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Original poster

Is having an August baby really so terrible?

273 replies

SunflowerOwl · 17/04/2021 21:18

I'm expecting my first DD in late August. I'm so excited and thrilled.

But people keep telling me I should 'keep my legs crossed' until September as summer babies are at a massive disadvantage when they start school, they will be a year younger etc.

Aside from the fact that theres very little I can do about when she decides to arrive, is it really so terrible? People are starting to make me feel like I've set my child up to fail already and it's making me feel pretty crap.

OP posts:
ItsOnLikeDonkeyKong · 17/04/2021 21:27

My August born DD was the top achiever in her high school.

The only thing that bugs her is most of her friends are 18 and she's not (but pubs haven't been open anyway!). Most have their driving licences and she hasn't (and the pandemic stopped her lessons).

2tired2bewitty · 17/04/2021 21:28

I’m a late august baby, dh is September so same school year but he’s 11 months older. We met at uni doing the same course, guess which one of us has the better degree classification Grin

BlueCarPinkShoes · 17/04/2021 21:28

No, it's not. I always remember a family member telling me I'd 'ruined' DS's educational chances by having him in August as though I could somehow fix it! He's quite smart and has always done well at school. Emotionally he was clearly a lot younger than the others when he first started as he was just turned 3 and some of the others in his class almost 4 but it hasn't held him back in any way.

I think he might resent it when he gets to 17 and everyone else is 18 before him though. I'm summer born and can remember how irritated I was when everyone had ID before I did.

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IHaveBrilloHair · 17/04/2021 21:28

It would have been for my Dd, born on 28th of August.
Luckily we're in Scotland so she still had a whole year of nursery to go.

RandomMess · 17/04/2021 21:29

I have a January baby, end of June and 2 in August.

I would defer for a year when starting school, I wish I had the choice when they were young.

Sure the youngest in year one is actually way ahead but her life would have been easier has she been deferred.

cadentiasidera · 17/04/2021 21:30

I was a bit worried about this when we were TTC and briefly wondered whether we should try to avoid a July/August baby - I'm a primary teacher. Of course I ended up with an August baby! I feel all children start school too young so summer born children may be at more of a disadvantage. We have decided to delay her school start for a year - she should be starting this September but will start reception in 2022; for her I feel this is the right decision as she is bright but not so developed socially/emotionally. Summer babies are nice in other ways though, like having outdoor birthday parties (something I never experienced with a January birthday!)

EwwSprouts · 17/04/2021 21:30

Congratulations! Ignore the doom sayers and revel in the excitement.

DS has an end of Aug birthday. He sailed through p/t nursery and preschool. Reception was not great and I wish I'd given him the odd duvet day. He couldn't read when he started school as the head had gone into local preschools and said leave the teaching to us! The girls in particular seemed more ready for school, including being taller. Fast forward to yr 4 and he had caught up and was doing very well. Last summer he got a haul of very good GCSEs.

Your child will progress at their own pace. I would not defer primary school entry nor try to push them when they're not ready.

AlwaysLatte · 17/04/2021 21:30

Oh yes and the birthdays, as a PP said. Most of his birthday parties have been in the garden, almost every one on a hot summer's day, much to the grumps of his brother, who is a winter baby!

HumunaHey · 17/04/2021 21:30

@chorusline79

Why are people so bloody insensitive?! I had this when I was expecting my DS in august, and it really upset me as I started to think I should have planned it better and I'd let him down. I even had one mum tell me I would need to get him a tutor - this was when I was pregnant! Well he actually came in sept but my daughter was born end of July and I'm told is excelling at school and you would never know she is a summer born. Hope you can enjoy your pregnancy and don't let others hang ups and silly comments get to you.
Exactly! On top of the fact it's a lod of rubbish.

Get used to the comments though. I'm pregnsnt with DS2 and people are asking me if I'm disappointed I didn't get one of each 😑.

Flackattack · 17/04/2021 21:32

We had this crap! Don’t give it another thought!

IamChipmunk · 17/04/2021 21:32

My dd started reception this year she is 31st July. No issues settling and not 'behind'. I wouldn't worry either way.
Im a secondary teacher and it doesnt make much difference by the time we get them!
However I know a colleague who had a csection delayed to Sept to avoid an Aug baby!

omgwhy · 17/04/2021 21:33

My ds is august boy and loves being the youngest.

