https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 05 May 2026 02:25:26 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/august-baby-syndrome-what-do-you-think#post-428006 Sun, 02 Dec 2012 13:18:59 +0000 Cherrybee 428006@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>How strange that this thread should pop up again now! We carried on TTC on the strength of the responses here and we wound up getting our BFP that cycle! If all goes well, our baby will be due 31/7/13!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/august-baby-syndrome-what-do-you-think#post-428001 Sun, 02 Dec 2012 13:13:52 +0000 mlm2934 428001@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>as a sept baby, my mom had to choice to put me into school shortly before my 5th bday or 6th bday. she held me back, so i was always one of the oldest. i would definitely hold my child back the extra year given the option! i loved being older and definitely would assume it helped me in school. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/august-baby-syndrome-what-do-you-think#post-427998 Sun, 02 Dec 2012 13:06:47 +0000 Mrs. J 427998@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had a similar experience to @highwire...I am a mid August baby, and I never struggled. I was always in honors/AP classes etc, and it never bothered me to be the "baby". </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/august-baby-syndrome-what-do-you-think#post-374414 Fri, 02 Nov 2012 08:46:23 +0000 JamieLee 374414@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@blackbird: That's a really good point. And I have noticed that the group represented on this community seems to be skewed toward college educated professionals, which is quite refreshing, but important to remember with cases like this. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/august-baby-syndrome-what-do-you-think#post-374356 Fri, 02 Nov 2012 08:08:59 +0000 blackbird 374356@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>While most people here are commenting that they are intelligent or their DH's are and they are August babies, if the studies show that August babies are behind, this sample isn't quite representative. Because a lot of the people who were born in August and whom DID fall suspect to August baby syndrome (or whatever the youngest age is for your area) likely aren't on computers for their jobs because they have more hands on or blue collar type careers. Overall, though, it's a statistic worth looking at and remembering when it comes time to put your child through school. My brother was right at the cut off and my mom wanted him to go to school early. It DID cause problems because he was emotionally behind the other students and did struggle to grasp concepts. Even though I am completely the opposite. While it's child dependent, I do think there is some merit to it. A year can make a huge difference. I also think the intelligence of the parents plays a huge factor. Your kid's probably going to be smarter if the two of you are. And we all know that, statistically, hellobee is a more educated group than other online communities. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/august-baby-syndrome-what-do-you-think#post-374306 Fri, 02 Nov 2012 07:29:41 +0000 Cherrybee 374306@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's funny because when we started TTC my ideal birth month was August because it meant we could access the free nursery education here are year early - our worst nightmare was a September baby for the opposite reason. Then I saw this report and started worrying! </p> <p>@Orvis18: Your LO is really lucky because you'll be super aware of his emotional/social capabilities and you'll be making the best choice for him when the time comes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/august-baby-syndrome-what-do-you-think#post-374302 Fri, 02 Nov 2012 07:19:02 +0000 bushelandapeck 374302@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our LO was just born in August and I hadn't even thought about it until someone mentioned it while I was pregnant. Here, the cut off for school is Aug 31st so LO will be the youngest. We plan to see how he's developing and decide then. I work with a woman who kept her son home for an additional year because he socially/emotionally wasn't ready to go to kindergarten. I want LO to be successful so if he needs extra time, we'll keep him back. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/august-baby-syndrome-what-do-you-think#post-374298 Fri, 02 Nov 2012 07:13:58 +0000 Cherrybee 374298@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yeah, from all the responses here it sounds like this isn't an issue at all, as long as the parents are monitoring their child's progress (no matter when they are born) and making decisions appropriately. Phew! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/august-baby-syndrome-what-do-you-think#post-374269 Fri, 02 Nov 2012 06:50:47 +0000 JoJoGirl 374269@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So, when I was growing up, the cutoff to start kindergarten was December 31, not August 31. Here is a smaller cohort study of my family:</p> <p>Older brother; born in January, started kindergarten early anyway at 4.5 and didn't turn 5 until January. He went to top-tier school for undergrad (at 17) and grad school and ended up with a PhD.</p> <p>Me: December baby, started kindergarten early at 4. Went to a mid-tier school for college (at 17) and an ivy league school for my masters.</p> <p>Younger brother: September baby, started kindergarten at 4 and turned 5 a week later. Went to ivy league schools for his undergrad, masters, and PhD, also starting college at 17.</p> <p>Thus....I'm not worried about being the youngest in a class, I think it's better for kids to hang out with those more developed than them (depending on the kid, of course). Maybe i'm biased from my own family, but it worked out pretty well for us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/august-baby-syndrome-what-do-you-think#post-374266 Fri, 02 Nov 2012 06:45:53 +0000 JamieLee 374266@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm also an October baby, and was 17 when I started college. I graduated high school with a 3.8 and graduated with my bachelor's degree with a 3.7. I was in gifted programs all through elementary and middle school and AP classes in high school. </p> <p>I have friends who were August and November babies who are now in graduate school or already have master's degrees.