Boy or Girl? 34 Old Wives’ Tales for Predicting a Baby’s Sex
Updated August 19, 2025
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400 min read
You've probably been regaled with an array of old wives' tales that claim to discern the sex of your baby during pregnancy, such as craving sweet foods signalling a girl or carrying the baby all out front indicating a boy. But do these traditional sex predictor methods hold any truth, or are they merely entertaining folklore?
If you’re curious how to predict the sex of your baby before your ultrasound, here are some of the most popular myths:
The Ring Test. Swinging in circles means a girl; going back and forth, and a boy
Bump Shape. High bump for a girl, low bump for a boy
Complexion Changes. Breakouts hint at a girl on the way.
Curious how ancient traditions hold up? Try our Chinese Gender Predictor Tool – one of the oldest and most fascinating (unscientific) methods for guessing your baby's sex!
The Science Behind Gender Prediction
If you're curious about your baby's sex, remember that traditional tales are just for fun and are as reliable as flipping a coin. For accurate results, trust medical procedures like ultrasounds or DNA-based sex prediction tests.
Coming up: We dive deeper into the most popular old wives’ tales during pregnancy and uncover if any have even a hint of truth behind them!
What’s an ‘Old Wives’ Tale’?
The expression 'old wives' tale' might seem outdated today, yet its roots are fascinating. Originally, 'wives' referred to women in general, coming from the Old English 'wif' and the German 'weib', both meaning 'woman'. Historically, elder women would share stories, myths, and superstitions, passing them down through generations long before the advent of literacy and print.
While some of these tales were moral lessons published as fairy tales, others revolved around themes like women's health, pregnancy and nutrition. These narratives form an integral part of our cultural and historical tapestry.
Despite medical science debunking many, exploring old wives’ tales about pregnancy and sex prediction can be a delightful diversion for those pondering, 'Will it be a boy or a girl?'
Can Old Wives’ Tales ‘Predict’ the Sex of a Baby?
Old wives' tales about sex prediction during pregnancy have intrigued generations and continue to amuse expectant parents. You may have been told that if your baby bump is more out front, you're expecting a boy, or if you're experiencing severe morning sickness, then it's a girl on the way. While these myths have been refuted by scientific evidence, they continue to provide a fun diversion during the anticipatory phase of pregnancy!
So, while these tales cannot accurately predict your baby's sex, they were the only means of guessing in times gone by. Modern science now allows us to discover the biological sex of a baby before birth with a high degree of accuracy, but if you're still awaiting your ultrasound or just want to indulge in some harmless speculation, let's dive into a few unscientific yet entertaining old wives' tales about predicting whether you're expecting a girl or a boy!
Old Wives’ Tales Sex Prediction: Pregnancy Symptoms
Many old wives’ tales for predicting the sex of a baby focus on typical early pregnancy symptoms or those symptoms you feel in your second or third trimesters. According to these stories and myths, morning sickness, cravings, heartburn and even your blood pressure levels may reveal the sex of your baby!
If you’re experiencing pregnancy cravings, pay attention to what you want to eat. This old wives’ tale suggests that having salty versus sweet cravings can predict the sex of a baby.
The Myth
Girl: Food cravings when pregnant with a girl consist of sweet things like chocolate, pastries, juice and fruit.
Boy: Food cravings when pregnant with a boy tend to be saltier or savoury items, such as meat, cheese and other forms of protein.
The Reality
Food cravings may be caused by hormonal changes during pregnancy, affecting your sense of taste. But food cravings come in different forms for different people. While some people experience no cravings, others may crave unusual combinations of food, such as bacon with chocolate bars.
Heartburn is another common pregnancy symptom. Though having heartburn isn't the most comfortable experience, this old wives’ tale puts a spin on it to predict your baby’s sex.
The Myth
Girl: Constant or more intense heartburn is a sign you’re having a girl – and that she’ll be born with a full head of hair!
Boy: If you don’t experience much heartburn, that’s a sign you’re having a boy.
The Reality
This is another symptom linked to pregnancy hormones. These hormones may prompt your body to slow digestion, plus your growing baby may be pressing on your stomach, both of which may cause heartburn.
