The Pros and Cons of Finding Out Baby's Gender

Finding out baby’s gender can be exciting, but some parents may want to hold off on learning their child’s sex. There are various reasons to wait.

Many parents prefer to find out the gender of their baby before their birth. You can usually tell the sex of your unborn child between 18 and 21 weeks of pregnancy through an ultrasound. However, it’s possible to learn your baby’s gender even earlier at 8weeks through a blood test. In spite of all this, there are reasons why you might not want to know until the baby is born. There are pros and cons to finding out baby’s gender.

Pros of Learning Your Baby’s Gender

Many people enjoy having a gender reveal party to let their family members and friends know whether they’re having a boy or a girl. Parties are always fun, so why miss out on that? However, there are more advantages of knowing the sex ahead of time. They include the following:

• Being better prepared: Finding out baby’s gender allows you to be better prepared for birth. You will know whether to buy girl’s or boy’s clothes, shoes and gender-appropriate color items like blankets. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with getting items in colors that are gender-neutral.
• You want to know: If you and your spouse simply want to know whether you’re having a boy or a girl, you can satisfy your curiosity by finding out at a prenatal appointment.
• You’ll know how to prepare the nursery: If you’re interested in designing and decorating the baby’s room in a way that reflects their gender, knowing the baby’s sex is helpful. If you’re having a girl, you may want to paint the room pink and white, but if you’re expecting a boy, you might prefer a shade of blue or a sports theme throughout the room.
• Picking a name is easier: When you know whether you’re having a boy or a girl, it’s easier to come up with a few names and narrow them down to two or three favorites until you ultimately settle on one.
• You may feel more connected: When you know your baby’s gender, you may actually feel more connected to them. Having that knowledge is similar to getting to know your child.

Cons of Finding Out Baby’s Gender

There are several reasons why waiting to learn your baby’s gender might be right for you and your significant other. It’s worth noting the cons of finding out baby’s gender, which include the following:

• No pink or blue: If you don’t know what gender your baby is before they’re born, you don’t have to worry about buying either pink or blue baby clothes and other items. People buying your baby gifts also don’t have to concern themselves with focusing on one or the other color, either. However, when you know, there’s a huge chance that people are going to go all out on buying everything either pink or blue for your upcoming bundle of joy.
• No element of surprise: Finding out your baby’s gender cuts out the element of surprise, which is something many couples enjoy.
• Dealing with stereotypes: When other people know the gender of your baby, you may be subjected to hearing annoying stereotypes for the remainder of the pregnancy. For example, this might include a comment about the dad needing a gun to protect his little girl once she starts dating.
• Toys are gendered: Knowing if you’re having a boy or a girl means you should expect your friends and family members to buy toys geared toward one gender or the other. This is an irritating stereotype as many children enjoy playing with toys that may be geared toward the opposite sex or may simply enjoy playing with a mix of both. For instance, some girls love to play “tea party” one day but also like playing with cars and trucks on the next. Likewise, some boys enjoy playing with dolls but also love to play “masculine” sports as well.

What About Gender Prediction?

Gender prediction is silly to some but may be fun if you want to dabble in it. Here are some myths about finding out baby’s gender on your own:

• Heartbeat: Some believe that the baby’s heartbeat can determine their gender. The myth says boys have a slightly slower heartbeat than girls’.
• Mom’s cravings: Another myth states that if you’re craving sweets, you’re having a girl, but craving salty, sour or spicy food means you’re having a boy.
• Ring trick: Everyone has heard of the ring trick. This involves tying your wedding ring to a string and holding it over mom’s belly. According to the myth, if it swings back and forth, the baby is a girl. However, if it swings in a circle, it’s a boy.
• Mom’s symptoms: According to legend, moms who have morning sickness are having a girl, but moms who feel good during their pregnancies are expecting a boy.

Ultimately, it’s up to you and your partner whether you want to learn of your baby’s sex before they’re born. No matter what, you should enjoy your pregnancy together.