Preemie Sizing Question

[nicolewi]

My friend had twins at about 30 weeks early in summer. They are now home and doing really well. I want to order a baby gift and am thinking of some clothes for later. AT what point do preemies "catch up" to full-term baby sizing? I.e. at 1 year old are they likely to match average sizing of full-term one year olds, or still be smallish?? 

[soozy87]

My 4 lb 4 oz son was caught up by 6 months. He grew fast. I would imagine that growth rate would depend on the child.

[patches31709]

My DD was born at 31 weeks (3 lb 12 oz). At 6 months, she was in 3-6 month clothes, at 9 she was in 6-9, etc. It wasn't until she was about a year old that she caught up to the sizing.

[thoseareradishes]

I think it is really dependent on the kid. My 24-weeker, who weighted 1lb 13oz at birth, is 5 months old, 7 weeks adjusted, and is in 3-6 month clothing; she's pretty huge for a preemie (13 lbs now). But my friend's preemie is a year old and only weighs 5 more pounds than E. Do you know what size she has them in now? That might help determine how they are gaining and if they will need smaller sizes than their actual age.

[raangoli]

It is very kid dependent. BB was 3 lb 6 oz at birth (31 weeker) and she had caught up around 9 months in weight. But now at 18 months she is on the small / petite side for height and a little less than 50th percentile for weight. She's 29.5 inches and 22lb 4oz at her last well visit a few weeks ago.

I would ask your friend what size she is in or what she needs. I found that to be more helpful than getting clothes that ended up being the wrong season for the size.

[nicolewi]

I want to buy ahead...I was thinking of getting little overalls for this winter. As of late July they still weighed less than 7 pounds each. They were born May 28, so by January they would be 8 months old based on birth date. I was thinking of getting 9 month size but not sure if they would be way too big.

[tarajane]

Preemies usually aren't a ton shorter than term babies (my 29 weekers were 15 inches and my 38 weeker was 19.5 inches) so they've always moved up by length even if their weight wasn't caught up. They were usually pretty close to the size name for their actual age (3 month clothing at 3 months, etc). But preemies will vary in their growth and size just a like a term baby.

[IrishBelle]

Honestly I think a gift card is your best bet. If you really want to do a gift, include a gift receipt.

DD1 was born at 36 weeks weighing 5 lbs 1 oz. At a year she was probably just starting to wear 6 months clothes. It took her until she was 4 or 5 to catch up.

[Jalapeñomel]

Depends on the baby.

[sent]

This may not be your style, but I grew to love those 3 piece sets from Carters with the image (usually an animal but we had an ice cream & cupcake also) on the bum. Those come in all sizes up to 24 months and seemed to be all weather appropriate for us. I like having those on hand in the larger sizes. DD was born 3 lb 14 oz, but she was long at 18.5". She was sticking out of preemie clothing but stayed in NB until 3 months. By age 1, she was in 12 months, not yet 20 lbs but something like 90th percentile for height. She has been my only baby, so I never new how she compared to full term babies.

[pooh8402]

Very kid dependent, and brand dependent too. My son is almost 25 months old and can still wear 12-18 month bottoms. He is just fitting into 18-24 month on top.

[luv2rn4fun]

I agree that it's kid dependent. DS1 was born at 41w1d but only weighed 5lbs 15oz and dropped to 5lbs 7.8 oz. He turned 2.5 yo in a June and is only 27 lbs and can still wear 18 and 24 month clothes. He is just short and I think he always will be. DS2 was born at 40w1d, 7lbs 1oz and is 21 lbs at 10.5 months old and can wear 12 and 18 month old clothes (so he's catching up to his older brother pretty fast).

[duff]

So baby dependent. DD is a 34 weeker and was 3lbs 6oz when she was born. She's 4.5 months now and only around 11lbs now. We're barely, barely moving into 0-3 month clothing and size 1 diapers. Most of the 0-3 is still huge on her too, it's mainly pajamas that fit her right now.

[linz]

My twins were born at 33 weeks and were always a size behind. They're almost 3 and wearing 2T. They'll be in 3t this winter for length but are both skinny with no butts.

[kershnic]

If you're going to buy ahead you kind of have to focus on stuff that could be worn in more than one season.

Mine were 3lbs13oz and 5lbs.... by 12 months they were pretty much ready to move into 12-18m size. Now at 3.5 one is on the border between 3T and 4T while the other is on the border of 2T/3T.

[starryfish]

Aug 11, 2017 15:20:58 GMT -5 sent said:

This may not be your style, but I grew to love those 3 piece sets from Carters with the image (usually an animal but we had an ice cream & cupcake also) on the bum. Those come in all sizes up to 24 months and seemed to be all weather appropriate for us. I like having those on hand in the larger sizes. DD was born 3 lb 14 oz, but she was long at 18.5". She was sticking out of preemie clothing but stayed in NB until 3 months. By age 1, she was in 12 months, not yet 20 lbs but something like 90th percentile for height. She has been my only baby, so I never new how she compared to full term babies.

I love these bc they come with a long sleeve and short sleeve onesie, so perfect for any season

[patches31709]

Aug 11, 2017 17:56:30 GMT -5 starryfish said:

Aug 11, 2017 15:20:58 GMT -5 sent said:

This may not be your style, but I grew to love those 3 piece sets from Carters with the image (usually an animal but we had an ice cream & cupcake also) on the bum. Those come in all sizes up to 24 months and seemed to be all weather appropriate for us. I like having those on hand in the larger sizes. DD was born 3 lb 14 oz, but she was long at 18.5". She was sticking out of preemie clothing but stayed in NB until 3 months. By age 1, she was in 12 months, not yet 20 lbs but something like 90th percentile for height. She has been my only baby, so I never new how she compared to full term babies.

I love these bc they come with a long sleeve and short sleeve onesie, so perfect for any season

Yes, these were a favorite of mine, especially in the spring and fall when the weather could go either way any day.

[kkfeb04]

Aug 11, 2017 13:54:03 GMT -5 thoseareradishes said:

I think it is really dependent on the kid. My 24-weeker, who weighted 1lb 13oz at birth, is 5 months old, 7 weeks adjusted, and is in 3-6 month clothing; she's pretty huge for a preemie (13 lbs now). But my friend's preemie is a year old and only weighs 5 more pounds than E. Do you know what size she has them in now? That might help determine how they are gaining and if they will need smaller sizes than their actual age.

It is very kid dependent. I'm quoting this because my 39w1d 10lber boy didn't hit 13 lbs until 3.5 months and 36w3d or 37w0d (depending on early u/ s or lmp which I never o on day 14) 9 lber girl barely hit 13 lbs at 6 months. They didn't double birth weight until 13 months and tripled at 3.5. They were slow weight gainers but definitely grew in height. My son hit 29.5" at 6 months. She was consistently .75" shorter than he was and 2 lbs lighter at each well check after 2 months. 

Quoted poster, that is fantastic weight gain for your micropreemie. 

[nikki25]

No, don't get premie stuff. I would get 9-12months at minimum. I got so much nb and 3 months old stuff for my premie twins and they were out of it by 3 months. Also, everybody gets younger clothing so you are inundated. I appreciated thr ilder clothing to have.

I wish them well! It sucks, lol.

[nikki25]

Honestly, gift cards! Forget the clothes.

[stretchad]

Well, my 4 year old just now fits into 3T so never for us so far! I would ask how much she's weighing and how long she is to buy the right size. Stick to things that are versatility for seasons. Like leggings, onesies. Even if it's the right size if she grows like my preemie it's slower and may be able to wear for multiple seasons.