https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 15 Apr 2026 14:04:58 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/development-delays-born-37-weeks#post-2555789 Tue, 24 May 2016 19:27:54 +0000 stratosphere 2555789@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JLC53: So cute! </p> <p>I just wanted to add that my LO was born at 37+0 and she was three weeks "late" on EVERYTHING during her first year, from smiling to rolling over to sitting unassisted to eating solid foods to crawling, etc. After the first few months I realized I should just use her due date to track milestones. It evened out around, or just after the one-year mark (she started walking a few weeks after her first birthday) and now that she's a toddler I no longer think about adjusting her age when I read books about development, but I remember being freaked out as a FTM especially regarding social smiles and laughing (which she was definitely three or so weeks late on).</p> <p>My doctor told me 37 weeks is "term", so I had the same worries as you, but LO is super social and smart as a whip these days, so it all evened out in the end! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/development-delays-born-37-weeks#post-2555740 Tue, 24 May 2016 17:23:56 +0000 MoonMoon 2555740@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So cute! And my son was born at 39wk2days, so not really early, and he also wasn't interested in toys for the longest time. Trust me, he'll get there! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/development-delays-born-37-weeks#post-2555668 Tue, 24 May 2016 15:39:05 +0000 lovehoneybee 2555668@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JLC53: What a cutie!</p> <p>FWIW, my daughter is 5 months old and the only interest she has in toys is how fast she can get them into her mouth to chew on them, lol! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/development-delays-born-37-weeks#post-2555651 Tue, 24 May 2016 15:27:43 +0000 Mrs. Lion 2555651@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JLC53: that grin!!! :) :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/development-delays-born-37-weeks#post-2555629 Tue, 24 May 2016 15:13:19 +0000 JLC53 2555629@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pachamama: thanks for checking in! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/development-delays-born-37-weeks#post-2555628 Tue, 24 May 2016 15:12:20 +0000 JLC53 2555628@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hi! We have smiles and coos now, like everyday. Eye contact is amazing and he will follow me around the room. Still does not follow a toy with his eyes or really have any interest in toys at all. This past weekend he finally looked at an animal on his mobile on the bouncy chair for longer then a few seconds. I do have a toy handing from his car seat and a moved it and he followed it once with his eyes, but only once and hasn't done it again. All together he is defiantly a different baby from when I first posted. </p> [attach=7223/16/o7p6sl.450x600.IMG_1090.JPG] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/development-delays-born-37-weeks#post-2555244 Tue, 24 May 2016 08:22:10 +0000 nana87 2555244@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>my lo was born at 37 weeks and I remember that it took her awhile to smile, like not until about 10 weeks, and I remember worrying about it. also she didn't laugh until about 4 months--she was just a very serious newborn, and very busy observing. but in everything else she's been advanced since! she's 26 months now and my pediatrician says her vocabulary is like a 4 yos :shocked: I think that's a total exaggeration, but physically she's been on track or advanced as well, like she's been jumping for months now. just wanted to give you a positive story! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/development-delays-born-37-weeks#post-2555211 Tue, 24 May 2016 07:59:31 +0000 lamariniere 2555211@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My daughter was born at 37+2 and was slightly delayed (a week or two per milestone) until about 6 months, then she was totally on track. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/development-delays-born-37-weeks#post-2555202 Tue, 24 May 2016 07:55:38 +0000 pachamama 2555202@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JLC53: just checking in! How's he doing? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/development-delays-born-37-weeks#post-2531621 Thu, 21 Apr 2016 20:54:42 +0000 iluvboba637 2531621@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JLC53: I think some babies are just very serious. My son was never really smiley either. But now at 3, he's a smiley humorous boy! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/development-delays-born-37-weeks#post-2530680 Thu, 21 Apr 2016 10:24:05 +0000 JLC53 2530680@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Well, we are just over 10 weeks old now... No social smile yet, but our eye contact has gotten so much better in the last week!! He will make eye contact with me all the time and even follow my face with his eyes. Still hopping to get a big gummy smile soon... