Before ultrasounds and blood tests were available, parents relied on old wives’ tales to guess whether they were having a boy or a girl. From cravings and belly shape to mood changes and heart rate, these myths have been passed down for generations.

While none of these tales are scientifically proven, they’re still fun to compare against your pregnancy symptoms. If you’re curious about baby’s gender and enjoy a little guesswork along the way, here are 20 popular old wives’ tales people still love to talk about today.

Old Wives’ Tales: Are You Having a Boy or a Girl?

These old wives’ tales are based on tradition and folklore, not science, but many parents enjoy seeing which ones seem to match their pregnancy.

1. Carrying High or Low

You will hear this old wives’ tale repeatedly throughout your pregnancy. According to legend, if you’re carrying high, you’re pregnant with a girl. If you’re carrying low, you’re having a boy.

2. The Shape of Your Bump

This is another one you’re likely to hear often. If you’re carrying all your extra baby weight out front, and it looks like a basketball, it’s a boy. If you’re carrying your pregnancy weight all over, it’s a girl.

3. Moody vs. Mellow

If you’re feeling a little moodier than usual, this might be a sign you’re having a girl because of all the extra female hormones. If you’re more relaxed and mellow, you’re expecting a boy.

Related: Signs You’re Having a Girl: 23 Fun Clues to Look For

4. Are You Craving Sweet or Salty?

This old wives’ tale to predict gender was accurate for me! If you crave sweet things like fruit, chocolate, and desserts, the stork might be bringing you a baby girl. Pregnancy cravings for sour, salty (like pretzels, French fries, and chips), or even protein-rich foods mean it might be a boy.

5. Morning Sickness

Legend predicts that you’re having a girl if you suffer from excessive nausea and morning sickness during your pregnancy. And you will have a boy if you didn’t throw up very much, or at all, during your pregnancy. Unfortunately, this pregnancy symptom doesn’t discriminate and often happens during the early weeks of pregnancy.³

6. Pregnancy Glow?

If people around you comment on how you’re glowing and your complexion is as bright and clear as ever, this might be a sign you’re having a boy. If people are asking if you’re feeling okay or tired and you’re breaking out, you might be having a girl.

Related: Signs You’re Having a Boy: 23 Fun Clues to Look For

7. The Linea Nigra

Some women are surprised to find a “dark line” appearing on their bump called the linea nigra.⁴ Rumor has it that you’re having a boy if the line continues above your belly button and not just below. If it stops at your belly button and doesn’t continue above, you’re having a girl.

8. The Feel of Your Skin

Supposably, if your skin is drying out more than usual (you have dry hands), you can expect to have a boy. If your skin is silky smooth, you’re having a girl.

9. Cold Feet?

Are your feet feeling cold now that you’re pregnant? If so, you might be expecting a boy. If your feet are as warm as ever, you might be carrying a girl.

10. The Color of Your Urine

This one may sound unusual, but if your pee is brighter yellow than usual, it’s a girl. If it’s dull yellow, it’s a boy. (Obviously, hydration plays a big part in this, but if you’re consistent with your water intake, see if you notice any differences.)

11. The Eye Test

Look into a mirror for about a minute. If you notice your pupils dilating, it means you’re having a boy. If they don’t dilate, it’s a girl.

12. How Does My Hair Look?

Some pregnant women have the most beautiful hair. Many people attribute it to taking prenatal vitamins, but there’s an old wives’ tale that can predict the gender of the baby according to your hair. If your hair becomes thick, full, and glossy, and you look like you stepped out of a Pantene Pro-V commercial, it means you’re carrying a boy. If your hair is dull and limp and hasn’t gotten any thicker, it’s a girl. The same goes for your body hair. If you have thicker and more body hair than usual, you’re having a boy. If it has remained normal, you’re having a girl.

13. The Ring Test

Out of all the old wives’ tales to predict a baby’s gender, this one is the most fun, in my opinion. 🙂 To perform the ring test, you’ll need a strand of your hair and a ring you regularly wear, like your wedding ring. Tie the strand of hair around your ring and lie down. Have someone dangle the ring over your baby bump and hold it still. If the ring starts to move in circles, you’re having a girl. If the ring swings from side to side like a pendulum, you’re having a boy.

14. The Garlic Test

This test can get stinky, so proceed with caution! If you can eat a lot of garlic but not smell like it, it means you’re carrying a girl. If you eat garlic and the odor seeps out of your pores, you’re having a boy.

15. Clumsiness

Some people are clumsier than others, but if you find yourself clumsier than usual during pregnancy, it’s a boy. If you remain grounded and still in control of your body, it’s a girl.

16. One Boob Is Bigger Than the Other

It’s common to have one breast bigger than the other.⁵ It’s also common for your breasts to get bigger during pregnancy.⁶ However, during pregnancy, if you notice that your right breast is bigger than the left, you might be having a boy. If your left breast is larger, you might be having a girl.

17. Baby’s Heart Rate

Some say that baby girls have faster heartbeats than baby boys. So, pay extra attention to your baby’s heart rate at your next ultrasound. If the heart beats faster than 140 beats per minute (bpm), it’s a girl. If it’s lower than 140 beats per minute (bpm), it’s a boy. Also, wait until you’re past your first trimester, since many baby boys have higher than 140 bpm in the first trimester. Baby boys’ heartbeats supposedly slow down after that point.

18. Your Blood Pressure

A study found that the higher a pregnant woman’s blood pressure is 26 weeks before she conceived, the more likely she is to have a boy.¹ So, if you had a doctor’s appointment before trying to get pregnant, look at the paperwork they gave you and see what they recorded your blood pressure as — it could be the scientific clue to whether you’re having a little girl or boy.

19. Partner’s Weight Gain

If your partner is gaining weight alongside you (also known as “sympathy weight”), that could be a sign that you’re carrying a girl. If his weight stays the same, it’s a boy.

20. Chinese Gender Calendar Myth

The Chinese Gender Calendar is a traditional chart that claims to predict a baby’s gender based on the mother’s age and month of conception. While many parents enjoy comparing results, it is considered a cultural tradition rather than a scientific method.

If you’re curious, you can explore how it works using our Chinese Gender Calendar calculator.

Whether you’re team boy or team girl, these old wives’ tales are a fun way to pass the time during pregnancy. While the only way to know for sure is through medical testing or birth, guessing along the way can add a little extra excitement to the journey.