Can These Funny Old Wives’ Tales Predict Baby’s Gender?

Thanks to all the advancements in science, parents are now able to find out baby’s sex earlier than the 20-week ultrasound. In fact, first-trimester non-invasive prenatal tests (NIPT) can tell you if you’re having a boy or girl with near 100 percent certainty as early as 10 weeks.

It’s hard to believe that before these things became routine parts of prenatal care, moms-to-be had no choice but to wait until delivery day to find out baby’s sex. It’s no wonder there are so many old wives’ tales for gender prediction—people were desperate to know! And so many weird and wacky methods to (supposedly) predict baby’s sex have been passed down from generation to generation.

While not scientifically accurate or proven, these fun and lighthearted baby gender predictors can help you pass the time as you eagerly wait to find out if you’re having a boy or girl. “I’ll admit that this time around the curiosity of baby’s sex is getting the better of me,” shares LuvLoveXO, a community member on The Bump. “I’ve done several online gender predictors and even peed on baking soda.”

If you’re up for some giggles, we’ve rounded up a bunch of other fabled (if not totally bizarre) gender prediction old wives’ tales you can try at home. But, remember, these are for entertainment purposes only—it’s ultimately baby who will show you who they are in due time.

Key Takeaways

• No old wives’ tale for gender prediction is 100 percent accurate or backed by medical data. In fact, they’re only right 50 percent of the time, meaning it’s a total game. These are meant to be fun, not scientific.

• Since old wives’ tales for gender prediction date back hundreds of years and span many different cultures, it’s hard to say exactly when and where they came from. But what we do know is they were likely a way for moms-to-be to make sense of their symptoms.

• Some of the most common gender prediction tests involve peeing on something (baking soda, red cabbage water, etc.) and waiting for a chemical reaction. But these are purely for kicks and have no scientific basis!

Old Wives’ Tales for Gender Prediction

So what exactly are these old wives’ tales for gender prediction? Many of them—including the ones below—revolve around the many pregnancy symptoms you may be experiencing, as well as baby’s development in the womb.

Heart rate old wives’ tale

• How it supposedly works: The folklore goes that if baby’s resting heart rate is over 140 beats per minute, you’re having a girl, and if it’s under that, you’re having a boy.

• Is it accurate? Not at all. You’ve got a 50-50 chance this one will determine baby’s sex.

• What to know: For reference, baby will start to have a consistent heartbeat around the six-week mark of pregnancy. That said, this claim isn’t backed up by scientific evidence. “Many factors can affect fetal heart rate, including gestational age, time of day and fetal activity,” explains Diane Ortega, DNP, CNM, certified nurse midwife and co-founder of the Willow Midwife Centers for Birth and Wellness AZ.

• What real moms have to say: “With my first daughter, her heart rate was always on the high end of normal. With this pregnancy, I’m having another girl, and her heart rate is always on the low end of normal. Before my big ultrasound, my doctor guessed boy because of the heart rate—but nope!” - CutieBean79, The Bump community forum member

Pregnancy craving old wives’ tale

• How it supposedly works: According to the old wives’ tale, if you’re craving sweets, you’re likely carrying a girl—but if sour or savory is your jam right now, you’re having a boy.

• Is it accurate?: Pregnancy cravings say plenty about your hormones—but nothing about baby’s sex!

• What to know: Food cravings during pregnancy might not be a sign of baby’s biological sex, but they can be a sign of hormonal changes and nutrients your body needs. For example, craving salty pickles could mean your body needs sodium, while meat cravings could mean your body needs iron.

• What real moms have to say: “I had a girl, a boy and then a girl again. With my girls, I craved fruit and sweets—there wasn’t enough pineapple in the world… With my son, it was meat—red meat! I barely ate it before I was pregnant, but I craved it so much I actually thought I was anemic.” ” - Yvonne C. B., mom of three

Dreams old wives’ tale

• How it supposedly works: Pregnancy dreams can get pretty crazy, so don’t sweat it if you dream you’re marrying a fish or giving birth to your purse. But can these absurd dreams also indicate the sex of your future baby? This old wives’ tale says that if you dream about a child of a certain sex, you’re carrying the opposite.

