Short answer: A baby born before 37 weeks is premature. When you think about development, use your baby's corrected age — their age minus the number of weeks they arrived early — for roughly the first two years. Skin-to-skin (kangaroo) care, expressing breast milk and being involved in your baby's care in the neonatal unit all help. At home, protect your baby from infections, keep follow-up appointments, and look after your own mental health: a premature birth can be traumatic, and support is available.
Everyone congratulates you, and there you are beside an incubator, looking at a tiny person you're barely allowed to hold. A birth that is also a shock.
What “premature” means
The World Health Organization defines preterm birth as a baby born alive before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy. Babies born very early usually need more care and stay in hospital longer; babies born a few weeks early may need little extra help.
Corrected age
If your baby was born eight weeks early, subtract eight weeks from their age when you look at development. A six-month-old born two months early may be doing what a four-month-old does — and that's right on track.
The American Academy of Pediatrics says that during the first two years, using corrected age gives a better idea of when your baby should reach common milestones. Health professionals will usually tell you when to stop correcting.
Don't compare your baby with others born at the same time. Compare with when your baby was due.
Skin-to-skin (kangaroo) care
Once your baby is stable, nurses can help you take them out of the incubator for skin-to-skin contact. The WHO's recommendations for preterm babies include kangaroo mother care, starting immediately after birth where possible, as one of a set of simple interventions that improve survival and health. Ask for it as often as you can; partners can do it too.
In the neonatal unit
- Ask questions about anything you don't understand, as many times as you need.
- Get involved: ask whether you can help with nappy changes, temperature checks or tube feeds. It helps you feel like a parent, not a visitor.
- Express breast milk if you're able to; it can be given by tube until your baby can feed. Every bit helps.
- Keep a diary. Days blur together, and notes help you keep track.
- Find support: the charity Bliss supports families of premature and sick babies.
The first months at home
Leaving hospital can feel more frightening than being there: no monitors, no nurses down the corridor.
- Limit infections: keep visitors few, ask anyone who's unwell to stay away, and wash hands. Premature babies can be more vulnerable to chest infections such as RSV. Ask your health team about vaccines and treatments available where you live.
- Feeding: follow the plan from the neonatal team; premature babies may need more frequent feeds.
- Safe sleep: always on their back in a clear cot in your room; premature babies are at higher risk of SIDS, so never share a bed with a baby born early or with a low birth weight.
- Keep follow-up appointments with the neonatal team and your health visitor or paediatrician. Ask for early support if you have concerns about movement, feeding or development.
Looking after yourself
For many parents, a premature birth is traumatic: the sudden birth, the fear and the separation. Flashbacks, nightmares, feeling on edge and difficulty bonding are not unusual. Talk to your GP, health visitor or the neonatal team; effective help is available, and many hospitals can offer a chance to talk through what happened with the doctors involved.
When to get help urgently
Call 999 (UK), 911 (US) or 112 (EU) if your baby has difficulty breathing, pauses in breathing, blue or grey skin or lips, is floppy or very hard to wake, or has a seizure. Contact your neonatal team, GP or NHS 111 if your baby isn't feeding well, has fewer wet nappies, a temperature, or you're worried.
Related reading
Building secure attachment: The First 1000 Days (PDF, English) is about building a secure bond from pregnancy to age two.
Sources
- World Health Organization — Preterm birth.
- American Academy of Pediatrics, HealthyChildren.org — Corrected age for preemies.
- NHS — Special care: ill or premature babies.
- The Lullaby Trust — Safer sleep information.
- Bliss — Support for families of premature and sick babies.
Written by the Bloom Guides editorial team. Last updated: 20 October 2026. General information only — not a substitute for advice from your neonatal team, health visitor or doctor.