7 Old Wives' Tales for Predicting Your Baby's Gender
This article is for general informational purposes and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. It has not yet been medically reviewed. Always consult your doctor or midwife about your specific situation. Read our full medical disclaimer.
Long before ultrasounds existed, people relied on folklore to guess whether a pregnancy would result in a boy or a girl. Many of these tales are still shared today — mostly for fun. Here are seven of the most common ones, along with an honest reminder about how accurate they actually are.
None of the tales below are medically accurate predictors of a baby's sex. They're entertainment and tradition, not diagnostic tools. Ultrasound and genetic testing are the reliable methods.
1. Carrying high vs. low
One of the most widespread tales says carrying "high" means a girl, and carrying "low" means a boy. In reality, how you carry has to do with muscle tone, the position of the baby, and your body shape — not sex.
2. The heart rate myth
A popular belief holds that a faster fetal heart rate (over roughly 140 beats per minute) points to a girl, while a slower rate suggests a boy. Heart rate does vary during pregnancy, but not in a way tied to sex.
3. Cravings
Craving sweets supposedly means a girl, while craving salty or savory foods supposedly means a boy. Cravings are common in pregnancy generally and aren't linked to the baby's sex.
4. Morning sickness severity
Some traditions hold that more severe nausea points to a girl. Nausea severity varies enormously between pregnancies and pregnant people for reasons unrelated to sex.
5. The ring test
In this one, a ring is suspended on a string over the belly — swinging in circles supposedly means a girl, swinging back and forth supposedly means a boy. This is pure folklore with no underlying mechanism.
6. Skin and hair changes
Extra glow supposedly signals a boy, while more breakouts supposedly signal a girl (or vice versa, depending on who's telling it). Skin changes in pregnancy are driven by hormones broadly, not by fetal sex.
7. The Chinese gender chart
A chart based on the lunar calendar and the mother's age at conception is a long-standing piece of folklore that some find fun to check. Like the others, it hasn't been shown to be more accurate than chance.
What actually predicts a baby's sex
If you want an accurate answer rather than a fun guess, the reliable methods are prenatal genetic screening tests (which can often detect sex from a blood draw fairly early in pregnancy) and ultrasound, typically around the anatomy scan. Ask your provider what's available to you and how confident they are in the result at your particular stage.
Key Takeaways
- All of these old wives' tales are folklore, not medicine, and are right about as often as chance
- They can be a fun, low-stakes part of the pregnancy experience, especially with family
- If you want an accurate answer, ask your provider about genetic screening or ultrasound timing
There's nothing wrong with enjoying these traditions — just hold onto them lightly, and let your provider's guidance settle any real questions about your baby's sex.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Are any of these old wives' tales actually accurate?
- No. None of these have been shown to reliably predict a baby's sex — at best, they're right about as often as a coin flip. They're worth doing for fun, not for planning.
- What's the earliest a baby's sex can be accurately determined?
- Some genetic screening tests can indicate sex as early as around 10 weeks, and ultrasound can often identify it around 18 to 20 weeks, though accuracy depends on the method and the individual pregnancy. Your provider can tell you what's available and how reliable it is in your case.
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