A well-known old wives’ tale for sex prediction relates to morning sickness, more officially known as nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (NVP). This is a fairly common symptom, though it doesn’t affect everyone. Will you have more nausea with a boy or a girl? Let’s find out!
The Myth
Girl: If you’re experiencing a lot of morning sickness and feel ill, you’re having a girl.
Boy: If you don’t have any morning sickness or just mild nausea, it’s a boy.
The Reality
Of course, this is still just a fun old wives’ tale that tries to predict sex. Whilst the exact cause of morning sickness during pregnancy isn’t clear, it may be caused by those pesky pregnancy hormones. About 70% of pregnant people experience this symptom, especially in the first trimester. And interestingly, it may be more common if you’re pregnant with twins or multiples.
Yes, even the linea nigra plays a role in sex prediction according to this old wives’ tale! The linea nigra is a dark line on your abdomen that appears during pregnancy and stretches down your belly bump to your pubic bone. Once yours starts to occur, take a closer look.
The Myth
Girl: You’re welcoming a baby girl if your linea nigra starts below your belly button.
Boy: If the linea nigra starts above your belly button, it’s a boy.
The Reality
You guessed it – pregnancy hormones may trigger skin changes, including the appearance of the linea nigra. These hormones stimulate melanin production, which can also cause other pigmentation. The way the linea nigra looks isn’t a sex prediction but reflects an increase in melanin.
If you’re blessed with that rumoured pregnancy glow, you might notice that your hair and nails look extra healthy. Not everyone experiences this, but as the old wives’ tale goes, here’s how to predict the sex of a baby:
The Myth
Girl: If you notice your hair and nails feel brittle, dry, and thin, hello, baby girl!
Boy: If you have shiny, luscious, and healthy hair and nails, welcome to the world, baby boy!
The Reality
If you do experience that pregnancy glow, which is common in the second trimester, you can thank your hormones which may have started to settle down. As a result, your skin may look plumper and smoother, and your hair a little shinier and stronger.
Pregnancy glow is one thing, but you might notice a different skin condition and start to develop acne. So, according to the old wives’ tale for sex prediction, is acne in pregnancy a sign of a girl or a boy?
The Myth
Girl: So, if you have oily skin while pregnant, is it a boy or a girl? Yep, acne in pregnancy is a sign of a girl!
Boy: On the other hand, no extra pimples and dry skin during pregnancy means it’s a boy!
The Reality
More hormones fluctuations during pregnancy can lead to acne. Sebaceous glands are pretty sensitive to hormones, and therefore, may produce more sebum in the skin, which can cause pores to become blocked, leading to spots. So, hormones might cause extra spots on your face during pregnancy, regardless of whether you’re having a boy or girl.
Have you heard of ‘pregnancy brain’ or ‘baby brain’? This catchall term covers those typical pregnancy symptoms that you associate with your brain, such as forgetfulness, brain fog, fatigue and clumsiness. So, does feeling sleepy during pregnancy indicate you're having a boy or a girl? This old wives’ tale for baby sex prediction has the answer!
The Myth
Girl: If you’re fairly alert and steady on your feet while pregnant, hello, baby girl.
Boy: Feeling tired and a little clumsy is a sign you’re having a boy.
The Reality
Research has yet to confirm if ‘baby brain’ is a true condition, but there’s no doubt that many experience these symptoms while pregnant. Though studies show slight changes in the brain during pregnancy, conditions such as clumsiness, forgetfulness or feeling sleepy probably mean hormone fluctuation, fatigue or stress, rather than whether you’re having a boy or a girl.
Have you been experiencing sleepless nights during your pregnancy? Whether you’re struggling to fall asleep or you keep waking up throughout the night, this old wives' tale has a sex prediction theory. So, does insomnia in early pregnancy mean a boy or a girl?
The Myth
Girl: If you experience insomnia at any point during your pregnancy, it means you’ll have a baby girl.
Boy: If you’re sleeping well during pregnancy, a baby boy is on their way!
