Does it matter what month a baby is born?

[beansprout]

We are trying [sic] to have baby number 2. I have it in the back of my mind somewhere that it would be "better" if a baby is born earlier in the academic year rather than later. I'm really not sure what that is based on. Everyone in my family is a winter baby, so it may be that but also I think I am concerned about a child being the youngest in class or year.

Please feel free to tell me I am being irrational because at the moment I think I should put everything on hold and only go back to ttc somewhere around Christmas!

And I am really not making any comments on anyone I know that was born in July / August, so please, please don't take offence as I am really not trying to upset anyone. I'm just a bit mad but would appreciate your thoughts - if anyone knows what I am talking about!!

course its not the end of the world either way, but i would prefer my kids not to be the youngest in the class...so if youn can 'arrange' it, then why not?

i have one who is the eldest and one who is the youngest. i think there are pros and cons either way.

You're not the only one to think this..I "wanted" an autumn baby or a spring baby (DH and many friends are autumn, amongst 'oldest' in class etc. I am spring) and didn't 'want' a summer baby because of them being the 'baby' of teh class etc...but didn't stop 'trying' because decided what will be will be...ds was born 11 August...!!

Thanks - at least I don't feel like I'm alone in my madness!

Would appreciate other views on this. And if you think I am being stupid, please feel free to say!

I had an autumn baby first time and found the shortening days/bad weather of those first months very dismal indeed.
Had baby no2 in the spring, and felt much better for it.
I think summer birthday parties in garden/park are the nicest, I'm definitely envious on that front.
I don't see that much diff betweeen dd (one of the oldest in her class) and the younger ones, tbh.

As a teacher, the summer kids are at a real disadvantage to begin with. Some kids turn 4 then start, some kids are 5 by the first day of term! After that it evens out. Lots of mums of summer babies are not ready for them to go to school, they really seem too small.

As a teacher, the summer kids are at a real disadvantage to begin with. Some kids turn 4 then start, some kids are 5 by the first day of term! After that it evens out. Lots of mums of summer babies are not ready for them to go to school, they really seem too small.

I don't think you're being stupid at all. I'm a teacher and swore I'd never have an august baby because they are so young when they start reception. I also felt sad that I'd have a bare 4 years of it being at home before it went to school. Fell pg with dd.........born 21st Aug . Ah well. I still worry about her being the youngest and that she'll barely be 4 when she starts school but it can't be helped. It's not the end of the world. So much of it depends on the child's personality and there's no chance of controlling that one!

FWIW, I also swore I'd never have a Christmas baby or marry another teacher, sure enough dh is a teacher and ds was born 31 Dec and dc3 is due Boxing Day. The best laid plans and all that.....

If it's going to take a while for you to conceive, would it be better for you just to leave it to fate as it were and see what happens? If you stop for 3 months then it takes a while, will you constantly be thinking, 'if only we'd carried on, I'd be pregnant now'? Just a thought, knowing how irrational ttc makes us!!

when we were trying to concieve for the first time I insisted that DH used precautions during a certain period as I was adamant that I didn't want a winter baby (I always get quite blue during the winter months due to lack of time outside and felt that these would be multiplied if I had a new born baby). DS was born in June.
When trying for baby no 2 we followed the same procedure for the first year but then out longing for a second child took over and we kept trying and were just very lucky that DD was born in March.
Our thinking wasn't to do with the school year though at all. I dont think that had ever crossed my mind but I can understand how for some it might be somehting to consider.

There might be better months than others, I'm not sure. To be honest you should count yourself lucky whenever you become preg with a healthy baby. Be grateful that you can conceive and can carry the baby to term. Anything else is insignificant.

Don't think it matters greatly. I have a Feb, a March and a July and found no difference in terms of settling into school or whatever. In fact, in my youngest's (July birthday) class, the 3 children who took forever to settle were all September birthdays!

I would just go with nature and see what you get!

