best time of year to have a baby?

[thirtysomething]

We're currently considering maybe just maybe trying for a third baby and I was wondering if anyone has any advice re best months to aim for (I know it doesn't always work out as planned anyway!) Was thinking about next spring/summer as dh can be around more then but would have ds and dd on holiday from school/playgroup for some of the time so maybe not such a great idea?

Now, now, now DS2 - 1 month old. Enjoy the summer but don't have to lump around pregnant in the heat as I did with DS1 ( born in August ). I reckon late spring. But really any time..... and how predictable is the science of conception really ??

Now, now, now DS2 - 1 month old. Enjoy the summer but don't have to lump around pregnant in the heat as I did with DS1 ( born in August ). I reckon late spring. But really any time..... and how predictable is the science of conception really ??

thees a thread on this I started called the best time of year to have a baby is...

I reckon March. I have done August and September.

thirtysomething - I prefer having summer babies, or at least late spring ones. My three have been end of July, start of June and start of April. Best thing is night feeding when it's light at 4am - feels less isolated. 3rd baby, April one has probably been best of all - at least the older two can go and play outside and entertain themselves, and you don't have to get out of bed and do school run if they are on holiday and you're very tired, or in the middle of a feed etc. You can just relax and enjoy the nice weather (hopefully!)

Only had one so can't comment on the complications of older siblings, but I had dd last November and I'm really pleased with the timing! It meant that through the dark days of the middle of winter, we were going through the sleepless nights, zombie brain, etc, etc; when she started sleeping through the night (end of Jan) it started to get lighter in the evenings), and now that she's nearly eight months, we're enjoying the summer together. Lovely!

However, know other people who had winter babies who aren't going to do it again due to their tiny ones getting colds.

Hope it all works out for you!

Agree with lilymum, April is good, it just doesn't seem half as bad when you're up in the night and the birds start to sing and it gets light. Also like kaz33 says you aren't heavily pregnant during the hot summer months.

agree with Lilysmum - night feeds arent cold..they crawl in the winter not outside - more light in the evenings..Just so much better

Another vote for April, although Dd was actually due in March. Night feeds are not too bad, not pg in summer. Do miss out on drinking at Chrismas and New Year though, and party dresses may look like tents for the Christmas Dos!

Fab for me as a teacher too. Had 21 weeks off work, went back to school for two days (to get my holiday pay) and then another 6 weeks off. Started maternity leave week after half term too so got a freebie there too.

have had one in march, one oct and this one will be aug. definately agree with march - get to be at your most pregnant in the winter (winter maternity clothes so much better than summer), baby is up and about and able to enjoy the summer weather at a few months old, maternity leave coincides with summer, they are able to sit up and play with wrapping paper at their first christmas!

contentious point coming - there is research suggesting that winter babies do better at school. As a Christmas baby, born of Christmas parents, who had a Christmas baby myself - it must be true

I had my 1st in Nov and 2nd in Oct and I dont think it was the best time of year really. All those parties at christmas and you turn up with a baby with bad colic-enough to ruin any get together.

My dd is an August baby, only problem I have with that is that I have to organise her birthday party in June so that I know who is coming to the party since it will be in the summer holidays.
We're trying for baby #2 and hoping to concieve in August or September for a May/June Baby. I will get 6 months paid maternity leave from work so look forward to spending the summer relaxing(ha) at home with my children.
I like the idea of being pregnant through the winter. Last time I was pregnant during the summer and I don't remember suffering to much in any way. But with this hot weather just now I don't think I could cope with being pregnant in the summer. So I'm hoping that everything will go according to plan, but we'll see what happens.

ds2 was a June baby and I think that is brilliant as he was easy to keep covered from the sun in his first summer as he was not moving. Now he is a year old and walking he can enjoy this summer fully - he loves the beach and tires himself out with his running around. Also agree with everything about April and May babies - easy to get up at night, no real worries re room temperatures, etc.

I had an April baby and was glad not to have to worry all the time about whether he was too hot or too cold, as April is usually not too extreme temperature-wise

do you really have the party in jUne?!!

I reckon if they cant come - thats life!

I had 2 October and 1 December babies and although it was grim doing night feeds in the cold and waking up early morning in the dark - the advantage which has shown itself now is that all of them are "September intake" for school and so they were almost 5 when they started.

So they get the full year in Reception before starting Year 1.

If I was to do it again (which I'm not!!) I would aim for a September - February delivery - qualifying for September intake for school

I would defintely say early spring. It means you're not pregnent in the summer when it may be too hot. You have baby early March ish, you muddle thro' the first few weeks in the inevitable fog, then you have the rest of the spring and summer to enjoy your maternity leave and most importantly to enjoy your baby. Plenty of opportunity for pram pushing.

Then longer term your baby grows into a schoolgirl/boy whose birthday slots nicely in the middle of the academic year.

September babies can miss out as they are almost 5 before the start school and are ready for school long before this.
August babies can be at a disadvantage as they are only just 4 when they start school and may well benefit from an extra few months at home or in a nursery setting. (Legally you aren't obliged to send them to school 'til the term after they are 5.)If you're paying for childcare you only pay for4 years with Aug babies compared with almost 5 years with Sept birthdays. This wouldn't influence me but it may some people.

Hope this helps you make the right decision for you.

Yes, I would agree that September babies are ready for school long before - but for me, personally it was ideal as I don't agree with children starting school at 4.

And as for school nurseries at 3.5 - well don't even go there LOL!

I wanted mine to stay at their private day nursery with their ratio of 1:8 for as long as possible. Fortunately our nursery was very good and followed the ability of the child.

Had late May baby which was v. nice but think I would aim for April next time to enjoy even more of nice-sih weather!

I'm fairly new to all this -- what's LOL
Probably something pretty straightforward & obvious but not to me

Slinky, there are some brilliant state nurseries out there for 3 year olds.
Ratio isn't everything.
Staff in state nurseries have to include at least one qualified teacher ie. with a degree.
Don't read teacher as instructor, they are facilitators. They are very knowledgable about the development of 3 year olds - not just academic development but social, physical, emotional.
Staff in private nurseries need nothing more than NVQ and some don't even have that.

SORRY this is well off the point of this thread.

Mummysurfer - LOL is laugh out loud

Mummysurfer

I know there are some nice state nurseries out there (just not many locally!) - my catchment school will not introduce one as the Headteacher is reluctant to babysit "babies" (exact quote from him LOL).

I knew my own children would be happier at their day nursery - why? - because I'm a nursery nurse there

clareandrich
LOL - thank you

Slinky

Maybe we're just spoilt. We had a choice of brilliant state nurseries within 3-4 miles, my local school where dd1 goes doesn't have its own nursery but we had the choice of 2 other nursery classes in other primary schools and one which is purely a nursery school. We opted for the latter which is in a very deprived area. The children are a good mix of local children and children who travel from all over the town because of the nursery's reputation.

SORRY again - way off thread.
I promise to shut up now.