Free adjusted age calculator
Corrected age calculator for premature babies
Enter your baby’s birth date and the week they were born to see their corrected age.
Educational guidance based on AAP recommendations for premature babies. Reviewed by our dietitians. It’s written for healthy, full-term babies and doesn’t replace your pediatrician, who knows your baby. If your baby was born early or has a medical condition, feeding difficulty or known allergy, check with them first (medical disclaimer).
Babies born early reach milestones by their corrected age, also called adjusted age: their age counted from the due date instead of the birth date. Enter your baby’s birth date and how many weeks of pregnancy they were born at to see both ages, and when they will be around 6 months corrected, the usual time to start solids.
How to calculate corrected age
Corrected age is your baby’s actual age minus the number of weeks they were born early. A full-term pregnancy is 40 weeks, so a baby born at 32 weeks was born 8 weeks early. At 6 months old, their corrected age is 4 months.
| Born at | Weeks early | Actual age | Corrected age |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36 weeks | 4 | 6 months | About 5 months |
| 32 weeks | 8 | 6 months | About 4 months |
| 28 weeks | 12 | 9 months | About 6 months |
| 26 weeks | 14 | 12 months | About 8½ months |
Starting solids with a premature baby
- Go by corrected age. Most premature babies are ready for solids at around 6 months corrected age, not 6 months after birth.
- Look for the signs too. Steady head control, sitting with support, interest in food and no longer pushing food out with the tongue. See starting solids.
- Ask your pediatrician first. Babies born very early or with feeding, growth or medical concerns may need a plan made for them.
- Iron matters. Premature babies have smaller iron stores, so include iron-rich foods early. See iron-rich foods for babies.
Corrected age: questions parents ask
What is corrected age?
Corrected age, also called adjusted age, is a premature baby’s age counted from their due date instead of their birth date. It is used to check growth and development, because a baby born early needs extra time to catch up.
How do you calculate corrected age?
Subtract the weeks born early from your baby’s actual age. Weeks early is 40 minus the week of pregnancy your baby was born at. For example, a 6-month-old born at 32 weeks was 8 weeks early, so their corrected age is about 4 months.
Until what age do you use corrected age?
Most pediatricians use corrected age until about age 2. By then most premature babies have caught up, although very premature babies may be followed a little longer.
When should a premature baby start solids?
Most premature babies start solids at around 6 months corrected age, once they also show the signs of readiness, like good head control and sitting with support. Ask your pediatrician, especially if your baby was born very early.
Does a baby born at 37 weeks need a corrected age?
No. Babies born at 37 weeks or later are full term, so you use their actual age.
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