The Reality
According to medical experts, the quality of your sleep does not determine the sex of your baby. Insomnia during pregnancy is often caused by hormonal changes and physical discomfort, which can make it difficult to get restful sleep. If you’re experiencing pregnancy insomnia, try some of our tips to help you sleep better during pregnancy. Additionally, reach out to your GP or midwife if these methods aren't effective and sleep deprivation impacts your daily life.
Old Wives’ Tales Sex Prediction: Body Changes
Some old wives’ tales look at body changes – both yours and your growing baby’s – to predict sex. So, keep an eye on the size of your baby bump and pay attention to changes in your breasts and your baby’s cardiac activity for those fun clues.
Possibly the most well-known old wives’ tale for sex prediction is the one based on how you carry your baby. So, if you’re wondering how to tell if you’re having a boy or a girl, take a look at that baby bump once it starts to show.
The Myth
Girl: If you’re carrying high, as in your baby bump sits higher on your belly, it’s a sign you’re having a girl.
Boy: If you carry lower in your abdomen, closer to your pelvic bone, it’s a little baby boy.
The Reality
Your baby bump position is related to the size and positioning of your uterus. In early pregnancy, your uterus will sit lower in your abdomen; as the uterus starts to expand, it’ll sit higher and more forward. The size of your baby might also impact the positioning of your bump.
Not only the positioning, but also the shape of your baby bump can be used as a sex prediction test, according to legend. So, boy belly vs. girl belly? This old wives’ tale knows all!
The Myth
Girl: A wide baby bump is a sign you’re having a girl.
Boy: If your bump looks narrow and pops forward, as if you have a basketball under your shirt, it’s a boy!
The Reality
The shape of your belly bump is related to your baby’s positioning inside your uterus. Babies that snuggle sideways may cause a wider bump, for example.
This myth concerns your feet. Pregnancy produces many changes in your body, among them swollen feet. Does this pregnancy symptom signify a girl or boy? Let’s check out this old wives’ tale to find out!
The Myth
Girl: If your feet stay the same without any swelling, hooray, it’s a girl!
Boy: If you notice swelling in your feet, get ready to welcome a boy.
The Reality
Swelling is very common in pregnancy and can occur in the ankles, legs and feet. It’s caused by extra water gathering in the lower regions of your body and pressure from the growing womb, which can affect blood flow to your legs.
As your body prepares for your baby, you’ll likely notice changes in your breasts. Pay attention to how they develop, as this old wives’ tale believes they’re sending you a sex prediction message.
The Myth
Girl: If your breasts get fuller but remain in proportion to your body shape, it’s a girl.
Boy: If your breasts become very large and heavy, especially in contrast to your body shape, you’re having a boy.
The Reality
Breasts grow and change throughout pregnancy. In the beginning, hormones will cause your breasts to grow; later, they'll continue to change as you start producing milk.
Along with increased fullness in your breasts, changes in your nipples are common when you're pregnant. Do these changes mean a boy or a girl? This old wives’ tale, has some ideas.
The Myth
Girl: If the colour of the areola (the area surrounding the nipple) stays about the same, say hello to your baby girl.
Boy: If the areola becomes darker in colour, welcome to the world, sweet baby boy.
The Reality
Excess hormones can cause your skin to darken in various areas of your body, including your nipples and areola.
Yes, even the colour of urine when pregnant with a boy or girl can inspire old wives’ tales! Pay attention to the colour if you’re wondering how to predict the sex of a baby by looking at your urine.
The Myth
Girl: If your urine is darker or a normal shade of yellow, you’re having a girl.
Boy: If your urine is brighter, it’s a sign you’re having a boy.
The Reality
When you're pregnant with a boy or girl, the colour of your urine isn't affected by the sex of your baby. Rather, it stems from what you eat, drink or ingest. Colour changes can be triggered by certain foods or by your fluid intake; taking antenatal vitamins can also impact the hue you see when you pee.
Pregnancy weight gain is normal and a must when supporting a developing baby. But do you gain more weight with a boy or a girl? This old wives’ tale for sex prediction has the answer.
The Myth
Girl: Where do you gain weight when pregnant with a girl? If the extra kilograms appear throughout your body, especially in your bottom and thighs, it’s a girl.
Boy: If most of your weight gain happens in your belly, it’s a boy.
