If you are pregnant or have been in the past, chances are someone around you has tried to guess your child’s gender.
Are you carrying high? Do you look totally haggard? GIRL!
Do you crave salt and vinegar chips? You must be having a boy!
While comments about your appearance or weight gain can lead any mom-to-be to roll their eyes at the predicting party, it is fun to see how the old wives tales hold up once your little bundle’s gender is known. Below are some of the oldest tales in the book and the verdict — whether it was accurate or not — according to my second pregnancy with a baby boy.
Chinese Gender Prediction Chart
Legend has it that the gender chart is more than 700 years old and was discovered in a royal tomb. It predicts your baby’s sex based on your Chinese lunar age at the time you got pregnant and the Chinese lunar month in which you conceived.
Verdict: Boy! {Correct!}
Soft or Dry Skin
If your skin is super dry you are said to be expecting a boy. If it is soft and glowing then a girl is on her way.
Verdict: Desert dry skin – Boy! {Correct!}
Your Overall Appearance
The tale goes that baby girls steal their mother’s beauty during pregnancy. So, if you look fantastic while pregnant you are carrying a boy.
Verdict: I don’t think I can or want to answer this one truthfully.
How Low Can You Go?
This is a well-known old wives tale – so many people will want to look at your belly and think they can guess just from looking! So as the tale goes, if you are carrying low, it’s a boy, or if you’re carrying high it’s a girl.
Verdict: Low – Boy! {Correct!}
Heart Rate
If your baby’s heart rate averages in the 110 to low 130s range, the thought is that it’s more likely a boy, and if it’s in the mid 140s to 160 range, it’s more likely a girl. The heart rate tends to be faster in the early months, so you will want to wait until the second trimester to give this tale a spin.
Verdict: 150 at 19 weeks – Girl. {Wrong!}
Luscious Locks
Has your hair become thin and dull? You might be having a girl! If your hair is thick and luscious you are supposedly having a son.
Verdict: My hair is definitely greasier and falling out, so Girl? {Wrong!}
Salty, Sweet, or Sour?
Another well-known old wives tale! If you are craving sweet foods like juice, fruits, and chocolate, old wives say that you could be having a girl. If you’re craving sour or salty foods, then you could be having a boy. It’s also said that if you are having a boy, you will crave protein like meat and dairy.
Verdict: Definitely Boy. {Correct!}
Wedding Ring Test
Get your wedding ring (or other ring / a needle / a pin) and attach to a piece of string. Lie down and dangle the ring over your belly. If it starts moving in circles, you are having a boy, or if it moves from side to side, then you are having a girl.
Verdict: Circles – Boy! {Correct!}
Morning Sickness
If you experience morning sickness in early pregnancy you are said to be expecting a girl.
Verdict: I still get sick and baby is a boy. {Wrong!}
Baking Soda
Take two tablespoons of baking soda and mix it with your urine. If the solution fizzes you are having a boy, if it remains flat you are carrying a girl.
Verdict: Pop, pop, fizz, fizz – Boy! {Correct!}
Overall, most of the old wives tales were right!
Were the old wives tales correct in determining your baby’s gender? Did you try any we missed?
I NEVER used to believe in these, BUT I carried my girls, didn’t know any different, then withy son, he was so low it was like he was on my lap for the whole pregnancy. I never thought anything of it, but everyone, including an airport security person said “boy!” And said it was how I was carrying. I now believe 🙂
Beth, the same goes for me! He is so low already when he “drops” I am afraid he might fall right out 😉