• Is it accurate? Wild, wacky dreams are par for the course in pregnancy—especially as your body, hormones and sleep schedule adjust. But they won’t reveal what you’re having.

• What to know: Vivid dreams are normal in pregnancy and usually the result of hormonal changes, which affect your REM sleep cycle. You might dream of a little boy or girl, but there are probably lots of other factors at work here, too—as is always the case with dreams.

• What real moms have to say: “This was true for me… I repeatedly dreamed of a girl while I was pregnant with my son.” - Christin Perry, The Bump contributing writer and mom of four

Mood old wives’ tale

• How it supposedly works: Are you having major mood swings now that you’re pregnant, or are you over the moon all the time? Some people believe your mood is indicative of baby’s sex: The old wives’ tale for gender says moodiness and irritability are associated more closely with girl pregnancies, while a feeling of calm and contentment may indicate you’re expecting a boy.

• Is it accurate? Not in the slightest! Mood swings are usually a side effect of hormones and can differ with every pregnancy, regardless of baby’s sex.

• What to know: What really causes the roller coaster of emotions in pregnancy is the surge in estrogen and progesterone. The physical changes and stress that come with pregnancy also play a major role in mood swings.

• What moms have to say: “I have a little girl and am now 22 weeks pregnant with a boy. With my girl, I was really sick in the beginning but generally happy throughout the rest of my pregnancy. With my boy, I haven’t been sick at all, but I am so [moody]! I’ve been in the worst mood the entire time. It’s awful,” - Libbie77, The Bump community forum member

Linea nigra old wives’ tale

• How it supposedly works: Once you get to about the halfway point of pregnancy, you may notice a dark line that travels up and down the middle of your bump called the linea nigra. It’s basically hyperpigmentation caused by hormones, but some believe it can indicate the sex of your growing baby! They think that if it stops at your belly button, it means you may be having a girl. If the line continues all the way up to your ribs and chest, there’s a great chance you’re pregnant with a boy.

• Is it accurate? Negative! Medically speaking, the linea nigra has no connection to baby’s sex.

• What to know: The linea nigra is a perfectly normal part of pregnancy—but it isn’t related to baby’s sex. In reality, it’s just one type of skin pigmentation that occurs as a result of hormonal changes—and it’s different for every mom. For some, it shows up in the second or third trimester. For others, it doesn’t appear at all!

• What real moms have to say: “I definitely had one to my belly button with my daughter, and I only have a very faint line halfway to my belly button with my boy. Weird to me how different they are with each pregnancy.” - mamameg11, The Bump community forum member

Hair growth old wives’ tale

• How it supposedly works: If you’re sporting a head full of luscious locks during pregnancy, this quirky gender prediction test says you’re probably carrying a boy, while dry, limp hair may mean it’s a girl. Similarly, excessive hair growth—often in places you wouldn’t prefer—can indicate you’re carrying a boy, according to this myth. Ahh, the joys of pregnancy!

• Is it accurate? Far from it—pregnancy hair is different for every mom-to-be!

• What to know: The truth is that hair changes are usually a result of rapid hormonal shifts, nutritional deficiencies and stress in pregnancy—not baby’s sex.

• What real moms have to say: “I’m not a hairy person, but it definitely sprouted up a little during pregnancy. We’re having a boy.” - jmayamama, The Bump community forum member

Pregnancy acne old wives’ tale

• How it supposedly works: Are you rocking a dewy complexion that’s free from acne? You could be expecting a boy! Or, are you experiencing major acne breakouts during pregnancy? They say it’s all that extra estrogen from the girl you may be carrying.

• Is it accurate? Like most old wives’ tales for gender prediction, there isn’t any truth to this one.

• What to know: Mom’s complexion has long been a subject of debate when it comes to predicting baby’s sex. But acne and breakouts are purely a result of hormonal changes happening in the body.

• What real moms have to say: “I had zero acne with my first, who turned out to be a boy. This one, I have acne, and he’s also a boy! So no correlation for me.”- Charlotte02, The Bump community forum member

  Baby bump old wives’ tale

• How it supposedly works: Is the shape of your bump more like a watermelon or a basketball? If you happen not to know baby’s sex toward the end of your pregnancy, try this old wives’ tale: If your belly protrudes and seems to come to a point, like a watermelon, you may be carrying a girl. If it’s round like a basketball, you may be welcoming a boy.

• Is it accurate? Bumps come in all shapes and sizes, but none of them are scientifically proven to reveal baby’s sex.

• What to know: The shape of your bump has much more to do with your height than what baby will be. Taller women’s bumps take a more circular shape, while petite women often carry lower and wider.

• What real moms have to say: “In my first pregnancy, I had the perfect basketball belly. And, yes, I was expecting a boy! Coincidence? Probably. But it was still fun when I’d confirm for guessing strangers,” - Lauren Barth, associate content director for The Bump and mom of three

Morning sickness and nausea old wives’ tale

• How it supposedly works: Morning sickness and nausea is one of the most dominant symptoms of pregnancy, so it’s not all that surprising that there’s an old wives’ tale for gender prediction based on it. The story goes that if you have severe morning sickness, you’re pregnant with a girl. But if everything is smooth-sailing and sickness-free, you’re having a boy.

• Is it accurate? There are many factors behind pregnancy nausea and morning sickness, but there’s no definitive proof that baby’s sex is one of them.

• What to know: Nausea in pregnancy is actually a result of rising hCG hormone levels—and some studies have linked increased hCG with a female fetus. However, “the evidence isn’t conclusive,” Ortega says. “Nausea can vary widely for many reasons, regardless of baby’s [sex].”

• What real moms have to say: “I was equally horrifically nauseous with my boy pregnancy as I was with my two girl pregnancies!” - Lauren Barth, associate content director for The Bump and mom of three

Breast changes old wives’ tale

• How it supposedly works: Another old wives’ tale for gender is based on breast changes in pregnancy. Basically, if your left breast is larger, you’re having a girl. But if your right breast is larger, you’re having a boy.

• Is it accurate? It’s completely normal in pregnancy when one boob is bigger than the other. But it can’t tell you whether you’re having a boy or girl.

• What to know: In reality, “there’s no physiological connection between breast asymmetry and fetal gender,” midwife Ortega explains. Instead, the changes in breast size, shape, etc. that occur in pregnancy are related to hormones, rather than baby’s sex.

• What real moms have to say: “The left boob being bigger than the right one cracks me up—mine would also be a girl. Maybe left boobs just grow faster!” - jrcr07, The Bump community forum member

Hairline old wives’ tale

• How it supposedly works: Here’s a gender prediction you may not have heard about before. According to this old wives’ tale, in order to determine the sex of your next baby, look at the hairline on the nape of your current (or youngest) child’s neck. If their hairline comes to a peak in the middle, you’ll give birth to a child of the opposite sex. If it’s straight across, you’ll welcome another child of the same sex.

• Is it accurate?: This one is purely gender-guessing whimsy, so take it with a pinch of salt!

• What to know: Similar to other bizarre old wives’ tales about gender, the hairline test is likely to have been passed down by word of mouth with very little—if any—scientific backing.

• What real moms have to say: “When I found out about this one, I looked at my baby’s hairline on her neck, and lo and behold, it’s straight across—which means, according to this gender prediction test, if I were to go for baby No. 5, I’d end up with a fourth daughter. Have mercy,” - Christin Perry, mom of four.

Your partner’s weight as a gender predictor

• How it supposedly works: The myth goes that if your partner gains weight during your pregnancy, you’re having a girl.

• Is it accurate?: Nope! And if you’ve noticed it in your partner, it’s likely an empathetic response to your pregnancy.

• What to know: While there’s no scientific evidence to support this, the old wives’ tale likely came from what’s now known as couvade syndrome. This is a phenomenon when male or non-birthing partners experience pregnancy symptoms.

Chinese calendar for gender prediction

• How it supposedly works: Perhaps the most popular (non-medical) gender prediction test is the Chinese gender predictor chart. It uses the month baby was conceived, along with Mom’s age at conception, to predict baby’s sex.

• Is it accurate?: It’s about as accurate as a coin toss—though still a fun way to “calculate” what baby will be.

• What to know: The Chinese gender predictor chart has a storied history, and no one’s really sure exactly where it came from. Some say it stems back to the Qing Dynasty, while others say it was discovered in an ancient tomb, but there’s no evidence to back up either claim. (Wondering what your future could hold? Use our handy Chinese gender predictor calculator to plug in your information and see what it returns.)

• What real moms have to say: “It was accurate with my last pregnancy and it has been with my friends’ and cousins’ pregnancies as well. I’m doing my bloodwork soon to see if it’s accurate again.” - Monica N., mom in The Bump social-media community

Ring pregnancy gender test

• How it supposedly works: To do it, tie a string to your wedding ring, then lie down on your back and have your partner hold the ring by the string over your belly. Legend says if the ring swings in a circle, you’re having a girl. But if it swings back and forth, you’re about to become a boy mom.

• Is it accurate?: Zero scientific truth here, but still a cute ritual to try out while you wait for the official reveal. Plus, the wedding ring adds a personal touch!

• What to know: Some old wives’ tales are harder to trace back. But it’s pretty clear this one’s more about basic physics than baby’s supposed sex.

• What real moms have to say: We did the ring test, and it was correct for both.” - Alison R., mom of two.

Swinging necklace gender test

• How it supposedly works: The necklace gender test is nearly identical to the ring test, only you perform this one on your wrist. Why? No one seems to know. To try this test, use a necklace instead of a ring on a string. Place your arm on a table or another flat surface with your wrist facing up. Then, dangle the necklace over your wrist and bob it up and down a few times. Let it hover over your wrist and see what type of motion it makes once you stop bobbing it. If it moves in a circle, baby may be a girl. If it goes back and forth, you may be expecting a boy. (Or not!)

• Is it accurate?: Nope. Results really depend on how you hold the necklace!

• What to know: Again, this is a storied myth that’s been passed from generation to generation.

• What real moms have to say: “I went over to my husband’s dad’s house for a family Christmas party. Right away his aunt grabbed my hand and said, ‘Do you want to know what [baby] is?’—and, of course, I said yes,” shares joshandjulie08,a member of The Bump community. “She held my necklace about an inch above my wrist, and it started to move in a circle. She kept going, and it started to sway back and forth. Then, all of a sudden, it stopped. I got goosebumps!”

Mayan gender predictor test

• How it supposedly works: To perform the Mayan gender predictor test, all you need is a couple of numbers—specifically, the year baby was conceived and your age at conception. According to Mayan legend, if these numbers are both even or odd, then you’ll welcome a girl. But if one is even and the other is odd, it’s a boy.

• Is it accurate?: The Mayan prediction test is, in short, a hit-or-miss—fun for light guessing, but nothing to take seriously.

• What to know: It’s tough to say exactly how the Mayan predictor test came to be—but there’s been no archaeological evidence to support that it even existed in ancient times. Some forums even say it was invented by the internet as a “spin-off” of the Chinese prediction test.

• What real moms have to say: “Well, if I base it on my current two babies, it’s 50 percent accurate. But that’s about as good as anything else, right?!” - jen-dale, The Bump community forum member

Key gender test

• How it supposedly works: Here’s an off-the-wall baby gender test that seems to have no basis in science whatsoever, but is still fun to try! According to this one, if a mom-to-be picks up a key by the long, skinny end, she may be pregnant with a girl. If she picks it up by the broad, round end, she may be carrying a boy. (Ummmm… okay!)

• Is it accurate?: With no medical basis, this one’s strictly a myth!

• What to know: Not much is known about this test, other than that it was probably a belief passed down through oral tradition.

Baking soda gender test

• How it supposedly works: To try out this super-popular gender test at home, mix equal parts first-morning urine with baking soda, and watch how it reacts. If it fizzes, you could be pregnant with a boy, but if it doesn’t react, there’s a good chance it’s a girl (or so the story goes).

• Is it accurate?: Hardly—but it’s a fun experiment all the same!

• What to know: The actual science behind the baking soda gender test doesn’t have much to do with sex at all. What really causes the fizz is baking soda, which is a base, reacting to the acid in your urine. When the mixture doesn’t fizz, it’s usually just a sign your pee is less acidic.

• What moms have to say: “I did it around 13 weeks, and it fizzed. We’re having a boy. It worked for me—otherwise, I just got lucky it fizzed!” - Lyndsay22184, The Bump community forum member

Red cabbage gender test

• How it supposedly works: Similar to the baking soda gender prediction test is the red cabbage gender test. Only this time, you’re looking for a certain color rather than a fizzy reaction. To perform this baby gender test at home, chop some fresh red cabbage and place it in a pot of water. Bring the water to a rolling boil, then let it cool and pour some of the cabbage water into a cup. Take a sample of your first morning urine and mix equal parts with the cabbage water. Swirl it around and see what color it turns. Pink or red supposedly indicates a boy, while purple means a girl.

• Is it accurate?: Nope. (Still, there’s no harm in a little safe experimentation!)

• What to know: What the red cabbage test actually checks when the color of the water changes is the pH in your urine. But there are many factors that influence the pH in your pee during pregnancy—and no single pH level can accurately tell you whether you’re having a boy or girl.

• What real moms have to say: “Okay, so my results were clearly a boy, which is what my gut was telling me we were having anyway. My BFF is having a girl, so she’s taking the test too, just to see. Kinda funny!” - HeatherPB1020, The Bump community forum member

Drano gender test

• How it supposedly works: According to this highly suspect test, mixing Drano with urine will tell you whether you’re having a boy or girl.

• Is it accurate?: Not only is this test totally inaccurate, but it’s also unsafe!

• What to know: A word of warning—this test can produce noxious, harmful fumes, Meleen Chuang, MD, an ob-gyn and medical director of women’s health at the Family Health Centers at NYU Langone explains. There’s no reason to put yourself or baby at risk just for a gender prediction test (and a dubious one at that). If you’re keen on trying a gender test at home, try some of the safer alternatives above.

Where Did Old Wives’ Tales for Gender Originate?

Old wives’ tales for gender prediction have existed for a very long time—longer than modern science—but it’s hard to pinpoint exactly when and where they originated. According to midwife Ortega, they’ve been around for centuries and vary greatly between cultures. “Old wives’ tales were often used to explain natural phenomena, especially related to pregnancy and birth, before modern medicine provided us with evidence-based answers,” she says. “Before ultrasounds or genetic testing existed, these myths most likely began from a desire to find the meaning in early pregnancy symptoms.”

Old Wives’ Tale Gender “Quiz”

Itching to know if it’s a boy or girl? Find out what the old wives’ tales have to say with this fun (but for entertainment purposes only!) game. It’s super easy—just check off your symptoms below. If you have more checks on the left, it’s a boy; if you have more on the right, it’s a girl (or so the legends say!).

To Sum It Up

There are tons of at-home experiments and old wives’ tales for gender prediction out there. While they can be a fun way to pass the time during pregnancy, don’t rely on them for accurate results. Always speak to your provider for reliable information concerning baby’s sex, Dr. Chuang says, adding that medical procedures such as ultrasounds and genetic testing are the most precise way to make the call.

Remember, these myths have no basis in science and have only been “proven” through anecdotal evidence. “Old wives’ tales have woven their way into the magic of pregnancy for many generations. They’re fun to share with family and friends, and often laugh about,” Ortega says. “When it comes to truly knowing baby’s [sex], it’s evidence-based modern medicine that holds the real answers. Whether you find out early or wait for that beautiful surprise moment at birth, at the heart of it all is the same wish: a healthy baby and a well-supported, well-loved parent.”

How We Developed This Article

Old wives’ tales and DIY gender prediction tests are a fun way to feed your curiosity while you wait for the official verdict. We scoured the internet to give you a full rundown of the weirdest, funniest and most popular myths parents have tried and tested. We also interviewed an ob-gyn and a nurse midwife, along with real moms from The Bump community. This article was then vetted through fact-check and reviewed by our medical reviewer. Learn more about how we ensure the accuracy of our content through our editorial and medical review process.

Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.