Finding out if you are expecting a boy or girl baby is one of the most anticipated moments of any pregnancy. In the UK in 2026, there are more reliable ways than ever to find out — from the routine NHS 20-week scan to early non-invasive blood testing. And if you prefer to wait, there are centuries of old wives’ tales to entertain you in the meantime. This guide covers every method, from the medically accurate to the cheerfully unscientific.
When Can You Find Out If You Are Having a Boy or Girl Baby?
For most parents in the UK, the 20-week anomaly scan is the first reliable opportunity to find out their boy or girl baby result. According to the NHS guide to ultrasound scans in pregnancy, you can ask the sonographer to tell you your baby’s sex during this scan, offered between 18 and 21 weeks. However, the result is not guaranteed: if your baby is lying in an awkward position, it may be impossible to see the genitalia clearly. Some NHS hospitals also have a policy of not routinely disclosing fetal sex. Always confirm the policy with your hospital before attending.
Sonographer accuracy at the 20-week scan is high when a clear view is possible — experienced sonographers are correct over 99% of the time when the baby is in a suitable position. If you are not given a clear answer at your NHS scan, a private gender scan from around 16 weeks is an alternative.
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Medical Methods for Finding Out Your Boy or Girl Baby Result
Amniocentesis
An amniocentesis is a diagnostic test usually performed between 15 and 20 weeks of pregnancy. A thin needle extracts a small amount of amniotic fluid, which is then tested for chromosomal conditions such as Down’s syndrome. The results will definitively confirm the sex. However, amniocentesis is only offered when there is a medical reason — it carries a small risk of miscarriage and is not available simply to determine sex.
Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT)
NIPT analyses fragments of the baby’s DNA found in the mother’s blood. It is available from around 10 weeks and can determine your boy or girl baby result with very high accuracy. According to the NCT’s guide to finding out your baby’s sex, around 70% of pregnant people in studies said they wanted to know before birth. NIPT is available privately in the UK from around £300 to £500, and is offered on the NHS in certain higher-risk cases.
Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD)
PGD is a technique used during IVF to test embryos before transfer. One application is sex selection — testing embryos to choose the sex of the baby before implantation. In the UK, sex selection for social reasons is illegal under the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act. PGD for sex selection is only permitted where there is a serious medical reason, such as a heritable sex-linked condition. It is legal in the United States and some other countries. For more on IVF, see our guide to IVF treatment and how it works in the UK.
Old Wives’ Tales for Predicting Your Boy or Girl Baby
Long before ultrasound technology existed, pregnant people tried to predict their boy or girl baby result using a colourful range of folk methods. None of these has any scientific basis — studies consistently show that bump shape, cravings, morning sickness and similar signs predict fetal sex no better than chance. But that does not make them any less enjoyable to try, especially at a gender reveal party or baby shower.
Bump shape: boy or girl baby clue?
One of the most enduring old wives’ tales suggests that a high, rounded bump signals a girl, while a low bump points to a boy. In reality, bump shape is determined by the baby’s position, your abdominal muscle strength and your body shape — not by fetal sex. It is one of the most popular myths and one of the least reliable.
Morning sickness: a boy or girl baby sign?
Suffering badly from morning sickness? Tradition says girl. Sailing through the first trimester without nausea? Allegedly a boy. There is some limited research suggesting that severe hyperemesis gravidarum may be slightly more common in pregnancies carrying girls, but the effect is too small and inconsistent to predict the sex reliably.
Cravings
Craving sweet foods like chocolate, fruit and cake is said to signal a girl. Reaching for salty, savoury snacks suggests a boy. There is no reliable science behind this — cravings in pregnancy are driven by hormonal changes, nutritional needs and individual preference. Either way, you have a reasonable excuse to eat whatever you like while you wait for the news.
Skin and hair changes
Dry skin, dull hair and persistent headaches are traditionally linked to carrying a boy. Glowing skin and fuller hair supposedly signal a girl. These changes are caused by the normal hormonal shifts of pregnancy and are not predictive of your baby’s sex.
