your child is 47 months old!

this was the title of an email i received today from a no-doubt automated advertisement of some sort but it brings up a good question. at what point do we stop using months (or dare i say weeks) for our children's age? those first few weeks are full of so many changes that it makes sense to say "she's 3 weeks old" but really, you can't go around saying "she's 19 weeks old today" and that first year (or two) is full of milestones & every month really counts so i say you're okay up to 2 years, although i find that after 18 months no one really cares so i just say "almost 2" in most cases. next you have the 1/2 years. 1/2 years are important in the early part of childhood but i'm not sure saying your kid is 24 and a 1/2 is okay so it's gotta stop somewhere!

if i were you i'd:

• stop saying weeks after 8 weeks-- she's now 2 months old

• stop saying months after 19 months old-- she's now "almost 2" OR "will be 2 in June"

• stop saying years & a 1/2 after 5 -- she's now 6 (of course the kid will probably throw the 1/2 in there as they anxiously anticipate growing older.... that stops at 29!)