[AutumnMom]

Hi there. I do have a question in regard to birth date changing. I was referred a beautiful baby that is guessed at being "5 months" old. Clearly she is not 5 months old from just looking at the pictures I have been given. (although she is under 9 months) I have heard by some people that you can get a "bone scan" done to tell a person's approximate age but I don't know how accurate or safe it is for a baby. Does anyone have any experience with this situation? Did you change your child's birth day to coincide with a more accurate portrayal of the child's age? I know that I will never know the exact date of her birth. Any advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks
Autumn

[KarynB]

Hello,

We had a bone scan done to assess the age of our middle son, and it was done when he was 2. Basically, it was just an x-ray that was then compared with development charts to assess his age. It was done on his hand, as apparently bones in the hand aren't influenced by things like malnutrition or understimulation. The doctor doing it said it was accurate within a few days/weeks - and this was in South Africa which has very good health care, and extremely competent doctors.

We've had reason to questions that it is really this accurate since being home - but this is what we were told, anyways!

Karyn

[mlb]

I think the bone scan is a good idea. My oldest son was very small for his age, but his age is accurate so it may be right after all. You won't know until you check.