Age Semantics

[TSomm]

So maybe I'm thinking too hard on this but... My DD turned 16 weeks this past Sunday. Is she 4 months old now? Or will be she 4 months on June 7th (born on Feb 7th)?

What is the "official" system?

[MsVyky]

I round up and down.

Right now DD is "7 months", though she is 7 months and a week (I think if you want to get pedantic, she's 31 weeks?) Next weeks, she'll be 7 and a half months and then the week after that she'll be 8 months.

I think if you give laypeople your babe's age in weeks they won't have the slightest clue how old she is

[TSomm]

Originally Posted by MsVyky

I think if you give laypeople your babe's age in weeks they won't have the slightest clue how old she is

Exactly, so I've been saying she's 4 months now...

[pianojazzgirl]

I go by the date, and (during the 1st yr or so) I usually go by months and half months. So in your case I'd say she's 3.5 months old right now. On June 7 I'd start to say she's 4 months old, on June 21 I'd start saying "4.5 months old", etc. I'd also say things like "she just turned 6 months old" or "she's almost 6 months old", that kind of thing...

[Plarka]

Originally Posted by pianojazzgirl

I go by the date, and (during the 1st yr or so) I usually go by months and half months. So in your case I'd say she's 3.5 months old right now. On June 7 I'd start to say she's 4 months old, on June 21 I'd start saying "4.5 months old", etc. I'd also say things like "she just turned 6 months old" or "she's almost 6 months old", that kind of thing...

I agree, they turn a new month on the date they were born, of each month. Otherwise, when they get near a year, it's all wrong.

[ann_of_loxley]

Shes 16 weeks - she will be 4 months old on the 7th (and another month older on the 7th of every month).

[Lauren31]

That is funny! Our babies are born on the same day and I was just htinking about this yesterday! My doc said that the 7th she is a month older. Weeks are week measurements and months are month measurements and the two are not the same, I guess!

[nola79]

I don't really get this either. I mean, 16 weeks is 4 months, right? I would think either answer would be ok. It's funny, I was wondering the same thing about my dd who's only about a week older than yours.

[Dar]

The only month that is only 4 weeks long is February, during non-leap years. The rest of the months are slightly longer.

IME, weekly descriptions for age are normal until about 3 months old, and after that most people use months... you can say "four and a half months", if you want... and after 2 or so you switch to years and half-years... and by 6 or 7 it's usally just years... or am I rushing things?

[Norasmomma]

Originally Posted by Dar

The only month that is only 4 weeks long is February, during non-leap years. The rest of the months are slightly longer.

IME, weekly descriptions for age are normal until about 3 months old, and after that most people use months... you can say "four and a half months", if you want... and after 2 or so you switch to years and half-years... and by 6 or 7 it's usally just years... or am I rushing things?

Yeah it averages out to 4.3 weeks in a month. I still would say a 6 year old is 6 and a half, I probably would do that until age 10 though.

I tried to do the week thing with DD, I just got super confused, LOL.

[LindsC]

I do the week thing until they are 3 months old and then I say their age in months. I just find the weeks to get confusing after that.

[ann_of_loxley]

Originally Posted by Norasmomma

Yeah it averages out to 4.3 weeks in a month. I still would say a 6 year old is 6 and a half, I probably would do that until age 10 though.

I tried to do the week thing with DD, I just got super confused, LOL.

Oh I am terrible! - I was still telling people hold old DS1 was in WEEKS until he was nearing one! lol

Went a bit like: 'How old is he?' - 'Oh hes 43 weeks!'... Really confused some people! lmao

Its because I kept taking weekly photos of him for a few years! - Its the ONLY reason I actually knew how many weeks he was! lol

[SaoirseC]

Originally Posted by nola79

I don't really get this either. I mean, 16 weeks is 4 months, right? I would think either answer would be ok. It's funny, I was wondering the same thing about my dd who's only about a week older than yours.

Only if a pregnancy lasts 10 months.