What is that comment about "at least it's a girl" 🙄

MrsJBaptiste · 17/04/2021 21:33

TBH I would have crossed my legs (stopped trying) for a Dec/Jan baby as I think that's far worse than a summer baby. Christmas Day??? NO!!!

JudesBiggestFan · 17/04/2021 21:35

Oh people do talk nonsense. I'm sure statistically there are advantages to being older in the year but within that they are all individuals! I have a January, April and August born son...the august born starts school in September. He's super bright, super ready, a natural born leader...I have no concerns at all. But then he's been at a great nursery since he was nine months old and has two older brothers to spur him on. I hate the boy thing as well...my April born got into grammar school, no bother. It's the child, not the birth date. They are all a gift!

HappyDaysToCome · 17/04/2021 21:35

I used to particularly congratulate my colleagues when they were due an August baby - 11 months less nursery fees!

For every summer baby not ready for school I know a September baby frustrated by having to wait an extra year for school after they nursery friends have left, and then once in year 6 sticking out like a sore thumb as they are so tall and so ready for secondary.

TrainWhistleChoir · 17/04/2021 21:35

Being a girl will help her, but be aware you can ask for a year's deferral when starting school but it's not a right.to get it (many heads refuse because of the impact on funding and secondary heads can require them to join "in year" so jump from yr 5 to 7). I'm a late August baby and got on brilliantly. My early August born DS died on his arse in primary. It depends on the child.

Luckyelephant1 · 17/04/2021 21:36

It's the same old shit thrown at pregnant women that really doesn't matter in the long run. August babies, whether babies are breastfed or not, what ages they start to walk or whatever. When you meet an adult or even a 10 year old, will you be able to tell if they are summer babies or breastfed as a baby unless they tell you? Do people born in August only have shit jobs? Of course not. Just ignore the insensitive comments or even better smile and nod vaguely and make it clear you think the person is talking shite.

Shesingsshangrila · 17/04/2021 21:36

My brother was an August baby. Was doing secondary school maths while still at primary, so didn't seem to hold him back... I'd say it all depends on the child, and within a few years it makes no difference anyway.

BeeandG · 17/04/2021 21:37

I've got a 10th September dd who was due late August. I wish in a way she'd arrived in August as she's now 3 and a half and with an older sister coming on really well. She'll be more than ready for school next September and would probably have coped just fine going this yr. I'm moving her out of the day nursery to a pre school in September to give her more structure as I think she's ready for it. My eldest dd, October born, outgrew nursery by 4 and a half really but it was too late to change anything.

Wowcherarestalkingme · 17/04/2021 21:37

My son is an august baby. He is in reception and flying academically. Socially he struggles a bit but to be honest that’s more because he is a shy child not because of his age. There is a feeling that summer born boys can find school hard (I’m a teacher and they are often a focus group) but as with everything it all comes down to the individual child.

WaitingForNormality · 17/04/2021 21:37

DS is a late Aug baby. It's been absolutely fine. He went to nursery from 12 months so starting preschool and then primary wasn't too much of a shock for him as he was used to the routine of childcare settings. It does mean a bit more pressure before joining primary school to ensure he was able to dress himself, wipe himself properly after using toilet independently etc but it was totally doable. It's honestly been fine and actually he'd have been bored if he'd had to stay at preschool another year

Quornflakegirl · 17/04/2021 21:37

Dh is August born and he struggled at school, he lost interest in school being so weak academically and didn't really ever catch up. He was definitely someone who would have benefited from being deferred.

Tangledtresses · 17/04/2021 21:37

I'm an august baby now 50! No problems here xx

lottieproject · 17/04/2021 21:37

Why would people say this to someone expecting a baby in flipping august? For what it's worth, if I'd have chosen when to conceive I would have aimed for a July/august baby, I'd have loved a little Leo.

Ohpulltheotherone · 17/04/2021 21:38

What? No.

My august baby is the love of my life; super confident, curious, bright as a button, centre of mischief and fun at nursery, counting to 10 and all his alphabet before he was 2.

This is so silly and I can’t believe that someone would say that to you - how’s that any different than saying oh you don’t want a bald baby, keep your fingers crossed for a curly haired one because attractive babies do better in life. Insinuating that your child will be less than is fucking rude and I’d be telling them to pipe down.

IF you did have any concerns by the time they are due to start school there are plenty of options including holding them back.

September babies need a WHOLE extra year of childcare you just remember that. Another 12,000 in fees for a full time nursery. Confused