The Reality
Pregnancy weight gain is very individual and has more to do with your body type, pre-pregnancy weight and history of weight gain.
If you think you and your partner are linked in mind, body, heart and soul, this old wives’ tale for baby sex prediction might be the one for you! According to this legend, it’s not just about your pregnancy weight gain, but your partner’s too!
The Myth
Girl: If your partner gains weight while you’re pregnant, it’s a sign you’re having a girl.
Boy: If your partner’s weight stays about the same, it’s a boy.
The Reality
Obviously, what happens in your partner’s body has nothing to do with your pregnancy, but they might be experiencing couvade syndrome. This is when a pregnant person’s partner feels the symptoms of pregnancy.
It’s thrilling to hear the swoosh of your baby’s heartbeat at your antenatal appointments. And according to this old wives’ tale, your baby’s heart rate can predict their sex!
The Myth
Girl: If your baby’s foetal heart rate is above 140 beats per minute (bpm), you're having a girl.
Boy: If your baby’s heartbeat is less than 140 bpm, then it’s a sign you’re having a boy.
The Reality
A normal heart rate for a foetus ranges from 110 to 160 bpm, and other factors like gestational age and your baby’s activity level may affect it.
Sleeping while pregnant can be quite the challenge, so listen to your body and make yourself as comfortable as possible. But does your preferred side predict your baby’s sex? It does, at least according to this old wives’ tale sex prediction!
The Myth
Girl: If you naturally fall asleep on your right side, hello, baby girl.
Boy: If you fall asleep on your left side, it’s a boy!
The Reality
You’ll need extra sleep when pregnant, which isn’t always easy to manage as your belly bump grows! Choose the side that feels most comfortable, which could change throughout the night. Just remember that side-sleeping is best, as sleeping on your back while pregnant can put pressure on your spine and back muscles and/or compress a major blood vessel.
If you’re wondering how to predict the sex of your baby with your blood pressure results, think back to the last appointment with your GP before you became pregnant. If you can access your records, look for your blood pressure.
The Myth
Girl: If you had higher blood pressure before you became pregnant, get ready for a girl.
Boy: If your blood pressure didn’t change before getting pregnant, it’s a baby boy.
The Reality
High blood pressure outside of pregnancy can mean a lot of things, but revealing your future baby’s sex isn’t one of them. It’s best to talk with your doctor if you have any concerns about blood pressure at any time in your life.
Old Wives’ Tales Sex Prediction: Methods
In addition to looking at pregnancy symptoms and body changes, there are other sex prediction methods you could try. You could take your chance on one of the most popular methods, the Chinese gender prediction chart, or give the legendary Mayan sex predictor a shot.
Unlike the baby sex predictor methods above, most of the following aren't accompanied by medical facts to set you straight, as these methods are totally for fun!
This old wives’ tale sex predictor has a more modern approach, as it relies upon ultrasound technology. When you have an ultrasound, ask your GP to help determine on which side of the uterus your baby has decided to attach themselves.
The Myth
Girl: If your baby attaches to the right side of the uterus, she’s a sweet little girl.
Boy: If your baby chooses the left side of your uterus to attach to, hello, baby boy.
The nub theory is another one that depends upon an ultrasound. Ask your GP to point out your baby’s genital tubercle, where you can see the genital nub (this can usually be detected starting at about 12 weeks). This old wives’ tale predicts sex by looking at the angle of the genital nub, which can provide some basis for an informed guess, but is not 100% accurate.
The Myth
Girl: For girls, the genital nub usually lies parallel or angled less than 30 degrees from the spine.
Boy: For boys, the nub typically angles higher than 30 degrees from the spine.
Yet another sex prediction requiring an ultrasound, the skull theory focuses on the shape of your baby’s developing skull. Ask your GP to show you your little one’s skull to see if it appears rounded or blocky.
The Myth
Girl: If your baby has a rounded skull, she’ll be a little girl.
Boy: If your baby’s skull isn’t quite as rounded, you’re having a boy.
A truly ancient method, inspired by an old wives’ tale, the Mayan system of sex prediction uses the parents’ birthdays. The Mayans would look at the year of the mother’s birth and the year the baby is due to formulate a sex prediction.