</p> <p>I think it really depends on the child. My brother is an April baby and struggled a lot in school and is still struggling to finish college. </p> <p>I wouldn't worry about it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/august-baby-syndrome-what-do-you-think#post-366261 Mon, 29 Oct 2012 12:29:54 +0000 Rainbow Sprinkles 366261@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I disagree with this because I am an october baby who is a grade ahead, so I am even younger than the august babies. I was always further ahead than my peers and was valedictorian of my class. I do not think a couple months makes a difference at all, especially once kids are older, like third grade and beyond. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/august-baby-syndrome-what-do-you-think#post-366098 Mon, 29 Oct 2012 11:24:35 +0000 Mrs.Someone 366098@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think this is bogus and totally depends on the kid. I'm a late July baby and have always done well in school. My brother is a January baby and struggled somewhat. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/august-baby-syndrome-what-do-you-think#post-366004 Mon, 29 Oct 2012 10:50:51 +0000 ladyfingers 366004@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Um, I was born in August and I've never struggled with any of this stuff! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/august-baby-syndrome-what-do-you-think#post-365789 Mon, 29 Oct 2012 08:42:42 +0000 LazyLightning 365789@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Honestly this doesn't surprise me. My husband is an August baby and was held back so he was the oldest in his class. Without going in to tons of personal detail, he definitely feels and always has felt that this really 'held him back' in his life, educationally, socially, and otherwise. </p> <p>He struggled a lot as a young adult (with work, school, and relationships) but he did get it together eventually and went to college, got a great job, and well, got me (lol) :)</p> <p>ETA: the schools here cut off the end of July for your birthday. So kids (even if they're ready) don't get to start school until the following year if they're born after that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/august-baby-syndrome-what-do-you-think#post-365765 Mon, 29 Oct 2012 08:17:16 +0000 babynumber1 365765@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our group of friends has an obsene amount of birthdays in August- adults and babies, and none of them have August syndrome. I wouldn't worry about it at all. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/august-baby-syndrome-what-do-you-think#post-365718 Mon, 29 Oct 2012 07:33:04 +0000 heffalump 365718@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My sister is an August baby and she is nothing like that. She's actually the complete opposite. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/august-baby-syndrome-what-do-you-think#post-365388 Sun, 28 Oct 2012 20:20:36 +0000 immabeetoo 365388@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Definitely depends on the kid. I was born in late November and the cut off in my state for school was December 1 - so I was wayyyyy the youngest. I turned 18 freshman year of college. I was ready as the youngest and without bragging, had great academic success in the gifted track and then honors up through my masters degree. So, in short, I wouldn't worry about it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/august-baby-syndrome-what-do-you-think#post-365365 Sun, 28 Oct 2012 20:04:11 +0000 Arden 365365@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Here's my viewpoint - when your child reaches school age, you can decide if they are ready and as mature as the others in their class. If they aren't, hold them back and enroll them the next year. It's your decision. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/august-baby-syndrome-what-do-you-think#post-365353 Sun, 28 Oct 2012 19:51:13 +0000 T-Mom 365353@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have talked to quite a few moms about this since DD is about to enter kinder next year and is an August baby (29th, almost as young as you can get). The consensus is that it depends on the child. Also, boys tend to be more of more concern than girls due to emotional maturity. I think there are cases when parents will choose to hold their child back a year in order to ensure that the child is successful. Some parents also kind of abuse this tactic to make sure their kid is the "biggest" for sports or all around position, which I don't really agree with. We will be sending DD to kinder on schedule unless something comes up to indicate she is not ready. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/august-baby-syndrome-what-do-you-think#post-365258 Sun, 28 Oct 2012 18:48:36 +0000 QBbride 365258@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Im born in August and have never heard of this. I consider myself pretty smart, excelled academically, went to university etc. But the school system here is based on a January-December calendar year. So I wasnt the youngest.... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/august-baby-syndrome-what-do-you-think#post-365154 Sun, 28 Oct 2012 17:09:56 +0000 glimmersnaps 365154@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was an elementary school teacher for a few years prior to being a sort-of WAHM. I think that some of the younger kids do tend to have problems. </p> <p>In my state there is a certain cutoff for birthdays and a lot of people push to make an exception for their child to start early. I have friends who have done so, insisting their child is ready for the academic part of school. However, schooling is SO much more than that and I always advise people to wait! While it's not going to be true for all kids, I think it's just so much easier for them to be on the older end than the younger (*especially* for boys!)