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/development-delays-born-37-weeks#post-2520465 Sat, 09 Apr 2016 12:50:05 +0000 JLC53 2520465@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thank you everyone! This is exactly what I needed to hear! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/development-delays-born-37-weeks#post-2520392 Sat, 09 Apr 2016 10:17:02 +0000 Rockies11 2520392@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JLC53: my first was born at 38w2d and I don't really remember eye contact, but she was behind on everything gross motor and social until she was around 1, and she still lags in some areas at 2.5. For her I think it is a personality thing - she is very cautious and not very physical so she doesn't really try anything unless she's sure she can do it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/development-delays-born-37-weeks#post-2520386 Sat, 09 Apr 2016 09:56:41 +0000 danda 2520386@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went into labor with both my kiddos early - 37+6 and 36+4. Both had jaundice and some early feeding issues, and I worried about both! They did develop more in line with due date but I still had worries! Good luck - I'm sure he's fine but mention concerns at your next pediatrician visit. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/development-delays-born-37-weeks#post-2520374 Sat, 09 Apr 2016 09:21:26 +0000 QBbride 2520374@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wouldn't worry at all! He is only 9 weeks old, and if he was born three weeks before his due date (even if he was considered "full term"), he's only really 6 weeks adjusted. The difference of three weeks is 1/3 of his life... which is super significant! That's also assuming your dates were totally correct, many times babies are even a bit "younger" because many women ovulate later, have longer cycles etc. </p> <p>Good luck but please don't worry! Enjoy the newborn snuggles! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/development-delays-born-37-weeks#post-2520350 Sat, 09 Apr 2016 08:03:39 +0000 pachamama 2520350@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SunriseMama: That's encouraging :)<br /> it's hard not to get caught up in the weekly stuff but we have to think big picture sometimes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/development-delays-born-37-weeks#post-2520349 Sat, 09 Apr 2016 08:02:52 +0000 pachamama 2520349@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JLC53: I wanted to tell you too so your son is 9 weeks but let's say really he's like 6 weeks... my son underwent a LOT of changes after he hit 10 weeks (aka 7 weeks). I was getting worried but he seemed to progress well after 10- 11 weeks. It was a pretty big jump. I've read boys also develop physically earlier than socially if that makes sense. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/development-delays-born-37-weeks#post-2520120 Fri, 08 Apr 2016 17:43:29 +0000 daniellemybelle 2520120@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree with others that you should use his adjusted age! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/development-delays-born-37-weeks#post-2520078 Fri, 08 Apr 2016 16:20:43 +0000 SunriseMama 2520078@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son was born at 37+3, and I also can't remember exactly when he smiled or laughed, but I remember being very concerned about his development the entire first year. He was always a little behind on meeting milestones (didn't crawl until 10 months, didn't babble consonants until probably nine months, etc). However, once he turned a year old, it was like he caught up overnight. He is now a very healthy, very smart, and completely typically-developing 4 year old. I am glad I brought up any issues I saw with our ped, but I also really wish I hadn't spent that first year googling and researching so much. I wish I'd spent that time marveling at and enjoying my wonderful son! Easy to say on the other side of it, but still true. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/development-delays-born-37-weeks#post-2520074 Fri, 08 Apr 2016 16:17:42 +0000 catomd00 2520074@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>There's a wide range of normal. I wouldn't worry especially this early. I'm sure in a few weeks he will be doing it all. Relax and just enjoy! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/development-delays-born-37-weeks#post-2520054 Fri, 08 Apr 2016 16:00:48 +0000 PurplePeony 2520054@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went into spontaneous labor at 37w3d and DD was born early the next morning. I honestly can't remember when she started sustaining eye contact, smiling, and laughing but I think it was on the later side. Smiling was definitely not until at least 7-8 weeks and I'm pretty sure laughing was after my maternity leave was over, so maybe around 15 weeks? It took her FOREVER to roll back to belly -- after she was sitting on her own, actually -- but she sat, crawled, and walked on a normal timeline. She's almost 2.5 now and no issues. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/development-delays-born-37-weeks#post-2519946 Fri, 08 Apr 2016 14:23:45 +0000 psw27 2519946@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son was born at 34 weeks and the social aspect was definitely the area that we saw the slowest milestones, while in other aspects (physical!) he has always met or exceeded the milestone, even as a preemie. He is now a very verbal, social, interactive and active 20 month old! Don't worry, sounds like you are doing great! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/development-delays-born-37-weeks#post-2519940 Fri, 08 Apr 2016 14:17:12 +0000 JLC53 2519940@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Truth Bombs: thank you for your positive story. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/development-delays-born-37-weeks#post-2519931 Fri, 08 Apr 2016 14:05:19 +0000 Truth Bombs 2519931@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So really your son is 6 weeks developmentally and that's really the very earliest that you would start expecting to see social smiles. I wouldn't worry a bit! My son was born at 37+6 and definitely seems to be meeting milestones more in line with his due date than his birth date. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/development-delays-born-37-weeks#post-2519895 Fri, 08 Apr 2016 13:29:20 +0000 JLC53 2519895@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pachamama: thank you so much - your comment made me feel so much better! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/development-delays-born-37-weeks#post-2519860 Fri, 08 Apr 2016 13:01:48 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2519860@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JLC53: That is great! It sounds to me like there may just be some personality coming out. Starting around this time, they start to deviate from the standard path some and some will develop one skill before the second skill or vice versus. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/development-delays-born-37-weeks#post-2519857 Fri, 08 Apr 2016 13:00:30 +0000 pachamama 2519857@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JLC53: my son is very similar to yours. Born at 37 weeks and jaundiced and definitely a little slower in milestones. It seems like physically my son is fine but his smile was slow and he's nowhere near laughing at 12 weeks. It sounds like your son has some strengths that are very impressive. Give it a few more weeks and then maybe call the pediatrician. Keep in mind boys develop slower than girls. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/development-delays-born-37-weeks#post-2519840 Fri, 08 Apr 2016 12:49:41 +0000 kodybear 2519840@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>my kids were both born about 2-2.5 weeks early. as far as the early days, they both seemed to track their actual due date better for milestones. so they both started smiling consistenly closer to 3 months old. wonder weeks and other early milestones were also closer to their actual due date. so i wouldn't worry. if you have concerns though i'd bring it up with your pediatrictian. it sounds normal to me though! :-) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/development-delays-born-37-weeks#post-2519839 Fri, 08 Apr 2016 12:49:30 +0000 JLC53 2519839@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>He is very strong physically!</p> <p>On tummy time he can lift his head and turn it both ways. He has great head control.</p> <p>Just has no interaction with me at all. Will not follow my face or an object. He just stares out into space. No smile at all or even a close attempt at a smile...</p> <p>He has made eye contact a few times while feeding him, but not often (maybe a handful of times). </p> <p>He still mostly sleeps a ton and when he is awake very rarely content. Usually fussy, but not really crying. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/development-delays-born-37-weeks#post-2519828 Fri, 08 Apr 2016 12:43:54 +0000 Mrs. Lion 2519828@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Often with preemies they use their due date for milestones, not their actual birthdate. They call this their adjusted age. That may ease some of your worries! But it is also very normal for babies to develop on their own time line. There is a pretty big range that is perfectly normal! If you have any specific concerns you can ask your pediatrician, but what you are describing sounds pretty typical! My son was born at 35 weeks and was very late to socially smile too if that helps. He was a little late on some milestones and early on some others and is now a perfectly normal 3 year old! &lt;3 hugs momma! You're doing a great job! </p>