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What Will My Baby Look Like? 7 Factors That Play a Role

From genetics to lifestyle factors, learn what can influence your baby’s appearance and why every baby is uniquely their own.

Updated January 6, 2026
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A woman with long dark hair, wearing a light-colored patterned shirt, holds a newborn baby wrapped in a white and blue blanket. She is smiling and looking at the baby, seated in what appears to be a hospital or healthcare setting, perhaps imagining what your baby will look like as they grow.

One of the most common questions expectant parents have is what their baby will look like. From the moment pregnancy begins, many people imagine which features their little one might inherit and who they may resemble. While some babies strongly resemble one parent, others arrive with features no one expected.

Although no one can predict exactly how a baby will look, several factors can influence their appearance. Below, we explore some of the most common influences, from genetics to lifestyle choices during pregnancy.

7 Things That Influence Your Baby’s Appearance

While genetics play a major role, a combination of inherited traits and pregnancy-related factors can influence how a baby looks at birth.

1. DNA

Everyone knows that DNA determines your baby’s appearance. But DNA is a complex subject. Everything from hair color, eye color, and sex to height and weight can be dictated by your DNA and/or your partner’s DNA.9 In most cases, dominant genes win the DNA fight, but now and then, a recessive gene will come out of nowhere and surprise everyone!1

Related: What Color Eyes Will Your Baby Have?

2. Alcohol

Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can increase the risk of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, which may affect a baby’s facial features, growth, and development.2,3 These conditions can result in characteristic facial differences, such as small eyes or thin lips, and may also impact a child’s cognitive, behavioral, and developmental abilities.3,10,11

3. Healthy Lifestyle Habits

Moms who make poor exercise and food choices while pregnant may affect whether their child will be born at a healthy weight. Studies show that obese moms are more likely to give birth to babies who later also become obese.4 From the moment you realize you’re pregnant (and even before!), make sure you are making healthy, nutritious food choices. And don’t skip that exercise!

Related: Pregnancy Diet: What To Eat for a Healthy Pregnancy

4. Supplements

Prenatal vitamins are essential for several reasons. However, one supplement, in particular, can have a more pronounced effect on the baby’s appearance than others. Folate is critical in helping to form your baby’s spine.5 A folate deficiency can result in spina bifida.12

5. Caffeine

Studies have shown that excessive caffeine consumption during pregnancy may affect a baby’s birth weight, producing a smaller newborn than usual at birth. Limiting your caffeine consumption to the equivalent of one cup of coffee a day or less is best.6

Related: Coffee During Pregnancy: Myths and Facts

6. Traveling

Extensive airline travel can expose a pregnant person to small amounts of radiation. While radiation exposure is not recommended during fetal development, occasional travel during pregnancy is generally considered safe for most women.7

7. Family History

Your family’s history can influence how your baby looks. Like recessive genes, some inherited genes may lie “dormant” or “skip” generations and suddenly pop up to surprise families when they least expect it!8

You may not know exactly what your baby will look like until the big day, but that’s part of the excitement of parenthood. Whether they resemble you, your partner, or a blend of both, your baby’s appearance will be uniquely their own. Watching those features emerge and change over time is one of the many joys of raising a child.

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Cheyenne is a former lawyer turned writer, editor, and work-from-home mom living in San Marcos, Texas, with her daughter, Aislin, and son, Hawkins. She and her kids moved to the area to begin life anew after the sudden death of her husband in 2017. Cheyenne is the owner and founder of Sense & Serendipity where she writes about topics such as motherhood, widowhood, home décor and DIY, and wellness. She loves red wine, compelling books, old homes, and antique shopping. Cheyenne has a passion for inspiring and uplifting other women, especially moms, and often uses dry wit and slightly inappropriate humor to get through tough times.

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Baby Names by Letter

Browse A–Z baby names and find the perfect fit for your family.

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