Which month to avoid Xmas baby?

I deliberately waited until December to TTC to avoid having an August born. I appreciate it might still happen but I'd prefer to improve my chances as much as possible. I was born in the summer (June) and did well at school, but the stats give the full picture. I'd rather have a Christmas baby!

I tried to plan all of mine for September. I had 1 September and 2 October borns and then a surprise April born baby . So far, I can honestly say that the Sept/Oct borns are fairing better at school and it seems a good time me to have a birthday. April born birthday always seems to coincide with Easter. 😫

Avoid March! My DS's birthday is mid December and I found out I was pregnant on the 30th March ( I was a few days pre AF)

@kirinm if she was due in September but born in very late August, you'd have a very good case for delaying her school start, and she would then be the oldest in her class. Obviously not a decision you need to make this early, and it may not be necessary at all, but it's good to know your options.

@bluemoon I'm not "head in my hands crying" upset. And not suggesting nobody talk about it. I do find the stats concerning though and hope that my daughter is one who doesn't struggle. My MIL said to me before she was born that I shouldn't have my C-section because she'd be an August baby (she was due early Sept) and she'd always struggle. Those sorts of comments don't sound that big a deal but actually, they aren't throwaway comments. Nobody wants their child to have massive hills to climb when they first start out.

@MayDay27 It really depends when you're aiming for. A mid-late December conception would give you a baby born in September, providing of course they don't arrive very early.

@kirinm I'm genuinely sorry if the information upsets you. I can see that it would be a worry! But IMO it's better to know facts and put things in place to support a child rather than bury one's head in the sand and hope it's not a problem. If you feel your child isn't school-ready and they're born in August you can choose to delay their start. If you feel that they are ready, then I'm sure they'll be fine. I work in a number of primary schools and I make sure all teachers know which children in the class are July/August born, as they are considered to be at risk of potential difficulties with their learning - I think it's better to take these precautions rather than pretend there's no effect just in case people born in August (or who have August-born children) are offended.

@CountFosco any normal parent wants what is best for their child. My baby is still very young and she is going to have been 4 for two days by the time she goes into school. I'm not sat here crying about it but if the stats are suggesting summer born kids struggle up until secondary, that IS something to be concerned about. You haven't got a clue whether there are other life factors that might make that stat irrelevant or more relevant to my daughter.

And given that this is a post on a parenting forum, it is perfectly acceptable to say that I find the "august babies suffer more" stuff upsetting. That you don't care about the stats, bravo to you.

What a fucking twattish thing to say @count.

Yeh avoid mid March start of April - my DD was due Xmas day thankfully she was 9 days late. Both DH & me had our 30th within that time 🙈🎉

CountFosco FFS develop some empathy.

The August stuff is really upsetting for those of us who have August babies.

FFS. Grow a backbone so you don't get 'really upset' about population trends. The effect is statistically significant but I'm certain that my summer born child will do better in life than some autumn born children because of everything else that affects life chances.

As PP have said, babies can come early. I have 2 DS, one was due end of Jan, born start of Nov, the other due mid Apr, born end of Jan! Although saying that I know someone who wanted a June baby so TTC Sep and got her wish

The August stuff is really upsetting for those of us who have August babies. My 16mo DD is very end of August so will be probably the youngest in her class when she reaches school age. Fortunately, she is an absolute maniac and I'm hoping she keeps the confidence levels she currently has when it comes to going into school.

@MayDay27 sorry it didnt tag you in the above x

We wanted a summer baby, June July or august. K always loved having my birthday parties in the garden :) So we started trying beginning of October. Now due 24th June, so will be a June/July baby :)

The bonus of that is my maternity and my other halfs shared parental leave will be during the summer which will just be lovely for taking the baby out!

Just out of interest, for someone who isn't planning on TTC for a while is it end of December time that people would ideally start TTC? This is all just silly questions I know if I'm lucky enough to become pregnant I won't be bothered at all!

The August baby thing is a complete myth, me and my best friend was August and we both got As at GCSE. Its genetics and how good your school is/how much time parents spend teaching for how well you do*

Not a myth. Research consistently shows that children who are (among) the youngest in their year group take until well into secondary school to catch up academically, and are far far less likely to reach elite levels in sports.

Obviously there are many who defy the stats (I'm an August baby who was always ahead academically, although terrible at sport). But anecdotes don't trump good research!

It isn't the biggest influence on their chances of success, and you can hold them back a year. But if you
I) are in no hurry to conceive
Ii) think the genetics might make your child more likely to struggle academically, or in with a chance or being very good at sport...

Then bear it in mind!

There are a large number of studies that show that, on average, August-born boys in particular perform worse academically and socially, and are even over-represented in prisons. For girls the effect isn't as strong. That is of course not to say that there aren't millions of very successful August born boys (and girls), and there are loads of other factors that are important, but it's not a myth. Starting school a full year younger than some of your peers is bound to have an impact on some but not all children. I am also summer born btw, and did well academically, so nothing against summer born people!

This is a great question as I already have 2 children born on 11th December not twins. 4 years apart!!! Would be just my luck!! 🤣🤣

I conceived late April, due late January so avoid February & March

There are plenty of online calculators but as others have said you still can’t guarantee 100%!

DD1 was due December and was born in September

DD2 was due in April and born in January

You can't plan these things

I love being an August baby and was top of my year in both primary and secondary school so hated when people assume August babies struggle.
My baby is also due August, wasn't planned for that, due dates didn't even cross our mind when we started TTC - we just want a baby.