Months or Years?

[LVale]

Hi! I am a mom to 2 adult sons, and a grandmother to our 2 grandsons. The question I ask or ponder about is this - Why do Moms, in reference to their little one's ages always answer in months? I can see it for it for the under 2 bunch, but after that? On internet boards and in real life, I have seen and heard, he or she is 37 mths. or 40 mths. or 48 mths. Not to be offensive or anything, I see this more in breastfeeding moms. Why can't you say your kid is 3, or 3 and a half, or 4? Just wondering.

[mama2mygirl]

I've heard it a couple times but mostly people around here stop after two. I think I'd laugh if someone said, "Thirty seven months."

[Theoretica]

I have NO idea. My current youngest will be 2 in April and I'm just about done saying 22 months. She's almost 2. I'm ok with that

I've definitely seen it into the 40something months though. I don't get it either!

[Bokonon]

I never used it after 2 years. I also don't get why some moms keep using weeks of age after like 3 months. I couldn't even tell you how many weeks Peepers was when she got into double digits, LOL.

[kirstenb]

I used months up until 2.5 when talking specifically about DS's development. He made huge strides in his speech from 24-28 months, so I will use months when talking about that. When asked his age though, I'll just say 2.5 years. I couldn't even tell you how many months he is anymore!

[calebsmommy25]

Originally Posted by Theoretica

I have NO idea. My current youngest will be 2 in April and I'm just about done saying 22 months. She's almost 2. I'm ok with that

I've definitely seen it into the 40something months though. I don't get it either!

Theoretica--my little man will be 2 in April too! I say the same, he is almost 2. HE IS ALMOST TWO! Sorry, just writing that hit me a little harder! I can't believe it!

[dyehappy]

My DS is almost 2 (March) also. I usually say "almost 2" unless I'm talking to another mother about developmental milestones. I have a feeling I will then say "he 'just' turned 2" or may go back to months because [in my mind, at least] it sounds younger. He is VERY tall for his age and it upsets me (I know it shouldn't) when people expect more of him than what is age appropriate - I always find myself defending his behavior (i.e., not talking much, squealing in public, etc.) by telling people is age. So, I'm not sure why other mothers continue telling age by month; but that's why I most likely will.

[Latte Mama]

Anything after 24 months sounds weird to me because saying 2 is so much easier.
Now before then I think people differentiate because it can make a big difference in conversation.
For example, if I'm talking about a 1 year old, there is a difference between a 12 month old and a 22 month old developmentally so saying it in months clarifies things a bit. But after 2 it lessens somewhat so saying 2 is enough!

[sweetcheeks]

I still refer to DS2 in terms of months (he's 20 mths, if you were curious ) but with the older 2, I've always stopped using months right around the 22-23 month mark and just start saying "almost 2." I've never heard anyone use months if their child is over 2, the only time I've seen it is here.

[Peony]

I say months until close to 2 then switch to almost 2, 2, 2.5, etc... I have come across people who say "30 months, etc..", I think I just give them a puzzled look and then mentally switch the months into years!

[blizzard_babe]

After two, I'm switching to years. I might say "two and a half" when he gets there, but I'm so over months.

The only time I'd use months past this point would be if I were talking to a doctor or some professional about developmental milestones or something.

[rightkindofme]

We are at 20 months and I'm just about done. heh. I think 22 months will be as long as I do it. I'm ready for years, thanks.

[tbone_kneegrabber]

because for human being that little a MONTH is a very long time proportionally to how long they have been alive. Even after 2 the difference between my ds (now 30 months ) and my friends' ds (now 26 months :P) is HUGE in what they do/don't do etc. Its only 4 months and when they are both 18 I'm sure they won't even notice (although they will notice it again when they are 21 and 20 lol).

But yeah I typically say 2.5, but if I am writing on a message board I might be more likely to say months to give an accurate picture of where ds is developmentally

[CaliforniaMommy]

On a forum like this one, I usually say my DD is 22 months, as it usually has to do with developmental milestones, and there is often a big difference between let's say a 15-month old and a 22-month old toddler. So, listing the age in months is useful. I don't anticipate using months after she turns 2 though, unless there is a specific reason for it.

When talking to poeple, I usually refer to her as "almost 2", or "she'll be 2 in late March". I find that most non-parents have a hard time relating to the weeks/months thing anyway, so it's much easier to use years with them.

[limabean]

I usually bypass the whole thing by saying, "She'll be 2 in April" or "He turned 5 in October." That way if the person wants to know exactly how old they are, they can figure it out.

[SparklingGemini]

I think people do it because there is such a vast developmental difference between a 24 month old and a 30 month old and a 36 month old and so on.

I always refer to DD in months. Although, for us its easy because her birthday is on the first and I don't even have to keep track. Its like my brain magically does it for me.

[justthinkn]

I'm with the crowd that stopped saying it around 2. Before I had DD, I never understood the months thing, even with infants... But after I had her, it was so clear, a month made such a difference. Now speaking in years and half years seems like enough.