, while some may have developmental delays for a few years. Early intervention programs can help treat developmental delays.

Adjusted Age

• When thinking of a premature baby's development, caregivers need to use the baby's adjusted age rather than their actual age. A baby's adjusted age is calculated using the baby's original due date. For example, a 6-month-old baby who was born 2 months early should be compared to 4 months of age developmentally. Parents can usually stop using adjusted age by the time their child reaches the age of 2. Many premature babies have caught up with full-term babies at that point.

Physical Development

• According to the Baby Center website, most premature infants will reach an average height and weight by their first birthday. However, some premature infants will remain smaller than average indefinitely. Physical development may be delayed when babies have difficulty with feedings during the first few months of life due to difficulty sucking and swallowing.

Lung and Heart Development

• If the mother's health makes premature birth seem imminent, the doctor may give the mother steroid injections to speed up the baby's lung development. However, infants born prematurely often still have breathing difficulties that require medical assistance. Premature infants are also sometimes born with heart defects, and occasionally these defects require surgery.

Motor Skills Development

• Premature infants may take longer to develop skills such as sitting and walking. Infants who are having problems in motor skills development may benefit from physical therapy. Your pediatrician will let you know how well your baby is doing at each of your baby's checkups. Your baby's milestones, such as the age at which she sits up, crawls or walks, are likely to vary from charts you may see in books or at the pediatrician's office.

Brain Development

• Brain development may be affected by infections or brain bleeds during the early weeks of a premature infant's life. Issues with brain development may affect vision, hearing and learning.

Developmental Delays

• Babies who were born particularly early or who have severe health problems may experience significant developmental delays in language skills, cognitive skills and motor skills. Early intervention can help these babies. Early intervention programs are often offered by the department of human services in each state.