Mine are too young for academic years etc which are different in Scotland, run from March to February but if I have no 3 ideally I would want a Spring baby March/April reasons being:

• don't want to be at the first 3 months stage at Xmas again as I was totally off food
• don't want to be at the huge stage at Xmas either
• don't want to be at the huge stage in the summer either
• don't want the baby to be one of the youngest in their year either

I have a July babe and a January babe so want a Spring baby next time! will ttc no 3 from May/June next year but who knows you can plan all you want but nature will know different.

Both times went for a Sept baby for school year reasons.

DD born in April - but lovely time of year for night feeds and being off work....

DS - born in Oct - good for school but cold to be up in the nights, dark evenings etc, but mobile during the summer so that was good.

you are being irrational and the best laid plans and all that. You have no idea how long it will take you to conceive. I have and older school child a youngest and a middle one - made not a scrap of difference.

Given the choice, I think I'd choose the Spring, too, for reasons which have already been mentioned. Ds was born in the autumn and my memories of his early months are of pacing the streets in the rain and gloom trying to get him to go to sleep. And all the wet washing on the radiators ? sooo depressing!

Also, on a completely trivial note, I find it a hassle organising a birthday party almost as soon as you've just got them back to school in September. No, I think March would be ideal (they'd be a Pisces, too - all nice and dreamy. Or perhaps a clever Aries...)

I wanted a spring baby and ended up with dd born on 31st August. She started school last week and is obviously the youngest in her class but the teacher says she runs rings around the older children and is fine. in fact the poor little boy who is having the hardest time settling in is already 5. I think it totally depends on the child.

I had ds in April and that is such a nice time to have a little one as you get to appreciate the long days and it helps you feel less tired when there is a bit more light about and you can get out and about.

But babies come when they come!

I can see where you are coming from, and my dh's cousin , who is a primary teacher, actually tried and succeeded in getting the timing with both children right, but it also meant a long ttc break wqhen it didn't happen at first....!
Me, I just ttc'ed and let it happen when it happened, lol...have a June, a November and a August child!

Definitely October, November or December so they'll be the oldest in the class.

dd2 is a september baby. its a bit crap for her for starting school etc as she is a 3rd child and already not backward at coming forward. Personally think doesnt matter when you have a child its what the child is like that is more important. friends ds1 is august baby and he is very bright, confident a very distinct character already. you would easily confuse him for being in the year above.

I was born at the end of August.

Academically it made no difference - I was always near the top of the class.

My brother on the other hand was a December baby and always struggled academically.

I did struggle to settle into school though, but to be honest, I think that was more down to my personality than my age - I was a very shy child, a real mummy's girl.

Only other drawback for me was that my friends were often away on holiday when it was my birthday so so couldn't make my parties! No change now I'm older - have just celebrated my 40th and about a quarter of the people invited couldn't make the party because of holidays!

Avoid September/October - It certainly feels more expensive when all their peers are off to school and you have another year's worth of nursery fees to pay...

agree that there are pros and cons..my ds is an oct babe and its a nightmare as he is 3 next month and more than ready for school nursery but does not start until next sept when he will be nearly 4. DD is a dec babe and can see her being quite ok with being oldest as she is very dependent and clongy compared to ds who is independent. DB is due in jan..all winter babes here but think depends on child which you wont know until they come along.

Both my DSs are August - 15th and 21st. It wasn't planned that way. DS1 was supposed to be September/October, but I got pregnant immediately. The second child was going to be April, but I miscarried early and then just wanted to conceive ASAP - hence another August baby.

They are young when they start school, but so much depends on the child. I do know people who deliberately delay their 'TTC' until it's definitely not going to be August.

I think a spring birthday would be best - around March or April. Not old and bored in the school year, not too young for full days; birthday not in the summer holidays or too close to Christmas.

But I'm just grateful to have two lovely boys.

Oops - 15th and 31st!

Mine was born in June and cannot say I have ever given the academic year thing much thought, so know the brainiset kid in my class was born on 26th Aug though!

I loved haviong a summer baby for the light mornings and warm nights for getting up and fedding, the ability to always bung crying baby in pram and go for nice sunny walk and not being pg in hot weather!