We’re opening the book on ancient charts, old wives’ tales and grandma-tested ways to discover if you’re having a boy or a girl. Whether you believe in these sometimes strange ways to predict your baby’s gender or not, there’s plenty of fun to be had.
Of course, there are sure-fire ways to find out exactly what you’re having, including non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) or your 20-week ultrasound, but where’s the fun in that?!
Here are 25 fun ways to predict if you’re having a boy or a girl – and most you can do right now.
1. Left and right boobs
Most of us already have asymmetrical breasts, but apparently in pregnancy, if your right boob is bigger than the left, you’re having a girl. On the flip side, if your left breast is the bigger one – it’s a boy.
2. Pee on baking soda
This one involves catching some wee in a cup and dropping some baking soda in. If it fizzes, you’re having a boy, if it stays calm, it’s a girl.
3. Length of belly line
Some women get a distinct line from their pubic bone to the centre of their tummies during pregnancy, called linea nigra. The theory goes that if the line stops at your belly button, you’re having a girl. If the line goes up to your rubs and chest, it’s a boy.
4. Pregnancy glow or breakouts
Some women positively glow during pregnancy, with beautiful dewy skin – and it’s said those lucky ladies are having boys. If your skin has returned to your teenage days of acne and breakouts, it’s apparently a girl for you!
5. Chinese gender prediction chart
Based on the Chinese lunar calendar, the ancient Chinese gender prediction chart involves converting your age to your Lunar age and then matching it to the month you and your partner did the deed and conceived.
6. Mum’s weight
One theory suggests that simply looking in the mirror will tell you if you’re having a boy or a girl. If your ‘baby weight’ is all in your bum and hips, it’s because you’re having a girl. If it’s a boy, you’ll be all belly.
5. Partner’s weight
According to the old wives’ tale, if your partner is putting on a couple of extra kilos out of pregnancy sympathy, it could be because you’re having a girl.
6. It’s in the kicks
Another theory is that boys are more energetic in the womb, so if you’ve got a zealous kicker on your hands, it’s a little fella. Apparently, girls are more chilled in utero.
7. Drano and wee
Here’s another weeing gender prediction test – but this one comes with a warning. Once again, pee in a cup and mix in one tablespoon of Drano. If it turns green, you’re having a little princess. Blue means it’s a prince on board. However, Drano is pretty toxic stuff, so get your partner to do this prediction test for you.
8. Head shape
You’ll need to whip out your ultrasound for this one. If your teeny tot’s head is square-shaped, the theory is that it’s a boy. A rounder shaped head means it’s a girl.
9. Eat garlic
Love a good, garlicky curry? Apparently, if you can eat a heap of garlic but not smell like garlic, you’re having a girl. Any excuse we say!
10. The ring swing
This is an oldie – your grandma may have even tried this one. Get a ring (your engagement or wedding ring is perfect) and thread it through some string. Lay flat on your back and get someone to hold the ring suspended on the string over your belly. If it swings in a circle, it’s a girl for you. String moving back and forth? It’s a boy!
11. Mumma’s mood
Feeling a little moodier than usual (which is totally normal in pregnancy!)? Mummas who are having girls are apparently on the moodier side, while chilled mums-to-be are apparently having a boy.
12. Baby’s heart rate
Pay attention to the heart rate next time you’re visiting your midwife or obstetrician. Legend has it the faster the heart rate, the more likely it is you’re having a girl. A heart rate below 140 beats for minute is more likely a boy, according to the old wives’ tale.
13. Dry hands
Finding yourself moisturising more than usual? Dry, chapped hands mean it’s more likely you’re having a boy. Smooth, supple hands? You’re apparently having a girl.
14. Let a three-year-old tell you
In China, there’s a theory that a three-year-old can predict the gender of a pregnant woman’s baby. So if you don’t have a three-year-old yourself, make sure you ask the next one you meet!
15. Your pulse
Get someone to place their fingers on the pulse point on your left wrist and then your right. If the pulse on your right wrist is stronger than that on your left, you’re having a girl. And vice versa for a boy.
16. Cravings
The old wives’ tale goes that if you’re craving salty food, a baby boy is coming your way. Only lusting after sweet treats means there’s sugar and spice and all things nice on board.
17. The eyes have it
On the scale of ‘just a little strange’ to full-blown weirdness, this one is right up there. The instructions are to stare into the mirror for around a minute. If your pupils are dilating, it’s a boy for you.
18. Red cabbage
Just when you thought these gender predictions couldn’t get any stranger, this one involves red cabbage … and wee. Just boil up a head of red cabbage in water, and then take the cabbage out – reserving the water. Then just mix the cabbage water with a cup of your wee. If the water turns pink, you’re having a girl. A purple mixture means it’s a boy.
19. Side sleeping
While we know that sleeping on your side during pregnancy reduces the risk of stillbirth, but did you know that it can also help you discover the gender of your baby. The theory goes that if you wake up in the morning on your left side, you’re having a boy. Mums pregnant with girls will wake up on their right side.
20. It’s all in the bump
There are plenty of people who subscribe to the theory that if your bump is rather rounded like a basketball, there’s a boy on board. If bump is more spread out, there’s a little girl inside.
21. The Mayan Gender Predictor
Similar to the Chinese Gender Chart, the Mayan Chart looks at the mum’s age of conception and cross-references with the month of conception to discover if bub is a boy or girl. The chart predicts that if both the mother’s conception age and month of conception are odd, a baby girl is on the way. Or if both numbers are even, it also means a baby girl. But if one number is odd and the other even, it’s a boy for you.
So here’s an example. If mum was 25 when she conceived and the month of conception was March, she’s having a girl. (via The Gender Experts)
22. Outie or innie
This theory centres around whether you get an outie belly button while pregnant. Apparently, a belly button that decides to pop out means you’re having a boy. If it stays in, it’s a girl.
23. The key trick
This old wives’ tale says that if someone puts a key down in front of your and you pick it up by the narrow part, you’re having a girl. Pick it up from the round part and it means you’re having a bouncing baby boy.
24. Morning sickness
This one all depends on when your morning sickness decides to disappear. If you’re still heaving at the mere thought of eating after the first trimester, then you’re carrying a girl. If you don’t get morning sickness or it only lasts for the first 12 weeks – you’re having a boy.
25. Pre-conception blood pressure
You’re going to need psychic powers for this one. A study found that the higher a woman’s blood pressure is, 26 weeks before conception, the more likely it is that she’ll have a boy. So if you happened to get your blood pressure checked a few months before you feel pregnant, just ask your doctor what it was.
Read next …
Planning on finding out the more traditional way and hosting a gender reveal? These next few articles are packed with great ideas:
