11 Signs You’re Having a Boy (Plus How Accurate They Really Are!)

Seeing blue? Learn the signs you’re having a boy and if they’re just myth. Or is there truth to the old wives’ tales? Find out now!

Have a hunch baby's a boy? Learn about the signs you're having a boy. Are these signs just myth? Or is there a truth to the old wives' tales? Find out now.

Boy or girl? That’s what newly pregnant mamas want to know! Maybe you’ve been keeping a log of gender predictor test results or maybe you just have a countdown until your 20-week ultrasound. In either case, baby’s sex is the question of the moment, and this post will cover the most widely debated signs you’re having a boy, plus the truth on their accuracy.

What Determines the Sex of the Baby?

If your baby is a boy, his penis will start to develop about nine weeks after conception—that’s the 11th week of pregnancy. Although, to be precise, that’s only when the external genitalia form. Your baby’s sex was formed long before week 11; it was determined at the exact moment of conception when his DNA was determined by the fusion of the egg and sperm.

In order for the male sex to be created, a sperm carrying the Y chromosomes fertilizes the egg (which carries the X chromosome). As a result, your boy will have the XY chromosome pair. (A girl would have an XX chromosome pair.)

When Do You Find Out the Sex of the Baby?

So your boy has always been a boy, but when you do you get to find out his sex? If you opt for an early genetic test, such as the MaterniT21, you’ll get information about your baby’s genetics, as well as sex, around 10 weeks. How are these two things linked? This non-invasive blood test looks for chromosomal abnormalities, and because the X and Y are also chromosomes, you’ll get this information in your results.

If you don’t opt for the MaterniT21 test, you can learn the sex of your baby during the 20-week ultrasound, also called the anatomy scan.

While you wait to learn the baby’s gender, you can have fun sorting through these theories.

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Signs You’re Having a Boy

Once you start spotting the early signs of pregnancy, you might start looking into everything as potential signs you’re having a boy. Explore these old wives’ tales, but remember that most of them are just for fun!

1. Morning sickness

The myth: If you have no or minimal morning sickness, it’s one of the more reliable signs you’re having a boy.

The verdict: There is a little science to support this claim. However, the studies all focused on severe morning sickness, also called hyperemesis gravadarum (HG). A 2001 study published in Epidemiology found that women who were diagnosed with HG were more likely to have baby girls than baby boys. This was also corroborated by a Swedish study, a Danish study, and a 2004 Washington University study. However, mamas with morning sickness do have boys, so don’t use this as a definitive sign you’re having a boy.

2. Belly shape

The myth: Carrying low? The myths say this is one of the signs you’re having a boy!

The verdict: Although some mamas swear by this, belly shape is not an indication of baby’s sex. But if you are curious, these things do affect your shape: how much weight you’ve gained, how many babies you are carrying, your pre-pregnancy shape, how toned your ab muscles are, and if this is your first pregnancy or not. Believe it or not, even diastasis recti can affect your belly shape. (Read more about when you start to show here.)

3. Food cravings

The myth: What is mama craving? If she’s craving salty or sour food, then it’s time to welcome a boy. Is she craving meat? It’s a boy!

The verdict: Food cravings do not indicate the sex of the baby, but you still shouldn’t ignore a craving. As it turns out, your cravings can tell you important information about what your body needs. For instance, craving salty foods means that your body is in need of more healthy fats, according to Registered Dietician Taylor Newhouse from Texas A&M School of Public Health. And for the meat? Mama may just need a little more iron in her diet. (source)

4. A big appetite

The myth: If you’re hungry all the time, it’s a sign you’re having a boy.

The verdict: This one is actually plausible! One study of 244 pregnant women in the U.S. found that women carrying boys had a 10 percent higher daily calorie intake than those carrying girls. Mamas pregnant with boys also had an 8 percent higher intake of protein, 9 percent higher carbohydrate intake, an 11 percent higher intake of animal fats, and a 15 percent higher intake of vegetable fats

5. Hair growth

The myth: Long and lustrous locks? It’s one of the more common signs you’re having a boy.

The verdict: Not so fast! You can thank your prenatal vitamins and your hormones—particularly the surge in estrogen—for your lovely locks. If you take a peek at your prenatal vitamins, you’ll see many nutrients (e.g. zinc, biotin, and other B vitamins) that are powerhouses of nutrition for hair and nail health. Your diet also plays a big role in these things. (source) Check out my post on how to have rockstar hair, skin, and nails here.

6. Cold feet

The myth: Got cold feet? It’s one of the signs you’re having a boy.

The verdict: There are actually several causes for cold feet during pregnancy, and no, it doesn’t mean you’re having second thoughts! Cold feet can be caused by poor circulation, neuropathy, hypothyroidism and anemia. (source) If you are at-risk for gestational diabetes, it’s especially important to monitor for any signs of poor circulation to make sure you manage any underlying health conditions during your pregnancy. Of course, cold feet can also just be because it’s winter, your house is cold, or you need to throw on some cozy socks!

7. Urine color

The myth: Dark urine means you are pregnant with a baby boy.