</p> <p>In your case, I think that you are way ahead of the game because you are cognizant of this issue and will be vigilant about your child's progress. I don't think it's so much a factor that you would want to delay TTC :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/august-baby-syndrome-what-do-you-think#post-364892 Sun, 28 Oct 2012 11:54:43 +0000 T.H.O.U. 364892@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm kinda glad that LO is an August baby so that we will have the option of red shirting </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/august-baby-syndrome-what-do-you-think#post-364880 Sun, 28 Oct 2012 11:41:26 +0000 shopaholic 364880@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Maybe it's different in the UK? DH is an August baby and none of those traits applied to him. He's super smart, has 2 undergraduate degrees and a dual-graduate degree. Super outgoing, etc. He has quite a few friends who are also August babies and I think they've al excelled in school and life. </p> <p>I was a November baby (and in my generation December's were the very youngest in class). I was always one of the smallest and youngest in class, started college at 17, was always in the gifted program/honors/AP classes, and definitely not shy. HTH! Don't worry too much about it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/august-baby-syndrome-what-do-you-think#post-364844 Sun, 28 Oct 2012 11:13:26 +0000 lovehoneybee 364844@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Both DH, a BIL and a niece have Aug birthdays. DH is one of the smartest people I know, BIL graduated a year early and is a mechanical engineer for the DOD. My niece had a bit of a speech problem, but do did her Feb born sister. Academically, she's 2nd grade and reading at a 4th grade level and is consistently among the best in her class is math. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/august-baby-syndrome-what-do-you-think#post-364830 Sun, 28 Oct 2012 11:00:49 +0000 AmeliaBedelia 364830@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It all depends on the kid. Both DH and I are June babies and were usually the youngest or one of the youngest kids in our classes. I graduated high school a semester early and graduated college a year early and am in a Masters program now, so, yeah, I don't believe that.</p> <p>My best friend in school was an August baby and she and I had the same-ish grades. We also had tons of friends who were a few months older than us, it really wasn't a big deal.</p> <p>If your (future) kid isn't ready, you'll know as the parent. It's okay to hold them back a year, just use your discretion! My youngest sister was adopted and did pre-K twice because her grasp of language wasn't on par with others moving up to Kindergarten. It wasn't an age thing at all, it was developmental. She's older than most kids in her class now and no one "believes" her age because she's so tiny and not the biggest/brightest/etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/august-baby-syndrome-what-do-you-think#post-364822 Sun, 28 Oct 2012 10:48:43 +0000 JerricaBenton 364822@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My instincts tell me it depends on the kid - but i know a lot of people who hold their children back until the next school year if they are near the cut-off date. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/august-baby-syndrome-what-do-you-think#post-364820 Sun, 28 Oct 2012 10:45:39 +0000 Foodnerd81 364820@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just read this article about a similar (or the same) study OP is talking about: <a href="http://mommyish.com/childrearing/redshirting-kindergarten-513/" rel="nofollow">http://mommyish.com/childrearing/redshirting-kindergarten-513/</a> </p> <p>I think it depends on the individual kid. I was the oldest in my year (Jan bday, Dec cut off) and I was always at the top of my class, but I don't know if there was any relation. My brother was a July baby and is maybe the smartest person I know, but he did struggle in grammar school-- probably more because he was too smart for what he was learning, though. I'd probably do what @cvbee: recommends and evaluate if my kid seemed on target or a little behind in his/her milestones before making any decisions, but I'm sure as hell not putting TTC on hold for 2 months right now! I'm more concerned about being 9 months pregnant in July but not holding for that either. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/august-baby-syndrome-what-do-you-think#post-364796 Sun, 28 Oct 2012 10:25:47 +0000 knittylady 364796@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DH is an August baby and he went to MIT undergrad and is in medical school now. Not proud or anything I swear :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/august-baby-syndrome-what-do-you-think#post-364794 Sun, 28 Oct 2012 10:23:09 +0000 cvbee 364794@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Here in Ontario, Canada it is a 'December' baby thing. </p> <p>I used to teach kindergarten a lot, so I have some experience with this and I am not allowed to really recommend it professionally but personally if I knew someone with a December baby who was a little behind in the milestones/ seemed not as ready, I would advise to hold back a year before starting. But there are MANY December babies who are more advanced than some of their early-month counterparts. You might think to just start and then hold them back later if they seem behind, but then they have already bonded with a group of peers and they might feel bad if they are 'left behind' whereas if you started them behind they wouldn't really know the difference. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/august-baby-syndrome-what-do-you-think#post-364774 Sun, 28 Oct 2012 10:06:03 +0000 blackbird 364774@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The concern with your child being the very youngest in class could be an issue. you could also put your kid into the next class so they're the oldest. I think the grade cut off around here is sept 1, though. </p> <p>I wanted to avoid an august baby because not only are my nieces and nephews all born in august, but i didn't want to be *that* pregnant in the summer, if i could help it. August and December were two months were we avoided TTC 9 months in advance so we could hopefully avoid babies in those months. </p>