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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:
tickingthebox73 · 17/04/2021 21:40

I think there are some ifs involved

For some kids it makes no difference.
For some kids, if they are young for their age, and if they aren't particularly sociable and if they basically aren't ready to sit still and quiet, then they will struggle a bit in the first few years.

You will then see a massive difference at the end of reception between some kids who are starting reading well, writing, and others who just aren't ready.

Some catch up but it can sometimes affect those who aren't "ready" as it may set them up to underachieve all through school.

I wouldn't worry at this stage, but be prepared to "do something" if it looks like it may be a problem. This could be holding them back a year or extra lessons when they are older or just giving them confidence.

ladygindiva · 17/04/2021 21:40

My niece is an August baby and due to start school this September at the same time as my twins, who as December babies are a full 8 months, almost 9 actually, older than her. She is in no way less ready than them, in fact if anything she is more ready and mature! It's not a given that a summer baby will struggle ime.

LemonRoses · 17/04/2021 21:42

I’ve two end of August children. They were fine academically and had no problems settling to school. They would have been bored to tears staying another year in nursery. They were both physically much smaller than their classmates, but they didn’t seem to worry about that too much.

It was very hot when I had youngest, but I’d have been big and uncomfortable whether it had been August or September.

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Etulosba · 17/04/2021 21:44

I was a mid September baby. Younger than a few in the year below.

It wasn't an issue at school and it hasn't done me any harm since.

OldMrGruber · 17/04/2021 21:45

Statistically it is! But obviously individuals don't always follow statistics and can and do, do well!

DS is an august baby and really did struggle in his first year or two of school. But he's now doing extremely well and has caught up and overtaken many of his peers. Doesn't change the overall pattern though.

Of course if he'd be born 2 days later he would be an absolute genius (but no excuse either Wink)

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/14/what-happened-to-allowing-children-born-in-summer-to-start-school-later

This is an interesting article.

MsTSwift · 17/04/2021 21:46

My poor August born sister never got less than an A in gcse or a level got a first at university and went on to have an amazing career in the arts. So personally wouldn’t worry!

HerMammy · 17/04/2021 21:47

Never heard of this, then again I’m in Scotland, my DD2 started school on her 5th birthday; 20th August.

skeggycaggy · 17/04/2021 21:48

The gap in attainment for summerborns remains until GCSE (although it is small by that point!), people aren’t making this up just to be nasty, it does exist.

ZednotZee · 17/04/2021 21:50

My 20th August baby in year three and has been near the top of her class academically for two years.
She is absolutely tiny but I blame 5'7 DH for this rather than her birthday.

DarkDarkNight · 17/04/2021 21:51

My brother was born right at the end of August and apart from being the last to be able to drive he was fine. But I’ve got an August-born boy and didn’t think school was right for him at just-turned 4 so he had another year in nursery. That’s always a possibility. Everyone said he would be fine and I’m sure he would have been, but personally I think the curriculum expects too much of children at an early age even without being the youngest.

I think this is particularly true of boys, for example they develop fine motor skills needed to grip a pencil later than girls so a summer born boy would be disadvantaged even more. Also boys are more active learners and while in Reception the kids were encouraged to move about and learn through play this very quickly tailed off in Y1 and Y2.

I don’t think it’s bad overall though - I love having his birthday fall in school holidays as it means he’s always off school for his birthday and we can go away.

TuesdayRuby · 17/04/2021 21:51

On the other hand, I have a very mature, precocious early September DD, who could quite easily start school in September, and will be devastated when all her 4 year old friends leave her at nursery and start primary school. She now has to wait another year, and hang around with all the youngsters coming up from the toddler room! Plus another year of nursery fees!

DelilahTheParrot · 17/04/2021 21:52

I’m august and was fine. My cousin was also august and he struggled until primary age.

Everyone seems to assume that it’s simply about academics but it’s not. You can tell the difference between eg September and august born kids in infants school, there is almost a year between them in terms of social and emotional development, speech, physical stature and coordination. I think it tends to even out by about 7, but some parents choose to keep their kids back if they feel like it’s going to be too much for them. That’s not the norm though.

You can also tell diff between those with older siblings. They’re typically way more switched on and emotionally resilient, so often that can compensate for younger birth age in a cohort too. It’s often the September / October born kids with older siblings who rule the roost for a little while.

It really does even out though and I don’t think academically makes as much of a difference as emotional / physical development.

Echobelly · 17/04/2021 21:52

BIL is an August baby and he has done just fine for himself.

