Disappointed in a Summer child

[Fayegirl]

I am due a baby very soon, we had been trying for a couple of years to get pregnant and so we're delighted to find out we were expecting. Our due date is in August which initially didn't matter to me, except being heavily pregnant in the heat, however a few "friends" have made comments that he'll be one of the youngest in his year group and will struggle. One actually said it was a "shame" he wasn't conceived a month later to have a September birthday. This has really brought me down and made me feel quite sad about the pregnancy and worry that'll I'll feel this way when he is born and then starting school etc. My partner thinks I'm being silly and that I should just be happy we have a healthy baby on the way. Has anyone else felt this way? Did the feelings go when they got a bit older?

My dd2 was due end of August but arrived in September. She's one of the oldest in her class which is all good but honestly she would have been fine starting a year earlier. She was ready a year before and would have coped fine. Don't worry about it what will be will be and babies come when they are ready!

My son’s 3, born in July. I’ve literally never even thought about it. Or schools… Just enjoy where you are now.

I’ve lived in a fair few countries and no other society views summer-born children with the sense sense of anxiety and disaster as the UK not all the UK to be fair. Scotland certainly doesn't - different school year and more flexibility in starting. Move to Scotland, op 😊

I'm a late august baby, I was top of my class!

Not sure why people thing august is an issue

I have three DC, one with an autumn term birthday, one with a spring term birthday and one born in the summer. The summer baby was the one who graduated with a first.

My brother is a September baby and he's a complete idiot.
I'm a teacher and I honestly pay zero attention to which kids are summer born. So many other factors are more important.

My parents were offered this option back in the 70s (private school, so less fussy about year groups). Fortunately they didn't take it, as I'd have been bored stiff in the year below. The same would have been true of my DC (one of whom - the most able of all - is a boy). I'd treat all children as individuals rather than by birth month.

So many August babies do well, please ignore your "friend". DC 2 is an august child and I did worry but they were exceeding expectations in ks1, they're not doing as well in KS3 but that's due to personality not an august birthday (IMO)!

I was a late August baby. I never struggled at all.

Your "friends" are talking utter bollocks. Ignore them and enjoy your baby when the time comes. 😃

Look on the bright side, a year's less nursery fees 🙌🏻
My dd was born mid August. She did struggle in the early years with friendships but academically she didn't struggle at all.

Enjoy your baby and pay no heed to your friends!

My Dsis is a late August birthday and is v clever/had no problems whatsoever. On the other hand, my dd was due on 19th August and didn’t arrive until September so we have the opposite!

Don't give it a second thought. Amazing people were born in august! Alexander Fleming, Enid Blyton, Mother Teresa, Usain Bolt, etc etc etc. if you are really worried nearer the time you can defer them a year but the majority face no disadvantage in life. You need to tread a bit carefully with deferring as it can have negative consequences as they are often then more advanced than their peers, easily bored etc. Our summer baby is excelling age 2, I can't believe she will have any issue starting school in 2 years. Plus, easy and cheap garden birthday parties plus a years less childcare! Honestly - you'll have much bigger things to worry about once they're here!!

@DespiteBeingSummerBorn of course! I'm not suggesting it's the best choice for all summer born children, just pointing out if op would rather her child start age 5 and the oldest than age 4 and the youngest, this is increasingly a straightforward option.

My little boy was due in September but born at the end of august so will be one of or the very youngest in his class. It’s not worth worrying about, I read that generally they catch up by the time they’re at secondary school. Plus my husband was an end of July baby and he’s doing just fine, plus a couple of his friends are august born and also doing really well in good jobs etc so really isn’t an issue in the long run :)

I have 2 August babies, one was delayed and caught up at school by the end of year 2 (absolutely normal for late summer babies) the other was quicker off the mark but slow to read (but I'm not a big believer in pushing kids if they're not ready), and she is bang on her end of year 2 targets aswell. Please don't worry, I personally think my September baby got more expectations because he was one of the oldest on the class

Our DC1 was born early October and I vowed then to never have another Autumn baby (if I could help it) because the hospital was so busy with the autumn rush of babies being born. Hopefully summer will be a bit quieter and therefore you won't be sent to another hospital and will have enough staff to look after you.

DH, DC2, DC3 and I all have winter birthdays (poor DC quite soon after Christmas) and I am just a tiny bit jealous of people with summer birthdays who can have nice, warm, outdoor celebrations.

Don't worry about what those people are saying OP. Enjoy your baby, they will be whoever they are no matter what month they are born, and they will be the most perfect baby you've ever met.

I'm a childminder and some of my August children have been super astute and have gone on to do very well in reception/year one. Not all of them end up needing to catch up. And if they do need to then they will. Sometimes I feel sorry for the September babes who go in with the assumption that they should be ahead and maybe they won't be. Enjoy your baby for now

It took me 13 years to conceive DS and his due date was 25 December. A few people commented negatively about birthdays coinciding with Christmas and I may have been a touch brusque in my response. I waited a bloody long time for my baby and I couldn't have cared less about his potential birthdate. Do not let the naysayers spoil your good fortune - your baby is coming at a perfect time.

My SIL is due any day now... she DID have the advantage of being able to plan, as conceived very quickly. She actually planned for her baby to be one of the youngest in year! I think to get full-time childcare quicker, and because summer birthdays are nice.

This will sound like a patronising comment, so sorry in advance, but you might just have hormones making you feel a bit wobbly. Once baby is here you won't care at all when their birthday is, you'll just be busy having lots of lovely cuddles with them :-)

My DD is a mid August baby, she started reception when she was 4 years and 3 weeks. Yes, she's the youngest in her year, but she's bright, engaged and loves school. Like a PP said, her birthday will always be in the holidays and we paid one year less in childcare vs my friends with September babies. Enjoy your baby whe he arrives!

The word "shame" should NEVER be used when referring to a baby. Absolutely shocking and I'd cut them out my life.

Warren Buffet was born in august and worth $114 billion!!! 😂

My August baby is the best and yours will be too. I love his summer birthdays, they have been really special.

The school thing doesn’t matter and if you really wanted to you can send him into year R the year after now.

Do not waste one more minute worrying about that! One of my sons was born in late September and we still kept him and extra year in Nursery. If you start worrying about things happening years down the road you will miss out on the moment of joy this child will bring you.

August baby here, it’s not affected me and I would say I’m reasonably successful. Your friends sound a bit off!

Only gripe I have is that I have to work longer than someone born in sept. Both finish school at the same time but I have to work longer to pension age….always my complaint 🤣😂