How to Predict the Sex of Your Baby: Ways to Tell if It is a Boy or Girl

Predicting the sex of a baby is something which is often done by mothers, fathers, friends and family alike. Realistically the only guaranteed way to tell the sex is to have an ultrasound scan around 20 weeks, or simply wait until the baby is born. For those who wish to wait until the baby is born there are many fun ways to predict the sex of the baby.

Food Cravings and Nausea 

Cravings have been considered a way of predicting the sex of the baby for a long time. If the mother craves savoury snacks such as crisps and pizza, she is said to be carrying a boy. On the other hand if she can't get enough of chocolate and sugary sweets it is said to be a girl. Health professionals argue that there is no connection between cravings and the sex of the baby.

It is said that if nausea is predominant in the first trimester then it is supposedly a girl, however if sickness appears later on it's a boy. Time of day can also be a factor, with boys more likely to cause morning sickness, and girls in the evening. Again there has been no conclusive scientific research to prove the connection between the sex of the baby and nausea.

Appearance During Pregnancy

The position of the bump gives a good way of predicting the sex of the baby. Many people will guess the sex of the baby based on positioning. It is said if the bump sits low and out front it's a boy. If the bump sits high and is more rounded and visible from the back it's a girl. According to scientific research the shape of the bump is due to individual muscle tone and the position the baby lies.

Many people believe the sex of the baby can be determined by the mothers appearance during pregnancy. Glowing skin and shiny hair can indicate a boy, while dry hair and spotty skin can mean a girl. Scientists have indicated that these changes are simply due to increasing hormone levels in the body. Women prone to outbreaks of spots prior to pregnancy are more likely to develop frequent outbreaks during pregnancy.

Other Gender Prediction Methods

A Wedding or Engagement ring can be used to predict the baby's sex. The ring should be tied to a piece of string or a chain and the string held loosely over the bump. If the ring sways from side to side it is a boy however if it goes in a circular motion it is a girl.

The Chinese gender calculator uses the age of the mother at conception and the month the baby is conceived to determine the sex of the baby. Have a go at it here!

Pregnancy Predictions: Fact or Fiction?

While there are many different ways out there to predict the sex of the baby, the only sure way to know before the baby's birth is by having an ultrasound scan. In the meantime, it is fun to try out the methods and see if they come up with the same sex. After all, the myths and old wife's tales must have come from somewhere.