The verdict: As it turns out, your urine can tell you a lot of things. It can tell you if you are ovulating (with an LH strip), it can tell you if you are pregnant (with an hCG test), and it can tell you if you are dehydrated. What it can’t do? Though some say urine pH is a reliable predictor of baby’s sex (more alkaline urine means a baby boy), your urine’s pH can be altered by foods, supplements, and medications. Unfortunately, this renders the baking soda test unreliable. Read more about this method of gender prediction here.

8. Skin condition

The myth: Dry skin means you are carrying a boy.

The verdict: Dry skin does not mean that your baby is a boy, but this is not a symptom to ignore. If you are experiencing all-over dryness, try increasing your water intake. If you already drink eight 8-ounce glasses, aim for 10 glasses. You may also need to hydrate your skin, too. If you experience a dry, itchy belly due to your skin tightening and stretching, try moisturizing with coconut oil.

Note: If your dry, itchy skin is relentless, talk to your doctor about PUPPS or cholestasis, which are pregnancy complications characterized by severe itching.

9. Linea nigra

The myth: Does your linea nigra extend all the way to your rib cage? If so, the old wives’ tales say that it’s one of the signs you’re having a boy.

The verdict: This isn’t a reliable sign you’re having a boy. Linea nigra is just one of many ways your skin is affected during pregnancy. In this case, your hormones (specifically the melanocyte-stimulating hormone) alter the parts of your cells that produce pigment, and as a result, many pregnant women see this line extend across the center of the belly down to the top of the bikini line. Don’t worry about this line! It’s harmless and caused by the same hormones that darken your areolas in preparation for breastfeeding.

10. Heart rate

The myth: If the fetal heart rate is low, it’s one of the signs you’re having a boy.

The verdict: This is a bit misleading because there is much debate about what’s considered low. A normal fetal heartbeat during pregnancy ranges from 120 to 160 bpm, though slows slightly just before birth (it’s still about twice that of the average adult!). (source) Exact heart rate varies from baby to baby, and any changes in heart rate is much more dependent upon gestational age than sex. In fact, this study debunked this myth altogether! However, I find that some midwives use this as an indicator and some moms swear by it.

11. Dreams or intuition

Have you had a dream that you’re having a boy? Or just have a hunch? Believe it or not, these can be more reliable signs you’re having a boy than anything else listed above. ?(Read more about pregnancy dreams—and their meanings—here.)

Convinced You’re Having a Boy?

These old wives’ tales are fun, aren’t they? While not reliable indicators, they can make the wait (whether that’s for the anatomy scan or for the day you give birth) a little more bearable.

How About You?

Were any of these signs you’re having a boy true for you? Did you correctly guess your baby’s sex?

Genevieve Howland

About the Author

Genevieve Howland is a childbirth educator and breastfeeding advocate. She is the bestselling author of The Mama Natural Week-by-Week Guide to Pregnancy and Childbirth and creator of the Mama Natural Birth Course. A mother of three, graduate of the University of Colorado, and YouTuber with over 130,000,000 views, she helps mothers and moms-to-be lead healthier and more natural lives.

46 Comments

  1. Am 20 years old. This is my first pregnancy and am now 6weeks pregnant..Am experiencing morning sickness,food craving to meat, etc.so pray for me ,i want a baby boy.

    • Dear what did you had from this pregnancy, a boy or girl???
      Plz let us know.

  2. Hi I’m 24 weeks with my 4th baby. I have 3 boys already and I did not have morning sickness, craved more on salty and sour food, did not like oily food and I prefer a lot of vegetarian dishes over meat. This pregnancy experience is really the opposite of my first 3, so I actually was hoping for a girl. Funny thing is that instead of morning sickness, Iam like having afternoon sickness and I hardly eat well. But then my scan showed I will be having another boy, so yeah i guess its just a different experience with this little dude.

  3. It’s my first pregnancy, I’m craving for a boy. I don’t have morning sickness, I don’t feel anything, I always feel normal, I eat anything, I only feel uncomfortable when I eat too much. Is it a sign that I’m going to get a baby boy 😩

    • Dear, what did you had from this pregnancy??
      Plz let us know??

  4. Im 27 year.10weeks no morning sickness .eat alot

    • fun

      • fun

  5. I thought it would be the opposite way around (on the morning sickness part).

    I’ve had 4 kids, (3x girls, 1x boy)

    No morning sickness with the girls… Heaps of morning sickness with my boy.

    With my boy I craved meat. I even almost ate a sausage raw (good job my dad was nearby to stop me)!

    With my girls I craved similar things… salt and vinegar chips/crisps, pickles, sweets etc…

    I also found I had bigger mood swings with my boy.

    The girls seemed easier to carry. My boys birth was the fastest (1 hour start to finish) and was the most painful. My girls were longer. 9 hours, 4 hours, 2 hours.

  6. I had three girls already with morning sickness but this my pregnancy no morning sickness am very strong I eat alot I love meat like mad am four months I pray it will be a boy I have hairs on my legs 😂😂😂😂

    • You wish🤣😂🤣😂🤭

    • Dear what did you had from this pregnancy a boy or girl???
      Plz let us know??

