If your baby or babies were premature do you tell random strangers their real age or their adjusted age?

We were out at the mall today and people were all over them asking how old they were. I say 6 months (they are almost 6 months) but then they get nosy and say they look small for 6 months or ask if they were preemies. I don't feel like getting into the whole story with every stranger who asks.

Message edited 3/31/2010 6:53:48 PM.

Re: If your baby or babies were premature do you tell random strangers their real age or their adjusted age?

Hmmm. Mine was only 3 weeks early but, he was tiny and I did say it all the time.. but, then he caught up right away.

I would just tell them the real age and then move on. People are so nosey!!!

Re: If your baby or babies were premature do you tell random strangers their real age or their adjusted age?

Real age and continue along with your day... peoples nosey-ness can be really annoying sometimes....

Re: If your baby or babies were premature do you tell random strangers their real age or their adjusted age?

My DD was 7 weeks early. She is 10 month (8.5 or so adjusted). She was born at 2lbs 6oz. She is a peanut!
People ask her age all the time!
I think its been only a few times where I've heard "oh she's so tiny"...then I explain it.
I usually get the "Ooh 10 months"...LOL then I simply reply "Yep. 10 months"! Sometimes in my head im like "Yes, really 10 months" because I see the looks on their faces. LOL.

Re: If your baby or babies were premature do you tell random strangers their real age or their adjusted age?

DS was 6 1/2 weeks early. When people would ask how old he was, I would tell them his real age. If they made any comments on how small he was, I would answer that he was early and generally leave it at that.

Re: If your baby or babies were premature do you tell random strangers their real age or their adjusted age?

hmmm--I think I did either, whatever I felt like---but either way I never got into an explanation with a stranger

Re: If your baby or babies were premature do you tell random strangers their real age or their adjusted age?

real age...people comment on how tiny my one DD is, but I don't really mind.

Re: If your baby or babies were premature do you tell random strangers their real age or their adjusted age?

Re: If your baby or babies were premature do you tell random strangers their real age or their adjusted age?

Real age and to be honest I get irritated when people make comments about her. For the longest time my mom and Joe would say she was 4wks youger then she was since she came 4wks early.....ie: she's 6wks when she was 10wks. My response was so will we have her birthday on her due date or her birthday? Then they balk and I say so if she would have been 2wks late does that mean she would really be 12wks? Does that mean she would cut her first tooth earlier, would she sit sooner? I get that preemies look smaller, but IMHO Emmy was not a true preemie. 4wks is not bad and she is right on target with her development. SO what if she looks a bit smaller and so on. I think we live in such a supersized world that peole forgot it wasn't so long ago babies were born at 5,6,7lbs and not 8,9,10lbs. Those were the exception. Sorry for the rant, but it's a touchy subject in my house.

Re: If your baby or babies were premature do you tell random strangers their real age or their adjusted age?

I always said his real age and then if i go the old"he is so small" I would say well he started at 2 and half pounds so he is huge to me!

Re: If your baby or babies were premature do you tell random strangers their real age or their adjusted age?

Real age. DD was born 7 weeks early so in the beginning there were a lot of comments about her size but she caught up pretty quickly so it hasn't been an issue lately. When people did comment, I would just tell them she was a preemie.

Message edited 3/31/2010 8:11:40 PM.

Re: If your baby or babies were premature do you tell random strangers their real age or their adjusted age?

I tell them their real age and the trio were born at 36 weeks..... I get WOW they are so big for 8 months..... You would never know they were so small when they were born if you see them know.....

Re: If your baby or babies were premature do you tell random strangers their real age or their adjusted age?

My twins were born 10 weeks early. In addition, me and the hubby make itty bitty kids (older sister is 2 and weighs 23 pounds). So when we are out I get shocked looks when I tell them their age. I proudly explain (and if you ready any of posts on here, I RARELY explain myself to ANYONE even my family) that they were 2 pounds when they were born and look at them now.

Re: If your baby or babies were premature do you tell random strangers their real age or their adjusted age?

I always told them real age, but people seem to think they are HUGE! They were pretty big at birth for preemies 5'14 and 6'3

Re: If your baby or babies were premature do you tell random strangers their real age or their adjusted age?

I always said her real age (DD was 7 weeks early). I always got "she's so tiny" and I would just say she was a preemie and that was that.

She's 3 1/2 now, and I still get she's so tiny comments, compared to other 3 1/2 year olds

Re: If your baby or babies were premature do you tell random strangers their real age or their adjusted age?

I always told them his real age...but if the conversation pursued I would probably have mentioned that he was premature (I always felt like I had to defend his small size and later milestones)...but it's so annoying!

Re: If your baby or babies were premature do you tell random strangers their real age or their adjusted age?

DD was not a preemie. She is a big baby however at 9 months and I get so tired of hearing from complete strangers 75 times a day how big she is for her age. So I round up when complete strangers ask me. I just am so tired of hearing, oh she's a big girl etc etc etc etc ad nauseaum.

Re: If your baby or babies were premature do you tell random strangers their real age or their adjusted age?

Abby wasn't a preemie either, but at 19 months, everyone thinks she is a BRILLIANT one year old because she is so tiny, yet she talks up a storm and counts to 10. It used to bother me, but now I just go with it.

Re: If your baby or babies were premature do you tell random strangers their real age or their adjusted age?

People are obnoxious... I'd give their real age and if anything is said just say "it's fine, thank you, have a nice day". Everyone has something to say.

Re: If your baby or babies were premature do you tell random strangers their real age or their adjusted age?

Mine were not preemies, but they were always very small. I'd tell people their age and I'd get looks or comments like "Oh but they're so small!" I'd just smile and say, "Yes they are "x" months.
People are nosy and rude. It stopped at about 8-9 months, and noone says anything now.
They'll catch up, Kathleen.

Re: If your baby or babies were premature do you tell random strangers their real age or their adjusted age?

Re: If your baby or babies were premature do you tell random strangers their real age or their adjusted age?

DS wasn't a premature, but he's small for his age. Plus, he didn't get his first tooth until 13.5 months. I think he also still has more of a baby face. People always think he's younger than he really is.

Re: If your baby or babies were premature do you tell random strangers their real age or their adjusted age?

Re: If your baby or babies were premature do you tell random strangers their real age or their adjusted age?

I would ignore - or just respond with something like - DUH, they are twins!!

Re: If your baby or babies were premature do you tell random strangers their real age or their adjusted age?