Are there months you’d want to avoid baby being due?

[Goodnewsday]

We’re thinking of trying for baby number 2 around new year but as a Christmas baby myself I want to avoid a December birthday. Where I stay the January and February birthdays are the youngest in the school year so I’d also want to avoid those months but it basically means starting TTC then putting it on hold for 3 or 4 months if it doesn’t happen quickly. I feel like once we start again I will struggle to wait as it consumes your life 🙈 Is there months you’d try to avoid?

Oh that's brilliant. So much evidence from other countries that starting school so early is detrimental. I'm all in favour of letting parents delay it! So much better. In England it's inconsistent despite Government guidance making it clear it's an option for all May- August born babies. Some heads and LAs seem oblivious, whereas in other counties now it's just a box to tick on the application form as in Scotland. Hopefully the ones behind the curve will catch up! So much better for children to be allowed to play for an extra year. Most of the best education systems internationally don't start until 6!

And a nice side effect will be that this idea people should avoid summer babies will go away. The difference between a 5YO and a 6YO is sooooo much less than between a 4YO and 5YO. So this issue pretty much disappears if kids can start later: it doesn't then impact their experience or attainment of school significantly either way. And how lovely to have a summer birthday! I hope in time it will become something that will be sought not avoided, with this issue removed.

Well I had one due in July who arrived in May and one due in January that arrived in November so you can't really predict these things lol

There still seems to be a difference with January and February children getting funding for a place automatically whereas older children might not. If you’re poor it’s an option you might not be able to take advantage of if your local authority doesn’t agree. Unless I’m not aware of further changes.

www.gov.scot/publications/early-learning-childcare-statutory-guidance-july-2021/pages/10/

@AllyCatTown maybe it's not the same everywhere. City of Edinburgh council now guarantee nursery places now but even aside from that in England deferring school places often meant missing the first year of primary and starting with the expected cohort which isn't the case here.

There still seems to be a difference with January and February children getting funding for a place automatically whereas older children might not. If you’re poor it’s an option you might not be able to take advantage of if your local authority doesn’t agree. Unless I’m not aware of further changes.

https://www.gov.scot/publications/early-learning-childcare-statutory-guidance-july-2021/pages/100**/*

Oh that sucks! In England they get the full early years funding until they are 5. So an August born going to school the Sept after their 5th birthday will be funded all through nursery. There might be a short gap if the child is born earlier in summer, but not much.