The Chinese Conception Calendar
Pink or Blue?

If you want to chose the gender of your next baby, the Chinese conception calendar (otherwise known as the Chinese conception chart) may be something you could take a peek at.

Ancient Chinese culture like many cultures a long time in the past had a preferred gender. Males were much more in demand than females as they could work in the fields contributing to family income. They could inherit the family business as well as family property, and they could carry the family name on to their own children.

The Chinese conception calendar was apparently found in the thirteenth century, inside the tomb of some Chinese nobles. The chart now sits proudly on display at the Beijing institute of science (most Chinese birth charts are copies of this older one) Some older Chinese generations will tell of a high 90% success rate when referring to the chart, although others claim it has as much success as flipping a coin.

The chinese conception calendar and how to use it!

The Chinese conception chart works by finding your lunar age along the left hand side. This is your lunar age when you conceived or when you expect to conceive. Converting your normal (Gregorian) age to Chinese lunar age seems to be quite complicated as the Chinese believe that you are already a year old when you are born. I have searched and found numerous ways to convert your age, some giving different answers. The most consistent and popular way seems to be to add 9 months on to your Gregorian age. Although I have found some conversions that add on 2 years and others that say its when your birthday is that determines the age! Even the hordes of Chinese lunar age calculators that can be found on the internet come back with different results.

Follow the lines along to where they cross over, and there you have the supposed gender of your baby.

I have tried this with both of my children, using my Gregorian age, both were correct. Converting my age to Chinese lunar age gives me only one correct result and that is with the girl. Chinese conception calendar calculators that can be found on different sites all over the internet gave me a whole host of different results every time!

Which just goes to show that sometimes it can be your interpretation of you lunar age that can make all of the difference. Myself, I would use it as a bit of fun, I certainly don't think I would plan my baby's gender on it (unless I could find a scientist who could show me the correct way to work out the lunar months and ages etc!)

If You're serious about choosing the gender of your next baby - Try this instead!

Another method of gender selection that has also had some rave reviews is natural gender selection. Instead of using a Chinese conception chart, you slightly alter your lifestyle by means of diet, you must know when you ovulate, and you can then adjust the time and position of intercourse to select the gender of your baby. A little science versus a pretty pink and blue chart (I know which one I'd rather choose!) For a deeper look into how you can choose the gender of your next baby then click here.

Or take a deeper look into natural gender selection.

Return from the Chinese conception calendar page to the gender selection page.

Or back to the New baby and beyond homepage.