Winter vs Summer Babies

PetaloudaK · February 2014

Hello ladies! Have you heard that babies born in autumn/winter are more fragile and prone to diseases than babies born in spring/summer? Do you know if there's any truth in that? If I get lucky and conceive my baby this or next month, then I'm having a typical winter baby, and I'm worried if that could affect his/her health in any way.

Pintobean39 · February 2014

Never heard of that. I'm pretty sure there is no scientific data that suggest being born on certain days effect your immune system.

ngolimento · February 2014

The only reason I might prefer one season over the other is because I get cheerful and maternal in the spring. Seems like a good time to fight off post-partum if I get it.

Ducktale · February 2014

What Pinto said. Where did you hear that? FWIW, I'm a winter baby and I was healthy.

letsgox · February 2014

My daughter was born in December and she's never had an ear infection or needed any antibiotics.

There is likely no scientific evidence to back up the thinking that winter babies are more fragile than summer babies. More exposure to colds/flu? Yes, but with hand washing, you can lessen that exposure.

LostFan716 · February 2014

Winter in general is a worse time for everyone, but no, your baby's inherent system wouldn't change.

I'm sure you know plenty of perfectly healthy people with winter birthdays.

MusicFanatic · February 2014

I would guess the season you're born in won't impact your immune system.

That said, it's possible more babies are sick if born in the fall/winter simply because the majority of people are. I've never in my life had a summer cold, but I make up for that in the fall and winter.

MKAM10 · February 2014

I have never heard that. I had fall baby and she was very healthy as an infant. Now, she gets run if the mill bugs but no more than her peers.

shlittertoots · February 2014

I don't think there's a correlation. I had an October baby and she never got sick until when we started sending her to daycare PT when she was 10 months.

I think it's more a stay at home or daycare issue. If your kid goes to daycare, you're fucked. Prepare for your LO to be sick for the first two years

bluehenjen27 · February 2014

I have never heard of that. DS was born in December, in the middle of a snow storm and he has been super healthy. Granted he was 11 pounds so that might have helped...

Pintobean39 · February 2014

mayaruth81 said:
I don't think there's a correlation. I had an October baby and she never got sick until when we started sending her to daycare PT when she was 10 months.

I think it's more a stay at home or daycare issue. If your kid goes to daycare, you're fucked. Prepare for your LO to be sick for the first two years

I don't think that's true about daycare either. Both my boys went to daycare and my youngest was always sick but my oldest never was. My youngest is 15 now and still always sick, he has asthma and allergies and catches everything.

I just think some kids have a lower immune system than others.

Emerald27 · February 2014

I've heard that, and it's just an OWT. Back when skin to skin contact and breastfeeding (for immunological properties) were not encouraged, I'm sure babies had a harder time regulating their body temps and were sick more often. I mean, winter is cold and flu season. But now that there is so much good info about caring for babies, it's not a concern.

Winter babies properly cared for are no more or less likely to get sick or develop more slowly than babies born in any other season.

MAdams728 · February 2014

False. They don't pop out sickly just because of the month they were born. They will be exposed to more to illnesses because people want to see them and bring in all the winter germs, though. I was never a germaphobe until I had my baby, and immediately didn't want lots of people around her. When I was pregnant I smirked at people like that, but it was instant as soon as she was here.

I do think that some women might be more prone to ppd in the winter, though. I know that if I hadn't been able to go outside and walk in the sun during the really difficult newborn stage, I might have gone crazy. So, there is that.

mockingjay1 · February 2014

I don't think it matters other than there are more illnesses to spread during the winter (influenza, RSV). Limiting your visitors and good hand washing can prevent these.

I'd much rather have a fall/winter baby. I don't want to be 40 weeks pregnant in the heat of summer. I hate hot weather even when I'm not pregnant!

vrj0522 · February 2014

Never heard that. The only reason why I would want a Spring/early summer baby would be because then I don't have to go through the entire summer pregnant. I also agree that babies born in the fall/winter might be more prone to get sick because of exposure but not because their systems are weaker.

MrsMac613 · February 2014

I was a summer baby and was always sick. My siblings both winter babies hardly ever got sick. The only way I could see this bring true might be the winter is flu season and being younger during flu season might make a winter baby more susceptible.

littleboyermoose · February 2014

I thought we were going to discuss the merits of each, so here's my input on that topic: Winter Birthdays Suck. Sincerely, Woman with a January Birthday

mrs_tacos · February 2014

I heard that from an aunt who also told me a a baby born during the day will have a better disposition. It's all bologna.

shlittertoots · February 2014

LindsRockies said:

mayaruth81 said:

I don't think there's a correlation. I had an October baby and she never got sick until when we started sending her to daycare PT when she was 10 months.

I think it's more a stay at home or daycare issue. If your kid goes to daycare, you're fucked. Prepare for your LO to be sick for the first two years

This wasn't true at all for us. At all. If anything, daycare built my daughters' immune system. I'm so glad they went!

From my experience it's the norm for kids at daycares to get sick often--of all the moms I work with and know, the kids are regularly getting sick. Yes, once they're older and have been exposed to so many bugs, their immunity will be stronger. But that results in the children being sick before their bodies build up antibodies.

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