The Myth
Girl: If both years are even or odd, prepare for a girl.
Boy: If one year is even and the other odd, you’re having a boy.
One of the most popular methods for predicting sex involves using the Chinese Gender Prediction Chart. You’ll use a chart to plot the mother’s age at conception and the baby’s month of conception.
The Myth
Girl: If the mother’s age and conception month intersect on the chart to indicate a girl, you’ll see something that suggests that sex, such as the word ‘girl’ or a shade of pink.
Boy: If the chart indicates a boy, it might say ‘boy’ or be a shade of blue.
The Chinese Gender Predictor has been used for centuries and remains one of the most popular tools on our site. Want to try it? (Remember, it’s just for a little unscientific fun.)
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Old Wives’ Tales for Sex Prediction: Tests
How to predict the sex of a baby? Besides the myths above, other stories and traditions use a simple sex prediction test to reveal if you’re having a boy or a girl. From eating garlic to the classic wedding ring test, these old wives’ tales are all just for fun and don’t come with any revealing truths. Enjoy!
This fairly simple sex prediction test involves weeing in a cup (and you thought you were done with that after taking a pregnancy test!). All you need to do is urinate into a cup and add two tablespoons of baking soda.
The Myth
Girl: If you’re having a girl, the mixture will stay flat.
Boy: If you’re having a boy, the mixture will fizz.
For this old wives’ tale sex prediction test, you need a strand of your hair and your wedding ring (or a favourite ring you wear regularly). Ask one of your friends to hold the ring dangling from your strand of hair over your belly, keeping it steady. After it’s steady, notice how it starts to move!
The Myth
Girl: If the ring moves in circles, it’s a sign you’re having a girl.
Boy: If you’re having a boy, the ring will move from side to side.
This old wives’ tale test for sex prediction is similar to the hair and ring test, but it goes a little further to predict the sex of all your children, whether you’re currently pregnant or not. You’ll tie a string to the top of a very sharp pencil. Ask a friend to dangle the string with the pencil lead pointing down and over your wrist (either wrist will do), with your arm flat on a surface, and your palm facing up. It’ll take a moment for the pencil to steady, but once it does, it’ll start to sway. Watch for the rhythm.
The Myth
Girl: If the pencil moves side to side across your wrist, it indicates a girl.
Boy: If the pencil moves up and down over the length of your arm, it means a boy.
This old wives’ tale offers a simple way to predict your baby’s sex. All you need to do is look into a mirror and focus on your pupils, watching for any changes.
The Myth
Girl: If your pupils remain the same, hello, baby girl.
Boy: If your pupils start dilating (get bigger), you’re having a boy.
Hmmm, how to tell if you’re having a boy or a girl? To try this sex prediction test, you’ll probably need to love (or at least tolerate) the taste and smell of garlic. Here's what to do: eat a few cloves of raw garlic and wait an hour or so.
The Myth
Girl: If you don’t smell of garlic after eating it, it’s a sign you’re having a girl.
Boy: If you smell like garlic, it's a boy, especially if it sweats out through your pores.
This old wives’ tale sex prediction test works if you already have one child. You’ll need to wash your youngest child’s hair, comb it, let it air dry, and look for the cowlick on the back of their head.
The Myth
Girl: If your youngest child’s hair naturally swirls clockwise away from the head, the next baby will be a girl.
Boy: If their hair naturally swirls counterclockwise, the next baby will be a boy.
This sex prediction test isn’t all that old since it involves liquid drain cleaner, which wasn’t around during your great-great-grandmother’s time. This test mixes your urine with liquid drain cleaner to put a classic spin on it. Yes, it’s a little weird, but it made the list!
The Myth
Girl: If the mixture turns green, congratulations, it’s a girl!
Boy: According to this myth, the colour of urine when pregnant with boy is blue!
If you didn’t think combining your urine with drain cleaner was strange enough, try mixing it with cabbage water. Chop a head of red cabbage and put it in a bowl. Pour boiling hot water over it and wait 10 minutes. Strain the water equally into two glass containers and mix equal parts of your urine into it.
