How do you calculate corrected age?

Take the baby's actual age since birth and subtract the number of weeks they were born before their due date. For example, a baby who is 6 months old but was born 8 weeks early has a corrected age of about 4 months.

Why is corrected age important for premature babies?

It sets realistic expectations. A premature baby's development, feeding and sleep tend to track their corrected age, so judging them by it rather than their birth date is fairer and less worrying.

How long do you use corrected age?

It is generally used until around two years, by which point most children have caught up and the difference no longer matters much. Follow the guidance of your health team for your babies.

What is corrected age? A plain-language definition

Corrected age

In short

Corrected age, also called adjusted age, is a premature baby's age measured from their original due date rather than the day they were born. You work it out by taking their actual age and subtracting the number of weeks they were born early. It is used to set fair expectations for feeding, sleep and milestones, because a baby born early is developmentally closer to their corrected age. It is commonly used until around age two.

Corrected age, sometimes called adjusted age, is how old a premature baby is counting from their due date instead of the day they were actually born. If a baby arrived eight weeks early, their corrected age is their actual age minus eight weeks.

It matters because premature babies develop, feed and sleep more in line with their corrected age than their birth age. Using it keeps your expectations realistic, so you are not worrying that a baby born early is behind when they are exactly where their corrected age says they should be.

For premature twins, work each baby's corrected age out the same way and judge each one on their own progress. Corrected age is usually applied until around age two.

Frequently asked questions

How do you calculate corrected age?: Take the baby's actual age since birth and subtract the number of weeks they were born before their due date. For example, a baby who is 6 months old but was born 8 weeks early has a corrected age of about 4 months.
Why is corrected age important for premature babies?: It sets realistic expectations. A premature baby's development, feeding and sleep tend to track their corrected age, so judging them by it rather than their birth date is fairer and less worrying.
How long do you use corrected age?: It is generally used until around two years, by which point most children have caught up and the difference no longer matters much. Follow the guidance of your health team for your babies.

Corrected age

Frequently asked questions

Sources

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