POOJA KOTHARIMom of a 8 yr 6 m old boy10 months agoA. It’s understandable to be concerned if your 7-month-old baby is not making eye contact or looking at you. For a 34-week premature baby, developmental milestones may be delayed compared to full-term babies because their adjusted age (based on due date) is about 5 months. Here are some possibilities and suggestions:
Why Your Baby May Not Be Looking at You
1. Prematurity and Developmental Delays: Premature babies often take longer to reach milestones, including social and visual development.
2. Vision Issues: Premature babies can have conditions like retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) or other vision problems.
3. Hearing or Sensory Challenges: Sometimes, babies with sensory delays may not respond as expected.
4. Neurological Concerns: Rarely, a lack of eye contact could be an early sign of developmental or neurological conditions.
What You Can Do
1. Encourage Interaction: Talk to your baby, make exaggerated facial expressions, and hold their gaze when possible.
2. Track Other Milestones: Observe if your baby is responding to sounds, smiling, or turning their head toward stimuli.
3. Consult a Pediatrician: Share your concerns with your doctor. They may recommend a developmental screening or refer you to a specialist (e.g., ophthalmologist or neurologist).
4. Eye Examination: A pediatric ophthalmologist can check for vision issues. Early intervention can address many treatable conditions.
When to Act
If your baby shows no improvement in eye contact by their adjusted age milestones or has other developmental delays, it’s essential to seek professional guidance. Early diagnosis and intervention are key to supporting your baby's growth and development.
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