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Plus, other methods for predicting your baby’s gender
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The Chinese gender prediction chart has been used by expecting parents for hundreds of years. Although not backed by science or medicine, it is a fun tool to use if it’s too early to tell whether your baby is going to be a boy or a girl, or if you’re waiting for your baby’s birth to officially learn their gender. In this article, we’ll go over everything you need to know about the Chinese baby gender predictor, including what it is, how it works, and how accurate it may be. We’ll also go over a few other fun methods for predicting your baby’s gender from ancient history and folklore. Keep reading for everything you need to know!

Chinese Gender Predictor

The Chinese gender predictor uses the lunar age of the pregnant person at the time of conception and the lunar date of the baby’s conception to determine its sex. This method isn’t scientific or backed by evidence, but it is a fun way to guess your baby’s gender if it’s too early to find out for sure.

Section 1 of 5:

What is the Chinese Gender Predictor?

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  1. It uses the birthdate of the pregnant person and the estimated date of conception of the baby, then predicts the baby’s sex based on the Chinese lunar calendar and astrology. [1] The exact origins of this method are unknown, but according to legend, it was discovered 700 years ago in a royal tomb near Beijing, China. [2]
    • This method is not scientific or backed by evidence, so it shouldn’t be used if you want to definitively determine the sex of your baby.
    • However, if you’re just looking for a fun and lighthearted way to make guesses about your baby’s gender, the Chinese gender predictor could be an entertaining tool to use! [3]
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Section 2 of 5:

How to Use the Chinese Gender Predictor

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  1. Input your birthdate and estimated conception date into the calculator. Search “Chinese gender predictor” online, and click on the one you want to use. Most will ask for your birthdate and the estimated date of your baby’s conception, but some just ask for your baby’s due date (and then calculate the conception date on their own). [4]
    • The dates you input are then used to calculate what your “lunar age” was at the time of conception, as well as the “lunar date” of the baby’s conception (both based on the Chinese lunar calendar).
    • At this point, most calculators will simply tell you the prediction for whether you’re having a boy or a girl. However, you can also use your lunar age at conception and the lunar month of conception to read the Chinese gender prediction chart on your own. [5]
Section 3 of 5:

Is the Chinese gender predictor accurate?

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  1. Some parents swear by this test and report that it has been incredibly accurate in their cases. However, there isn’t a lot of evidence to back up these claims. In fact, researchers at the University of Michigan tested the Chinese gender predictor on 2.8 million Swedish births, and they found that it was correct about 50% of the time—about the same accuracy as flipping a coin. [6]
    • The bottom line? The Chinese gender predictor is not a foolproof or scientific method, so if you need an accurate answer, visit your OB-GYN. However, if you’re just hoping to use the predictor for fun, go ahead! There's a 50/50 chance it could be right.
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Section 4 of 5:

Other Gender Prediction Methods

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  1. There are tons of “old wives’ tales” out there about gender prediction. For most of human history, it was impossible to know whether you’d be having a boy or a girl before the birth of the baby, so it makes sense that people came up with various signs, superstitions, and methods to guess a baby’s gender. Here are some of the most well-known ones: [7] "
    • Morning sickness: Some believe that if you have more extreme morning sickness, you’re having a girl. There’s actually some research to back this up, so it’s one of the more accurate prediction methods (though not foolproof!). [8]
    • Bump position: If you’re carrying the baby low on your stomach , some believe this suggests you’ll be having a boy, while carrying high suggests a girl.
    • Belly shape: It’s believed that a pointier bump (like a watermelon) predicts a boy, while a rounder, more spread-out bump suggests a girl.
    • Cravings: If you crave more salty or savory snacks during pregnancy, some believe this suggests you’re having a boy, while sweet or citrus cravings suggest a girl.
    • Fetal heart rate: More than 150 fetal beats per minute supposedly predicts a girl, while fewer than 150 beats per minute suggests a boy. (Normal fetal heart rate is 120-160).
    • Pregnancy dreams: One old wives’ tale suggests that if you dream about your baby while pregnant, you’ll end up having the opposite gender from the one in your dream.
    • Ring test: This test involves dangling a chain with a charm or ring over your belly, like a pendulum. If it swings back and forth, you’re having a boy, and if it swings in a circle, you’re having a girl.
    • Hand display test: This test involves saying “Show me your hands” to a pregnant person. If they naturally hold out their hands palms-up, this indicates a girl, and if they naturally show their hands palms-down, this indicates a boy.
    • Number test: According to this tale, you’ll have a girl if your age and year of conception are both even numbers or both odd numbers. If one is odd and the other is even, you’ll have a boy. [9]
Section 5 of 5:

How to Determine the Sex of Your Baby

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  1. The only way to accurately determine your baby’s sex before birth is to visit your OB-GYN for an ultrasound. A baby’s sex can usually be seen via ultrasound around 18-20 weeks of pregnancy, so most parents who choose to learn their child’s sex before their birth find out this information at the routine 20-week anatomy scan. [10]
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