Born Early: When to Ask About Therapy

If your baby was born early, you've probably been told they may reach milestones "a bit later". That's often true, but it can leave parents unsure what's normal and when to ask for help.

World Prematurity Day moves to 15 November from 2026 (CPBF). It's a good moment to explain how development is tracked for babies born early, and how therapy can help.

First, use corrected age

For babies born early, development is usually measured by corrected age, not age since birth. The American Academy of Pediatrics explains it like this (HealthyChildren.org):

Subtract your baby's gestational age at birth from 40 weeks. That's how many weeks early they were.
Subtract that number from their age since birth.

Example: a baby born at 32 weeks was 8 weeks early. At 16 weeks old, their corrected age is about 2 months.

Corrected age is most useful during the first two years. So if your 6-month-old was born two months early, compare them with typical 4-month-old milestones.

Signs worth raising with your doctor

Every child develops differently, and one late milestone isn't necessarily a concern. But it's worth asking your doctor or health visitor if, for your baby's corrected age, you notice:

Movement - Very stiff or very floppy muscles - Using one side of the body much more than the other - Not reaching motor milestones like holding up their head, rolling, sitting or crawling around the expected time

Feeding - Frequent coughing, gagging or difficulty coordinating sucking, swallowing and breathing - Feeds that take a very long time or are consistently stressful

Communication and hearing - Not responding to sounds or voices - Little babbling, eye contact or interest in interaction - Not understanding or using words around the expected time

Daily activities and play - Strong reactions to touch, sounds or textures that make care or feeding hard - Difficulty using hands to grasp and explore toys

Trust your instincts. You know your child best, and asking early is never wrong.

What each therapist does

Physiotherapist. Helps with movement: head control, rolling, sitting, crawling, walking, muscle tone and balance. Often shows parents simple positioning and play activities to do at home.

Occupational therapist. Helps with hand skills, play, feeding routines, sensory responses and, later, everyday tasks like dressing and self-care.

Speech and language therapist. Supports feeding and swallowing in babies, as well as early communication: attention, listening, babbling, understanding and first words.

Many children born early see more than one of these therapists, often working together.

How to get support

Talk to your child's doctor or neonatal follow-up team. Many babies born early are already offered developmental follow-up.
Ask about early intervention services. In many countries, including the US, there are public early intervention programmes for children under 3, and parents can often contact them directly.
Go to follow-up appointments, even when things seem fine. They're a chance to spot needs early.

What therapy usually looks like

For babies and toddlers, therapy is usually play-based and includes parents. Sessions may happen at home, in a clinic or by video, and a big part of the work is showing you small activities to fit into daily routines like feeding, bath time and play.

This article is general information, not medical advice. Talk to your child's doctor about any concerns about their development.