The thrill of waiting to know your unborn child’s gender can be too much! If you can’t wait until sonogram time, here are some fun (though totally unscientific) things you can do to predict your baby’s gender.
People have been trying to predict unborn babies’ genders since ancient times. There are several civilizations with their own methods: from observing the position of the moon to using crops like barley. It turns out we are not the only generation obsessed with predicting gender!
There are also countless of old wives’ tales that revolve around gender prediction. In fact, many of the ways listed in this article either evolved from these tales or are old wives’ tales themselves.
It used to take at least 6 months before you can find out the gender of an unborn baby. But with today’s technologies, you can find out whether you’re having a boy or a girl as early as 10 weeks. That’s less than 3 months!
Still, if you can’t wait that long, there are many things you can do to have a go at predicting your unborn child’s gender. Granted, these things are not scientific and entirely inaccurate, but they’re a fun way to pass time while waiting for your ultrasound appointment (we know it’s taking forever…).
10 Fun Ways to Predict Your Baby’s Gender
1. The Chinese Gender Chart
The Chinese Gender Chart is a popular way to predict gender. It uses a very specific charting system where the baby’s gender is determined using the month of conception and the mother’s age during conception as factors.
For example, basing on the chart, if your baby was conceived on the month of August and you were 28 during the time, then your baby should be a boy. It sounds promising – and very numerical – but like all methods listed here, take the result with a grain of salt.
2. The Mayan Gender Predictor
Another counterpart to the Chinese Gender Chart is the Mayan method of gender prediction. It is very similar to the former, still using the mother’s age at conception. But unlike the Chinese way, the Mayan method uses the year when the baby was conceived instead of the month.
Simply add your age during conception and add it to the year your baby was conceived. According to the Mayans, if the result is an odd number, the baby is a boy, and if it is even, it is a girl. For example, if you were 31 when your baby was conceived, and the year is 2019, the result is 2050. Therefore, your baby should be a girl.
3. The “Carry” Test
Since the baby bump is one of the most evident signs of your pregnancy, it’s no wonder why one of the most oft-repeated old wives’ tales talks about it. According to this test, if your baby bump protrudes and comes to a point, then you are carrying a boy. On the other hand, if your belly is round, then you are carrying a girl. You don’t need anything else for this test, so go for it!
4. The Cravings Test
This is another test that requires virtually nothing except for you and your own body… and your cravings. According to this old wives’ tale, your cravings say a lot more about your baby than you thought. If you are craving sweets or carbs like bread and cookies, then you’re having a girl. But if you’re craving salty or savory food, you must be having a boy.
5. The Heartbeat Test
The heartbeat test may have a little bit of science in it, but it is inconclusive and doesn’t really prove anything. So this test still fits into this list. Basically, according to the heartbeat test, all you need to know to determine your baby’s gender is their fetal heart rate. If your baby’s heart rate is low, as in 110 to 130, then you’re carrying a boy. But if the heart rate is higher, like 140 to 160, then it must be a girl.
6. The Baking Soda Test
Are you up to do some home science experiments? Try this one! The first thing you need to do is pee in a cup. For this test, the first morning urine works best. Then, mix your urine with baking soda. According to this test, if the baking soda fizzes, then you are pregnant with a boy. But if it doesn’t, then you must be carrying a girl.
7. The Pencil Test
Here’s another common old wives’ tale that has many similar variations, like the ring test. According to this test, what you need to do to predict your baby’s gender is to stick a needle into the eraser end of a pencil. Then thread the needle, just long enough to be able to dangle the pencil over your wrist.
Now, put your hand on a table with your palm facing upward. Holding the thread, lift the pencil and place the tip on your wrist. Now, lift it up slowly and wait for the pencil to move like a pendulum. If it moves from your hand to your elbow, then the baby will be a boy, but if it moves from side to side across your wrist, then you may be having a girl.
8. The “Glow” Test
According to this old wives’ tale, the reason for the changes in your skin during pregnancy has a lot to do with your unborn baby’s gender. Some pregnant women “glow-up,” while some experience acne flare-ups. If you’re one of the lucky few who have smooth, glowing skin while pregnant, then you must be having a boy. But if you have acne, then you’re having a girl.
9. The Mood Test
This is another old wives’ tale that takes roots from the body and hormonal changes women experience during pregnancy. According to this test, your moods may be more than just moods. If you are having mood swings or are irritable, then you might be having a girl. In contrast, you might be having a boy if you’re feeling relatively calm.
10. The Dream Test
Finally, the dream test! It sounds mystical, almost magical, but the truth is it’s a really straightforward test. According to this test, you should not trust your dreams – your pregnancy dreams, at least. It says that if you dream about having a boy, then in reality, you’re having a girl. And if you dream about having a girl, then you’re actually having a boy!
So… are you having a boy or a girl?