DS is also August and lagging but honestly it's mainly because he has ADHD - his friend who is 5 days younger is doing OK as far as I can tell. I did, before diagnosis, agonise over whether we should have fought to delay somehow his school start but it was so hard to tell how things would go and also, at that point, it was the year before they actually made it possible for summer babies to delay (and if I understand correctly, it's still pretty hard to do).

Smartiepants79 · 17/04/2021 21:53

Of course it’s not terrible!
My dd is a late august baby. She been fine academically.
It is true that summer born children are statistically more likely to need a bit more support but it’s obviously more dependent on multiple other factors.
I will say I was sad that she had to go to school so soon and felt that I’d missed out on a year of her at home with me but she was happy as anything.
The fact is there is nothing you can do about it anyway so it’s a silly thing worry about really.

summerisler · 17/04/2021 21:53

@blvdbrokendreams my DD was also born on 15th Aug last year. Snap!

BusMum79 · 17/04/2021 21:54

No- it’s just one of those things people say; but hasn’t been true in my case. Two August born boys, both of whom are doing really well at school. My 5yo is the youngest in his year and right at the top. It’s true that they were a bit behind with fine motor stuff in Reception but both caught up very quickly. DS 2 may be v academically able but he still can’t do his buttons properly Grin.
I have a July born daughter as well (she’s a toddler) and just laugh off the “oh not another summer born” type comments. Also, you know your own child, so when it comes to school application time, you can always defer for a year. Just let it wash over you for now. Good luck with the baby!

ZednotZee · 17/04/2021 21:54

I am far more worried about my December born DS4 who is due to start school in September.
He knows his multiplications up to twelve and can read The Lord of the rings but still prefers to shit his pants rather than use the loo.

This causes me more anxiety than his sister's summer birthday ever did.

bert3400 · 17/04/2021 21:54

My August born baby was on the gifted list when he was at primary school . It all went tits up when he went to secondary school as he's a lazy twat still is at 18..nothing to do with the month he was born . Ignore what people say

WerkWerkWerkWerkWerkWerkWerk · 17/04/2021 21:59

August babies are healthier birth weights and taller than their peers, apparently, and most likely to describe themselves as lucky.
I also did a quick Google (lockdown, anything passes as entertainment) and Whitney, Madonna, and Michael Jackson are August babies amongst others. There also seems to be an inordinate amount of very famous August actors. I wonder if they are more creatively gifted too...

randomsabreuse · 17/04/2021 21:59
  1. Not in Scotland - cut off is February instead.
  1. Depends on the child's personality, some would be a nightmare/bored as a September born and the oldest in their class, especially in the last year of nursery. Others might well find the expectations of the first couple of years of primary school tough as August birthdays. My older DC (girl) started in reception at 4 (due mid/late August) and was fine, but having moved to Scotland and effectively started again it's clear that 4 is very young to start school. She did love it, and the issues she had with "listening" and "doing what you've been told" weren't age related so much as personality...
Cannotgarden · 17/04/2021 22:00

I have a June baby and she's flying at school but we do notice the others in her reading and maths groups (they go off for specific work that stretches them) are all 6, and are older in the year.

My second was due 20th August and ended up being 4th sep. I am pleased overall because he's a lot less bookish than her and I think he'll need the extra year to mature enough to sit at a desk. But we would have rolled with it either way and I'm sure it would have been fine.

mrsb06 · 17/04/2021 22:01

People are always quick to comment on August born children being at a disadvantage.

As a teacher, I can't tell you how many September born children (and often girls at that) who are also at a disadvantage because they should be in the year above. They can access the curriculum standing on their heads and they are bored to tears. People are quick to say "they will be extended" and yes, there are sometimes opportunities for this, but the reality is that as a teacher you do have to pitch at the level of the bulk of the class.

When they are born can matter, but how much support they have at home matters more. A well-supported August born will do usually do well.

Gardentime76 · 17/04/2021 22:02

My oldest dd is an august baby she always did really well at school and college. I think it’s very individual her early September born best friend had to re take a year of her a levels. It really depends on the child. Please try not to worry I’m sure she will be fine.

DelilahTheParrot · 17/04/2021 22:03

There also seems to be an inordinate amount of very famous August actors. I wonder if they are more creatively gifted too..

I wonder if they are all Leos (up to aug 22), Leo’s love the spotlight if you believe in anything of that sort!

2021mumma · 17/04/2021 22:05

I feel exactly the same way, due early sept but will likely be august due to csection. Everyone keeps saying it like a bad thing. The only positive I see is
One less year of childcare