I was talking to my boss the other day about his little boy, Jack. Jack is three and is struggling at nursery, Jack is an August baby and, as the school year starts in September in the UK, it makes him the youngest in his class. They're so worried about him starting school. He will be only just 4 - whereas some of the other children will be approaching and turning 5 when they start. My boss told me that August Baby Syndrome is a well known phenomena and that there have been studies about it...

So, I looked it up. It's scary. August babies are:

- Less likely to attend university
- More likely to struggle academically
- More likely to struggle with handwriting
- More likely to be shy and withdrawn
- More likely to dislike school and become depressed
- More likely to be bullied
- Are the last in their friendship group to
- Are frustrated as they are the last in their group of friends to be able to drive, vote, go into a bar etc.

In one article I read, a London teacher said, about the August babies in her class:

"They're just toddlers and still learning through play," she says. "They aren't ready to sit and be taught. Some are still struggling with toilet training and many want an afternoon nap. And if they fall behind in reception, it's hard to catch up in year one. At that time you start to know that some people are good at things and some aren't so good. If you think you're no good, your confidence takes a bashing and that can last through school."

Here is the full report:
http://www.ifs.org.uk/docs/born_matters_summary.pdf

This is very much in my mind right now because if we were to conceive this cycle our child would be an August baby. DH and I have talked about it and think that we may just NTNT this month, put it in the hands of God (me) or fate (DH).

What do you think? Is it true? Do any of you have August born children? How are they doing?