August/September baby - please help, I'm clueless!

[lucysnowe]

Hi all

So am in an interesting position... DC1 is due on 8th September and I am probably going to have an ELCS which, as far as I know could take place either end Aug or beginning of Sept (this is all speculation at the moment, haven't discussed with consultant yet).

As I understand it (as I am pretty clueless), a baby born in Aug will be the youngest in the class, and one born in Sept, the eldest.

So, if I have the choice between Aug or Sept, which should I go for? What options are there for deferment/starting early? I'm in Oxfordshire BTW.

Thanks!

[notnowbernard]

i've got 2 aug borns and an autumn born

the autumn born did v well in reception and continues to do well in y2

the aug born is doing v well in reception - no worries from teachers from academic or social pov

the other aug born isn't at school yet

but i think i'd rather a sept (they're with you for an extra year then

and it doesn't really matter in the grand scheme of things...

are you having a boy or girl?

[BarbaraBar]

If you have a choice go for beginning of September definitely. September babies are the oldest and do seem to have an advantage at the outset in terms of emotional maturity. I have October babies and they seem to have got off to a flying start at school as they were almost 5 when they started.

[snice]

if you get a choice go for Sept every time-there are no disadvantages to being the oldest in a class

[BarbaraBar]

Although it does seem a bit weird to be deciding when to have your baby for something that won't happen for a few years!!

[crazygracieuk]

A September birthday would be better than an August birthday.(ie. cause you less stress before you start)

My August born is doing well in Reception but if he had been born 11 days later he'd be one of the oldest and finding Reception really easy next school year.

[lovecheese]

Yup, September for me too. I have an Autumn born DD is year 5 and if I cast my mind over the kids in the top sets they are almost exclusively the older ones. Coincidence? maybe, maybe not.

[lucysnowe]

Thanks for your replies.

Barbara - I know it is a bit weird, and I don't even know DC's sex yet! But I will be seeing the consultant soon and I may have to set a date as it were. I'm just intrigued really that I could have so much power (laughs evilly)

[mumblechum1]

My early Sept born ds was (and has always been) the eldest in the class and has found things way easier than his friend who, although in the same year, was August born. Eg, he was reading before he even started school, had grasp of basic addition etc, whereas his friend has always trailed behind everyone else and it's had a devastating effect on his self esteem.

[notnowbernard]

if i knew it was a boy i'd definitely go for sept

my not-at-school-yet aug born is a boy

[Michaelahpurple]

Definitely definitely September. Obviously many Aug babies do v well etc, but if you have a choice, why make him the youngest in his class (esp if he is a he). There really aren't any downsides in being older, and all the stats show strong benefits.

[sageygirl]

I have a September boy and a June girl. The September boy found yr r hard socially as he isn't mature for his age. My DD is in yr r at the moment and is also finding it hard socially. Neither had or has problems academically. My DD is more mature for her age than her brother but full time school at 4.3 is hard going for most kids in my own personal view. So September is best - and as someone else says, you get to keep them for longer! I do wish they started at 6 or 7 though, it would have suited my DS much more. DD is a lot more mature - I think she'll be fine in school next academic year, both socially and academically.

[DastardlyandSmugly]

Hi I was in your position 2 years ago but DD was due on 2nd September. As it was I didn't have a choice and delivered her at 38 weeks on 20th August but my understanding is that most ELCSs are done at 39 weeks.

[mumblechum1]

A year is a long time at that age. When ds started he'd had his fifth birthday the day before he started school and as I mentioned, was reading etc. His August born friend was still in nappies at bedtime!

[notnowbernard]

Well... nappies at bedtime not a problem whether you are sept or aug born IMO. But that's another thread!

OP will you find out the gender and will this influence your decision, do you think?

[Meglet]

I was in a similar situation 3 years ago.

Part of me wanted my ELCS to be in the August so the DC's would be one academic year apart. In the end the consultant did the op at 39 weeks at the start of September. She's already super confident and benefitting from having a big brother so she will be more than ready for school when she starts in 2013.

I'm glad she's a september baby after all, even if I do have to pay for an extra year of nursery .

[DegreesCelcius]

Definitely September. So many more advantages school wise for the eldest in the class.

[Runoutofideas]

My 3 1/2 year old August born dd2 is due to start reception this Sept. To me she is still a baby, and nowhere near ready for full time school. I'd love to have her home for an extra year, but risk losing her school place if I do so.

DD2's due date was 17th Aug so I was trying to hang on for her to be 2 weeks late and go over Sept 1st - as it was she had her own ideas and arrived two weeks early! If I were you, and had the choice, I'd definitely go for September.....

[crazymum53]

The August/September baby is more of a problem if the baby is a boy, as it makes little difference for girls.
Basically it is a question of balancing nearly a year's extra child-care costs with the advantages of being the oldest in their class at school.
The other advantage of an an autumn born child though is that they tend to qualify for 2 years of pre-school education from 3 years old whereas, Summer born children often only get one year.

[BikeRunSki]

My DS will be 3 on 7 Sept, he was a few weeks early so I never thought he might be born in August.

EVERYONE (HV, teachers, wise old men, professional sportsman) has said to me that boys do better being the eldest in their year, but girls are sometimes ready to go to school at just 4.

Meanwhile a friend of mine whose daughter is a day older is preparing a case for the council for her daughter to start school a year early, but I think tis is more to do with nursery fees than anything else!

I was one of the youngest in my year and hated it and struggled.

[PorkChopSter]

September.

[lucysnowe]

Interesting to read about other people's experiences!

notnowbernard, I will find out the gender, but hadn't really thought how that would influence it - but are boys generally less developed than girls at that age?

Can Aug babies defer for a term or so or is that a bad idea as well?

Meglet, that's another thing to think about! My DD will be 3 1/2 when DC2 is born so I could choose between 3 and 4 school years between them... I suppose not much different in the long term?

[lucysnowe]

Oh, just read your post re: boys, BRS...

[Elsjas]

Go for Sep if you have a choice. But if you end up with an August baby, don't worry about it.

[blackeyedsusan]

september if you have a choice.