For those with kids - best birth month/season?

[Anonymous]

Hi there. I am a new poster, and DH and I are just starting to talk about starting a family. During our most recent conversation, we got into an interesting conversation about the best time of year to have a baby... and the conversation ranged from best time of year to take parental leave to best chances to development success as our child grows up to best time of year to have a birthday. For those of you with kids - I would love to hear your thoughts on the best month/season to have a child. I would appreciate any advice/guidance/experiences you can offer.

*DISCLAIMER*
Obviously, I completely understand that a lot of this will be out of our hands, and that any healthy child would be a tremendous gift. I got it - this is a small concern in the world of big concerns. But we've got to decide to start TTC at some point, so we may as well pick a point that others recommend.

[Anonymous]

I am just starting to TTC for #2 (after a long road for #1) and I definitely have thoughts on this.

I had a winter baby last time (November). I thought it sucked. Short days (dark a lot). Stuck inside in the cold. And I thought it made the holidays depressing. They just kind of went by in a total blur that I couldn't even fully acknowledge. However, I think there can be advantages (academically and physically) to having a child who is on the older end of the spectrum, particularly if your child is a boy. I believe there have even been studies on this, but I'm too lazy to look for them. Google if you're interested, because I've definitely seen info on this. So from that perspective, I guess November is a good birthday. DC will always be one of the oldest in class.

If I could pick any month (in the DC area, at least) to have a baby, I'd probably pick March. The child is still not the youngest in class, but you get maternity leave in the Spring.

[Anonymous]

I don't have kids yet, so take this for what it's worth, but I loved having a November birthday. I was always one of the oldest in my grade and never felt left out the way some of my April/May bday friends did when it came to driving/r-rated movies/going to bars in college/etc.

[Anonymous]

May!
Beautiful, not too hot, not buggy weather so you can go out right away. And later on it's a great month to have an outdoor birthday party
Have summer off for maternity leave
Not pregnant in super hot months
Can wear baggy sweaters for most of winter = no need for as much maternity clothes

I highly recommend it.

[Anonymous]

The majority on this forum are just happy to have a child, irregardless of the month. You'd get more answers in the Expectant Mom's section.

[Anonymous]

ditto pp at 17:07. really, please post in expectant mom forum. not here, where really the thought of having a child any day, any season, any hour, any holiday would be a-okay. to have the luxury to choose when my child would be born? that'd be great. right now i'm struggling with IF my child will be born. not to beat you down, but please, just post in the other forum.

[Anonymous]

PPs - thank you, I did just that. Please know I that in no way meant to offend anyone. I am new to this forum, and the "TTC" page description made it seem like the most accurate place to post my question. Again, my apologies, and my very best wishes to everyone here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PPs - thank you, I did just that. Please know I that in no way meant to offend anyone. I am new to this forum, and the "TTC" page description made it seem like the most accurate place to post my question. Again, my apologies, and my very best wishes to everyone here.

I completely disagree with the PPs who told you to do this. You will be TTC, not an expectant mom. This IS the best place to post your question.

There is room in here for EVERYONE who is TTC -- heck, it took me and DH a year of TTC to conceive, so I guess you could say I'm on the touchier side sometimes, and I think you should be welcome to post your question here!

[Anonymous]

Absolutely appropriate for this forum!

I had a October baby and personally I loved having the winter/holidays off and time to lose a little baby weight before the summer.

I also had an April baby and loved that because the weather was great. Although, I hated trying to breastfeed at the pool and felt like a beached whale! lol!

I did like that my October baby is older for his grade and thing my April baby being younger will be a little more disadvanged when she starts Kindergarten (although, I think she will be fine).

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

I'm due for an early May baby -- it seems pretty ideal. I was able to wear big sweaters and hold off on maternity shirts for longer, only started getting huge now, so I don't need a maternity coat (I can just wear a normal coat and leave it open -- I'm so warm all the time that I haven't needed to button up for a month! Won't have to be preg during the hottest months, and I'll have FMLA from May-August.

I'm pretty happy at the way it worked out, because we started trying almost a year before we conceived. So, my thoughts are -- don't try for a certain time, because you really don't know how long it'll take, so you might as well just go for it whenever you feel ready to take the plunge.

[Anonymous]

OP, you are welcome to post here. This forum is for anyone TTC; it's not only for those struggling with infertility. (and I went through fertility treatments & tried for over a year for my last child so I'm not indifferent to those struggles.)

I think a fall/winter birthday right after the school cutoff is great. Three of my kids have their birthdays then. I feel like I will get to keep them for an extra year before they go to college, and it's nice, especially for my boys, to be among the oldest in their class. I also have one with a late summer birthday. She's pretty precocious & does fine being one of the youngest in an elementary school setting, but I don't love the idea of her being so young when she goes off to college, or even being one of the youngest when she starts high school, which is only a few years away.

[Anonymous]

Our DD was born in December. Whew. Let me just say that December is tough. I was born in December and I now have sympathy for my mother for dealing with birthday, holidays galore, school parties, etc. etc. etc.

That being said, we have been trying for #2 for quite some time so if we have another in December I will be happy for it. 8-)

Good luck to you, may you be able to choose the birth month with ease!

[Anonymous]

OP, please do not be scared off. This is a forum for everyone TTC, not just infertility.

Honestly, for the IF people who don't want her to post. I get it. I have been there. But just don't open the thread. Asking her not to post is unreasonable and ruins this board for others.

[Anonymous]

I see all who don't mind the post have had children.

[Anonymous]

I am an earlier pp who asked op to post elsewhere. Sorry. I had a bfn today and it has been a partIcularly painful day. Of course all are welcome here. It is just hard sometimes.