Girl: You’re having a girl if the water turns violet.
Boy: It’s a boy if the water turns red or pink.
Involve Your Partner: Old Wives’ Tales to Predict a Boy or Girl
Of course, you can involve your partner in any or all of the silly old wives’ tales for sex prediction above, but here are a few methods that require your partner's participation to predict your baby’s sex.
If you want to involve your partner in an old wives’ tale sex predictor, don’t read the results of this one yet! Just have your partner place a key on the table. Pick up the key and ask your partner to read the results below – serious spoilers ahead, so no peeking!
The Myth
Girl: If you pick the key up by its narrow end, it’s a girl!
Boy: If you pick the key up by its rounded top, welcome to the world, baby boy!
You’ll need a fork, a spoon and two chairs for this baby sex predictor. Ask your partner to tape a spoon under the seat of one chair and a fork under the seat of the other. Without knowing which chair has which utensil under it, pick a seat!
The Myth
Girl: If you choose the seat with the spoon, you’re having a girl.
Boy: If you choose the seat with the fork, it’s a baby boy.
When Can an Ultrasound Show Your Baby’s Sex?
‘Am I having a boy or a girl’? is an exciting question to ponder during your pregnancy journey. For some, the mid-pregnancy ultrasound at about 18 to 20 weeks may reveal the big news. If you want to find out, it’s best to check your hospital’s policies and ask your sonographer before your appointment.
Using old wives’ tales to predict your baby’s sex can be a fun and lighthearted way to pass the time while you wait. However, it's important to note that these sex prediction tests and tales are not accurate, medical or scientific. While ultrasounds can also be misinterpreted, they remain your best option for determining the baby's sex. Be sure to inform your GP in advance if you would like to know the baby’s sex, so they can ensure they don’t forget or accidentally reveal it if you prefer not to know!
Of course, the only way to know for sure is to wait until the big day. But until then, if you’re in the mood for a fun, alternative guess, don’t miss our fun tools!
FAQS AT A GLANCE
For this sex prediction test, you tie a string to the top of a very sharp pencil, then ask a friend to dangle the string with the pencil lead pointing down and over your wrist (either wrist will do), with your arm flat on a surface, and your palm facing up. It’ll take a moment for the pencil to steady, but once it does, it’ll start to sway. Watch for the rhythm.
If the pencil moves side to side across your wrist, it indicates a girl.
If the pencil moves up and down over the length of your arm, it means a boy.
Although you can have fun trying to predict the sex of your baby, the most accurate way to determine it is through an ultrasound, often performed around 20 weeks. To keep you entertained while you wait, read our list of 34 old wives’ tales for sex prediction. They’re not scientific or medical, but they're certainly fun!
Your 20-week ultrasound scan is your best bet for finding out the sex of your baby. However, it may not be possible to tell for certain, as it depends on your baby’s position in the uterus. You should always check your hospital’s policy if you want to find out the sex, as this is not always offered.
You won’t find any medical or scientific signs you’re having a boy, but check out our list of over 30 old wives’ tales if you want to have a little fun predicting your baby’s sex! These myths suggest that dry skin, swollen feet, a lower baby bump and more predict a boy.
The Bottom Line
Learning the sex of your baby can be an exciting pregnancy milestone, so, understandably, you may eager for that ultrasound! To keep your mind occupied while you wait, have fun with some of these old wives’ tales and tests for sex prediction.
Although a unique part of our history and storytelling traditions, these myths are now used primarily for entertainment. Enjoy them!
One thing that’s definitely not a myth is how many nappies a baby uses, which might surprise you! Reward yourself for those nappies and wipes purchases by downloading the Pampers Club app – the perks you’ll earn are the real deal, not an old wives’ tale.
Recommended Resources
Seeking additional ways to prepare for your little one? Explore our recommended tools and resources to assist with everything from sex prediction to baby planning:
As well as using the fun old wives’ tales to predict sex, take our quiz, Guess Your Baby’s Gender, to guess if you’re having a boy or a girl. Remember, it’s completely unscientific!
If you’re on the search for the perfect baby name, check out our Baby Name Generator for inspiration.