Fun Games for Guessing Your Boy or Girl Baby
Whether you are hosting a baby shower or simply entertaining family at home, these traditional prediction games are a lighthearted way to guess your boy or girl baby result before the official answer arrives.
The Ring on a String
Tie your wedding ring to a piece of cotton and dangle it over your bump. If it swings back and forth like a pendulum, tradition says it’s a girl. If it moves in a circle, the verdict is boy. The movement is caused by involuntary hand tremors — not by any mystical knowledge of your baby’s sex.
The Numbers Game
Take the number of the month of your last period (1 to 12), then add your age. Subtract 49, then keep subtracting consecutive numbers (1, 2, 3, 4…) until you reach zero or below. An even result means boy; odd means girl. No mathematical basis exists for this boy or girl baby prediction, but it generates lively debate at any gathering.
The Key Test
Place a key on a table and ask the pregnant person to pick it up without being told what it means. If they grasp it at the thin end, tradition says it’s a girl. Picking it up by the round top indicates boy. Picking it up in the middle is said to mean twins — which might prompt a more urgent scan appointment.
The Chinese Gender Chart
This chart uses your lunar age at conception and the lunar month of conception to predict your boy or girl baby result. Studies have tested its accuracy and found it performs at chance level — right roughly half the time. It makes a charming talking point at a gender reveal party and is entertaining precisely because nobody takes it too seriously. See also our article on baby gender and stereotyping for a more thoughtful look at what gender really means for your child.
Should You Find Out Your Boy or Girl Baby Result Before Birth?
There is no right answer. Finding out your boy or girl baby result in advance gives many parents time to bond with their baby as an individual, prepare the nursery, choose names, and share the news. Others prefer to wait, describing the birth discovery as one of the great surprises of life. The NCT found that around 70% of pregnant people chose to find out before birth, while roughly 30% preferred to wait.
Whatever you choose, preparing well matters more than the result. For more on getting ready for your new arrival, see our guides on whether you are ready to have a baby and the real cost of raising a child in the UK.
Frequently Asked Questions About Boy or Girl Baby Predictions
When is the earliest you can find out your boy or girl baby result in the UK?
The earliest reliable method is NIPT, which can predict your boy or girl baby result from around 10 weeks with high accuracy. Private gender scans are typically offered from 16 weeks. The NHS 20-week anomaly scan, offered between 18 and 21 weeks, is the most common point at which parents find out. Amniocentesis can also confirm fetal sex but is only offered for medical reasons.
How accurate is the 20-week scan for boy or girl baby results?
When the baby is in a clear position, NHS scan accuracy for your boy or girl baby result is over 99% in most studies. If your baby is lying with their legs together or in an awkward position, the sonographer may not be able to give a confident answer. A private gender scan can be booked as a follow-up if needed.
Is it legal to choose your boy or girl baby in the UK?
No. Sex selection for social reasons — choosing a specific boy or girl baby based on personal preference — is illegal in the UK under the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act. Selection through PGD is only permitted where there is a clinical reason, such as the risk of a serious sex-linked genetic condition. Some couples travel abroad where social sex selection is permitted, though this is costly and legally complex.
Do old wives’ tales accurately predict boy or girl baby results?
No. Studies consistently show that old wives’ tales — bump shape, cravings, morning sickness, heart rate and skin changes — predict boy or girl baby results no more accurately than a coin flip. The only reliable way to know before birth is through a medical test such as the 20-week scan or NIPT.
What is a gender reveal party and should I have one?
A gender reveal party is a celebration where parents share the sex of their baby with friends and family, often using a coloured cake filling, balloon release or confetti cannon. For creative ideas, see our guide to fun gender reveal party ideas. Whether you celebrate with a party or a quiet announcement, the moment you share the news is yours to make memorable.
Whether you are planning your pregnancy journey independently, with a partner, or through co-parenting, the anticipation of finding out is one of the shared joys of becoming a parent. Over 150,000 people have used CoParents.co.uk since 2008 to find co-parents, sperm donors and build the families they always wanted.
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