Popular Old Wives’ Tales for Gender Prediction (Plus a Free Printable)
Last updated on October 6th, 2025 at 10:37 pm
Is it a boy or a girl?
That’s the big question every pregnant mom starts asking pretty early on. Once you know the gender, it feels like everything else can start falling into place.
Do you start looking at baby names? Thinking about the nursery? Picking out clothes? For me, the moment I found out the gender was when the pregnancy really started to feel real. It helped me picture who I was getting ready to meet.
Of course, the only way to truly know your baby’s gender is on delivery day. Even ultrasounds, while usually accurate, aren’t guaranteed. But most parents don’t want to wait that long. That’s where old wives tales predictions come in.
From your bump shape to your pregnancy cravings, there always seems to be someone ready to make a guess. These old wives’ tales show up everywhere during pregnancy, and whether or not you believe them, they’re hard to ignore. If you’ve been wondering what the signs might say about your baby’s gender, here’s a roundup of the most common ones people still talk about.
And be sure to scroll down to the bottom to get a free printable Old Wives’ Tale Game that can be used just for fun with your spouse or even at a gender reveal party!
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What Is An Old Wives’ Tale?
Old wives’ tales are traditional beliefs that have been shared and passed down over time, especially among women. In pregnancy, these tales often claim to predict a baby’s gender based on symptoms, cravings, or how you’re carrying.
There’s no science behind them, but they’ve stuck around because they add a little fun to the waiting.
Most parents know these old wives’ tales aren’t actually reliable, and that’s fine. It’s not really about being right. It’s just a fun way to pass the time while you wait for that ultrasound or delivery day.
Old Wives’ Tales for Gender Predictions
If you’re curious and want to play along, here are some of the most well-known old wives’ tales that claim to predict whether you’re having a boy or a girl.
1. Carrying High or Low
This is one of the first ones people love to comment on, especially once your bump starts showing. If you’re carrying high, it’s said to be a girl. If the bump is sitting lower, that points to a boy. Either way, be ready for plenty of opinions from random strangers in the checkout line.
2. How’s Your Skin?
There’s a saying that “girls steal your beauty,” which is where this one comes from. If you’re suddenly breaking out or dealing with oily skin, some say that means girl. On the flip side, if your skin is clear and glowing, it could be a boy.
3. Baby Movements
According to this old wives’ tale, boys tend to be more active in the womb. So if your baby’s been extra wiggly, it might be a boy. If the kicks are fewer and gentler, that could mean girl.
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4. Sweet or Salty Cravings
One of the most talked about signs is what you’ve been craving lately. If you can’t get enough sweets like chocolate, ice cream, or baked goods, it’s said to be a girl.
Craving salty or savory foods like chips or cheese? That might mean boy. No guarantees, but it’s fun to pay attention to what your body seems to want.
5. Morning Sickness
If you’ve had strong nausea, especially during the first trimester and beyond, some say that means you’re having a girl. If you’ve had little to no morning sickness, it could be a boy.
Every pregnancy is different, but this is one of the first things people love to ask about when guessing the gender.
6. Shape of Your Belly
According to this one, the way your bump is shaped can reveal your baby’s gender. A round, basketball-like belly is said to mean boy. If your belly looks wider or more spread out, it could be a girl.
7. The Pendulum Test
This is a fun little one that’s easy to try at home. Take a ring (typically a wedding ring), tie it to a string or piece of hair, and hold it still over your belly. If it starts to move in a circle, that’s said to mean girl. If it swings back and forth like a pendulum, it could be a boy.
8. Baby’s Heart Rate
Hearing your baby’s heartbeat is always a special moment. Some people believe the speed can give you a clue about the gender. If the heart rate is over 140 beats per minute, it might be a girl. If it’s under 140, that could mean boy.
If you aren’t sure what your baby’s heart beat has been be sure to ask at your next appointment!
9. Sleeping Side
Have you noticed which side you tend to wake up on lately? According to this old wives’ tale, waking up on your left side means you’re having a boy, while sleeping on your right side points to a girl.
10. Chinese Gender Calendar
This one’s been around for centuries and is still one of the most popular gender prediction methods out there. The Chinese Gender Calendar uses your age at conception and the month you conceived to guess whether you’re having a boy or a girl.
For my first it was correct but my second was not. So it really is just a 50/50 shot. Check out this gender prediction chart to see if your baby’s gender is accurate!
11. Cold or Warm Feet
Have your feet been feeling colder than usual during pregnancy? According to this old wives’ tale, cold feet mean you might be carrying a boy. If your feet feel just as warm or even warmer than before, that could point to a girl.
12. Partner’s Weight Gain
This one always gets people talking. If your partner starts gaining a little weight during your pregnancy, the tale says it could mean you’re having a girl. If they stay the same while you grow, that might point to a boy. Whether it’s real or just coincidence, it’s another one to add to the list of guesses.
Free Printable: Old Wives’ Tales Gender Prediction Game
To make things even more fun, I put together a printable you can use to track all the old wives’ tales for gender prediction. It’s a great way to play along at home or get guests involved at a baby shower or gender reveal.
There are two formats to choose from. One is a full-page version, great if you want to fill it out on your own or with your partner. The other has two sheets per page, which works well if you’re printing multiple copies for a group.
Each version includes some of the most popular gender predictions, with space to mark whether each one leans boy or girl. Have everyone guess based off the predictions and see how many end up being right.
Don’t Want to Wait to Find Out?
If you don’t want to wait until the 20-week ultrasound, there’s a way to find out your baby’s gender much earlier. The SneakPeek test is a simple at-home blood test that can tell you if you’re having a boy or a girl as early as six weeks into pregnancy.
You collect a small sample using their kit, send it in, and get your results quickly—usually within a few days. It’s an easy way to get answers without waiting halfway through your pregnancy.
With SneakPeek, you can start planning sooner. Whether that means setting up the nursery, picking a name, or organizing a gender reveal, knowing early helps you feel more prepared and more connected during those early weeks. Skip the wait and find out sooner with SneakPeek.
Final Thoughts on Old Wives’ Tales for Gender Prediction
Old wives’ tales are such a fun part of pregnancy. Some of them make you laugh, others make you wonder how they’ve stuck around for so long, but somehow, they always spark a good conversation.
I’d love to know—which ones do you believe in? Were any of them actually right for you? Drop a comment and share your predictions or experiences. It’s always fun to see which ones turn out to be spot on and which ones completely miss the mark.
