"Newborn" vs. "infant" definition

[catbus]

I have always thought "newborn" refers specifically to a baby one month old or younger, while "infant" refers to a baby from birth to about one year. But I keep seeing people on here talk about when their babies were infants, clearly referring specifically to just the newborn period. For example, someone said when their baby was an infant he needed to be changed 12x daily. That poster's ticker indicated her baby was still well under a year old, but apparently she doesn't consider him an infant any longer.

So, how do you define the terms? If you use "infant" in reference to only tiny babies (like, less than twelve weeks or so), what do you call the stage between then and toddlerhood?

[gnomesweetgnome]

I think the technical definition of an infant is a child less than 1 year of age. I generally equate newborns and infants, and call children who are less than 1 yr-18 months "baby".

[dochas]

I define newborn as up to 3 months. I don't think they are finished until then and I think ideally they would still be in the womb! But it isn't something I would hold other people to.

[Deleted]

Newborn=0-3 months
Infant=3 months until walking competently, starting to run
Toddler=walking/running, until age 3
Preschooler=3-4
Kid=5 and up

... is how I think of it.

[Willis Jackson]

Dec 14, 2012 12:54:00 GMT -5 @carmensandiego said:

Newborn=0-3 months
Infant=3 months until walking competently, starting to run
Toddler=walking/running, until age 3
Preschooler=3-4
Kid=5 and up

... is how I think of it.

I agree with this.

[Deleted]

Dec 14, 2012 12:54:00 GMT -5 @carmensandiego said:

Newborn=0-3 months
Infant=3 months until walking competently, starting to run
Toddler=walking/running, until age 3
Preschooler=3-4
Kid=5 and up

... is how I think of it.

Me too.

[statlerwaldorf]

Dec 14, 2012 12:54:00 GMT -5 @carmensandiego said:

Newborn=0-3 months
Infant=3 months until walking competently, starting to run
Toddler=walking/running, until age 3
Preschooler=3-4
Kid=5 and up

... is how I think of it.

This sounds about right to me. I've seen some websites consider toddler right at 1 year, but DD didn't feel like a toddler to me until closer to 18 months.

[Deleted]

Dec 14, 2012 12:54:00 GMT -5 @carmensandiego said:

Newborn=0-3 months
Infant=3 months until walking competently, starting to run
Toddler=walking/running, until age 3
Preschooler=3-4
Kid=5 and up

... is how I think of it.

Ditto.

[Deleted]

I agree generally with CS but I always thought infancy ended at 12mo & toddlerhood began then regardless of walking. I think "baby" is subjective but to me is more in line with walking...except my kids, they are all still my babies!

[w2w]

In our baby care class, the teacher said a newborn is 6 weeks/ younger and an infant was 1 year/ younger.

[minzy]

I think of the terms like you do, with newborns a month or less old and infants under the age of one year.

FWIW, the dosage packaging of "infant" ibuprofen and acetaminophen seems to consider infants as up to two years of age.

[Deleted]

I agree with Carmen too, but even so, when I refer to my almost 9-month-old, it's hard for me to think of her as an infant still. So I just call her a baby.

LOL @ Ms.Starry "angry elderly fetus"!