  7. I’m 35 with #4. I had signs for a boy, No morning sickness and salty cravings. I have 3 girls that were all daily morning sickness. And for this one I felt like oh this is way different it must be a boy. Had my 20 weeks sono and they say it’s a girl 😭. I was really hoping for a boy.

  8. Am 20 weeks pregnant. I went for scan. The doctor says it is a boy .

  9. I’m 11 weeks pregnant I’m starting to show before at 6 weeks I puked everyday all day I couldn’t eat or drink anything without puking currently I’m always tired craving steak , I had a dream I was having a boy and usually my dreams are true but I want a girl !

    • SHY, What did you end up having?

      • I would love to have a baby boy cause I already have two girls

        • I would love to hve a baby boy
          I’m already hve 4 girl’s

    • That what happened to my mum during her fifth pregnancy.she was praying for a male child but it became a female.IT WAS GOD’S MIRACLE.

  10. Good

  11. M 38yrs pregnant and i dnt have morning sickness nd i eat everything but if i ate toomuch i vomite i have to eat small but most of the time i always tired does that mean is a boy

  12. I am having all the symptoms of boy but my Dr told me kts a girl…. In my previous pregnancy I had all these symptoms and had boy too but this time Dr says its Girl time… I am little confuse let see what pops out 😍

    • Same situation here…………so have you confirmed what’s the gender

    • Hi where u know about ur baby gender

      • I’m 41 years old I have boys now I’m pregnant Idont know about the gender 18 weeks pregnant

  13. I am 40 this is my 3rd baby.. I had throw up twice only at the very beginning of my pregnancy since then i feel only nauseated. With my 2 girls I had Bad morning sickness and craved sweets. With this pregnancy body has been calm with no morning sickness. I only crave salty spicy food. I did the baking soda test and it fizzed.. let’s see but the pregnancy has been very calm and I am enjoying it?

    • congratulations for being pregnant!!!!!!!!!!!
      Is it a boy or a girl!!!!!!!!!!😉

    • I eat salty and sour food had no morning sickness while carrying my lad
      Had really bad morning sickness and Nausea with my girl eat sweet and Savoury food
      Carried all at front very low bump with the boy
      Carried high up lot weight around hipbones with my girl
      Hope it helps

    • Maybe it’s a baby boy

      • I’m 10 week pregnant and we are expecting a baby boy!

        • How do you know your carrying a boy at 10weeks

          • There is a genetic blood test the mother can have done at 10 weeks that tells you the gender. My bf and I will get it done as well but we have to cover the gender so we won’t know until the reveal.

    • Dear what did you had from this pregnancy a boy or a girl?? please let us know

  14. I’m 6 weeks pregnant I’m not vomiting only nausea,i always sleep on a right side,no appitate of food,I’m gaining weight,yellow in complexion..

    • Did you have a girl?

  15. I had bad morning sickness, all day sickness! Couldn’t eat or drink anything without throwing up. Chinese calendar told me it was a girl. I had all symptoms of having a girl turns out im having a boy! Don’t believe the “symptoms” pregnancy is hard and some bodies take it better than others. Just have to wait until your 18 weeks check up

  16. Hi.im 24 and my t my second baby icrave for roasted meat all the time I even wake up at night sometime to eat something I’m carrying low and I have a lot of feutal movements than of my first baby I always dream about baby girls but the Chinese gender chart says I’m carrying a boy and also in my first pregnancy it was a girl and also the chart told me it will be a girls I’m confused what gender am I carrying.

    • This is my first pregnancy. I had a severe morning sickness… I find it difficult to drink water in the morning. I love spicy food.

  17. I conceived at 38 years and my due date is 23rd August 2020…what could my baby gender be?

    • You can check it with the Chinese gender Predictor

  18. I don’t suffer from morning sickness,my belly was also round,i carving for simple food,i had all symptoms of a boy but don’t know that it’s a boy or girl?

  19. With this pregnancy, I’ve noticed my skin is much more oilier than before I was pregnant. I am experiencing no morning sickness at all. Gut feeling says girl. But I also have this feeling there is more than 1 heartbeat! Twins runs in my family and also my boyfriend’s family too! My mom is a TWIN. My boyfriend is a TWIN.
    I was pregnant with twins in my 1st pregnancy. ???

    • What did you end up having?! My skin is so much oiler in this pregnancy than before and I don’t know what I’m having yet!

  20. Hi. Recently found out I am pregnant at age 37… this will be my 4th child. My previous pregnancies were most symptoms were all the same….like the bad cases of morning sickness, barely grew hair on my legs than I normally did when I wasn’t expecting, belly barely showed, heartbeat was low, and the #1 important, definite sign it was ALL BOYS….. MY BELLY SHAPE!!! My belly shape would be low including PERFECTLY ROUND!!

    Belly shape for girl is high and POINTY!

    P.S. My sister just gave birth this morning, and I noticed her belly was round and I was RIGHT! She had a baby boy!!

  21. I have two girls and a brand new baby boy! I had more morning sickness with my son but the heart rate was always lower than my girls.

  22. Pregnant 3rd baby


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