When a baby is born before their due date⍰, their development is often assessed using two different ages: uncorrected age and corrected age. Understanding the difference between these two is crucial for tracking your baby’s growth and developmental progress.

Uncorrected age (sometimes referred to as chronological age) is the actual age of your baby from the day they were born. This is the age that is typically used to mark age-related events such as birthdays.

Corrected age (also known as adjusted age or developmental age) accounts for the time a baby was born early as it represents the age your baby would be if they were born on their due date. It is calculated by subtracting the number of weeks early the baby was born from their age. This adjusted age provides a more accurate reflection of where your baby might be developmentally, as it considers the time that would have normally been spent in the womb⍰.

Using adjusted age is particularly important in the first few years of life when tracking developmental milestones such as sitting up, crawling, or talking. It can give you a clearer picture of their development and help set realistic expectations during the early years.