: How old really is my child? my child was born 4 weeks early. Do I consider her to be 4 month old (counting age since birth), or 3 month old (regarding age-related advice, facts in books and such) ?

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My son was born 3 weeks early, just on the line for being considered a premature birth. According to some measures, he was "behind" developmentally early on.

I'd say that you should evaluate what you read based on your direct experience with your child. Most books provide ranges for development in any case. If your question could be restated as "Should I worry if my premature child is not hitting benchmarks based on her birth age?", the answer is an emphatic "No." Regarding advice on what to do at certain ages, seek out advice that focuses less on calendar dates and more on developmental milestones already reached.

Remember, too, that the period when this month's difference will comprise a significant percentage of your child's life is short.