The Difference between Actual Age and Corrected Age

Actual age (or chronological age)

• “How long it’s been since your baby was born”

Corrected age (or adjusted age)

• “Your baby’s age based on when they were supposed to be born”

When your baby is born early they are not expected to do things based on their actual ago- they are expected to meet milestones based on their corrected age.

For example: If your baby was born at 30 weeks gestation then when they are 10 weeks old they are corrected to 40 weeks which means they are supposed to be doing things a newborn would do right after birth.

Your baby's corrected age is used until about age 2.

• Most preterm babies catch up by 18–24 months

• After 2 years of age the baby's actual age is used.

• This gives your baby time to grow and develop that they should have had in the womb.