
All parent’s-to-be ultimately just hope to have a healthy baby, but it’s no secret many are actually hoping for a certain gender.
Some parents dream of tutus, tiaras and a nursery bathed in pink, while others look forward to superhero birthday parties and a playroom filled with Matchbox cars.
Want to tip the scales in your preferred direction? Try one of the most popular gender selection methods below. Some are based in science, others are just-for-fun folkore. All guarantee odds of at least 50 per cent success!
1. Eat your Froot Loops.
Recently, researchers in England surveyed 740 mums-to-be and found that those who consumed more calories during their pregnancy were more likely to have boys – especially those who ate breakfast cereal.
But will it work? Probably not. Although, according to this study, 56 per cent of women who regularly filled their plates had boys compared to 44 per cent of those who ingested fewer calories. And of the women who ate cereal every morning, 59 per cent had boys. However, Robert Brzyski, M.D., P.h.D., spokesperson for the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, warns that we shouldn’t jump to conclusions. “This one finding might seem to show a possible association but it doesn’t prove that the mothers’ diets affected the sex of their babies,” he says.
2. Consider Kama Sutra.
No, you don't have to do the Rest of the Warrior position (don't even ask) to increase the odds of conceiving a certain gender. However, according to folklore, certain positions might make a difference. For instance, some people believe that if you want a boy, you should do it doggy style or standing up. If you want a girl, then stick with the missionary position.
But will it work? Probably not. It doesn't matter how you do the deed, you're still looking at 50/50 odds. "People who are passionate about choosing the sex of their child sometimes resort to these methods, but they're not proven to work," explains Robin Elise Weiss, author of Guarantee the Sex of Your Baby. However, there's no harm in trying new positions, so have fun shaking things up in the shack.
3. Look to the East.
About 700 years ago, a Chinese scientist allegedly discovered a pregnancy lunar calendar in a royal tomb near Beijing. The chart can supposedly predict the sex of your child based on the mother's lunar age and month of conception. It claims to work for women whose calendar age in 45 or younger. To try your hands in the acient fates, check out the Chinese gender chart yourself.
But will it work? Probably not. Believers claim this calendar is 90 per cent accurate, but experts say don't count on it. Your odds of conceiving either sex are still about equal.
4. Look in the mirror.
If you want a girl, make sure your partner is easy on the eyes. According to a study in the Reproductive Sciences, better-looking parents are more likely to have daughters. Consider it survival of the prettiest - since attractiveness is an important trait for women looking for mates, those Angelina's and Brad's out there are more predisposed to have daughters than sons because of evolution.