When Is The Best Time Of Year To Have A Baby?

Inevitably now we’re the owners of a one year old, the question of ‘when will the next one appear?’ keeps coming up. You’re safe for a while body, let me tell you, but it does make me think… when is a good time to have a baby? What’s the best season for being pregnant? What time of year suits not drinking the most? When is a newborn easiest to handle? So many questions I’ve had to put it out to some of my favourite bloggers as well. So here we go, when is the best time of year to have a baby?

Winter

Pros:

1. You’re not too heavily pregnant in the heat (ha!) of the summer months
2. There’s absolutely no judgement if you spend the first few months hiding inside, after all, every one else is!
3. Winter clothing is kind on a post-baby body. Hoodies are your friend
4. Babies are like hot water bottles so you’ll save on heating. Not that it’s an issue because you have a great excuse to leave the radiators on all day

Cons:

1. You’ll have a couple of months of being poor every year due to the Christmas/birthday present buying being close together
2. The chances are you’ll spend the festive period moaning about nothing fitting
3. Night feeds in Winter are particularly depressing. It’s always dark. So dark. Plus, getting out of bed to do them is horrific – the bed is so warm, the chair is so.. not.
4. It’s also cold, which invariably means wrestling a newborn into a billion layers only to take them off the minute you step inside a building. Before putting them all back on again to go back out. Eurgh.

We say…

“You can spend lots of cold wet days snuggled inside with a new baby and not feel guilty about not heading out doors for a couple of months!” – Deborah, Country Heart and Home

“Willow was a January baby, so winter for us. I loved it personally as it wasn’t too hot, I wasn’t uncomfortable in the last few months of my pregnancy and I felt more confident dressing a newborn to ensure she was warm enough, than trying to cope with a newborn in a heatwave!” – Sophia, Tattooed Tealady

“You can spend the entire winter in house and not feel bad about it. Plus, babies look damn adorable wrapped up all warm and cosy!” – Rosie, Mum in the Midlands

Spring

Pros:

1. You have a great excuse to eat over the festive period. The chances are you’re in the hallowed second trimester meaning you’re no longer rocking a ‘who ate all the pies’ look whilst hiding your bump and as such it’s totally acceptable to eat for two.
2. It’s cool enough to allow you to hibernate a little but the sunshine in the days makes getting outside a little easier
3. You’ll get the entire summer off on maternity leave!
4. It’s all about new birth at this point; lambs, chicks, calves… there are babies everywhere in the Spring, you’re like Mother Nature herself

Cons:

1. Embracing festive eating for two will be regretted post birth.
2. You will have nothing to wear, your summer clothes from the year before won’t fit, your winter clothes will all be too big and too warm. You’ll end up wearing the same thing over and over.
3. Same goes for your little one. Is it cold enough for a vest? At what point is five layers too much? Don’t get me started on a blanket. Or nighttimes; what should they wear?!

We say:

“I would say a Spring baby. Not only is the weather ok for birthdays, but you don’t have to be heavily pregnant in the height of summer!!” – Heidi, Southern Mummy

“Spring!! My daughter was born in April and that was perfect as I was heavily pregnant during the winter. Definitely NOT summer as you’ll die! I can’t handle it! Only 6 weeks left!” – Jenna, Then There Were Three

Summer

Pros:

1. Getting up in the night isn’t half as bad when it’s almost permanently light outside
2. Great timing for future birthday parties for your child. It’s almost guaranteed to be rainy (sorry, this is the UK) but at least it might be warm.
3. Speaking of birthdays, you’ve got months to save between that and Christmas. And months for them to plan what they want.
4. You’ve got a great excuse for lazy summers days – you’re heavily pregnant, sit back and let the other half do the gardening!

Cons:

1. You will be ginormous in the summer. Which you can now guarantee will be so hot that records are broken. Sorry.
2. Summer clothes are far less forgiving for a post-baby body, given that they tend to be skimpier.
3. There’s far more going on in the summer socially meaning you’ll be expected to pull yourself together and attend with a newborn.
4. You’ll never know what time it is. It’s always light. How is the baby meant to sleep when it’s so light?! And so hot?!

We say:

“For me the summer, July and August, because they start school as soon as they are 4, so less childcare costs. Plus perfect for summer outdoor birthday parties” – Sarah, Champagne and Petals

“It’s perfectly timed for presents. That way they’ll always have a good gap between birthday and Christmas, which gives you plenty of time to clear the house ready for an influx of toys!” – Hayley, Devon Mama

Autumn

Pros:

1. There’s something magical about Autumn. It’s a great time for getting outside in the day but snuggling the evening.
2. You can put your new child in a pumpkin. And an elf suit. All before they’re too big to have an opinion otherwise.
3. It’s great timing for schools, you’ll effectively have another year with your baby before they head off to school. Which could work either way.

Cons:

1. People will invariably tell you about making sure you have your baby in September, not August. Like it’s something you can just hold in for a couple of days.
2. Again, changeable weather could work against you… Is it hot? Is it cold? What should they wear?
3. With heatwaves running well into Autumn, you’ll be pregnant for the warmest time of the year. Hellloooooo swollen feet.

We say:

“Autumn or Winter – cute snow suits on babies always look cute, pushing the pram on long walks in the brisk fresh air with a flask of hot chocolate help you feel awake, you can bundle up in layers so feel less conscious about your body, hats to cover up the fact you’ve not washed your hair in days and cute halloween and Christmas outfits for the baby!” – Alex, Better Together Home

“September for me because that’s when Jess was born it’s still warm enough to be able to get out once there born. Plus you get the whole layering up for mum and newborn Halloween pictures”  – Charlotte, Cups of Charlotte

“September – so they are the eldest in the school year plus they get 5 terms free at nursery opposed to the three my June born babies get” – Beth, Twinderelmo

 

Wow, I guess there really are reasons for all seasons. What do you think? When’s the best time to have a newborn in your opinion?