How to Have a Baby Girl

“You already have two sons. Are you trying for a girl this time?”

“Do you hope it’s a girl? Baby girls are so cute!”

“Did you know that there’s a special hack to ensure it’s a girl? My mom swears by it!”

All of these may be things you might hear as you share that you’re trying to conceive. And while having some preferences is natural and a normal part of the experience for many people, actively trying to determine the sex of the baby can be a complex matter. There’s also a potential emotional toll at stake if you place too much hope on a boy or girl, so it’s important to approach this topic with care and an open mind.

If some claims and superstitions about how to have a girl have piqued your curiosity, join us in this article as we unpack the science. We’ll discuss the biology behind the baby’s sex, some popular theories, and touch on how you can improve your chances of getting pregnant to begin with.

Understanding How Baby Sex Is Determined

The sex of your baby starts with chromosomes at the moment of conception. We all have two chromosomes, at least one of which is an X, which always comes from the mother’s egg. The other is determined by the father’s sperm, which can carry either an X (girl) or a Y (boy) chromosome. 

Considering the above biology, the odds of your baby’s sex are about 50/50, as there’s currently no natural way to guarantee a boy or a girl.

How to Have a Baby Girl: Fact or Fiction?

Many superstitions, myths, or ‘old wives’ tales claim to help tip the odds in conceiving the couple’s preferred sex, with some more recent studies making similar claims too.

Although you can read plenty of hacks and claims on the internet or hear them from your peers, the real evidence supporting such theories remains limited. Many suggested methods for how to get a girl baby, whether they be superstition or revolve around timing and diet during sex or pregnancy, remain myth-based rather than proven, scientific fact.

That being said, having a preference is totally normal for many couples. According to a Gallup survey, 28% of respondents, in fact, said that they’d prefer a baby girl.

Let’s now address some of the methods and theories that claim to increase the chances of a baby girl, and unpack the science together.

When to Have Sex to Conceive a Girl

There are two well-known methods that theorize that the timing of sex could help determine the sex of your baby: the Shettles method, and the Whelan method, each named after the respective individual who came up with the concept. But what’s the difference?

While these two claims have been backed by small studies, many others, such as Wilcox in 1995, Twogood, and Cedars Sinai, have found no consistent evidence supporting either of the above approaches.

However, it’s important to remember that timing sex is indeed an important component of conceiving at all. Leaving sex too long before ovulation may lead you to ‘miss’ your fertile window, and limit your chances of conception overall.

Sex Positions for a Baby Girl

Shettles also claimed that shallow penetration (achieved by having sex in certain positions, such as missionary) might help X (girl) sperm survive longer in the acidic environment of the female reproductive organs. This is compared to positions that promote deeper penetration, which allegedly favor the “faster” Y (boy) sperm.

That being said, research has yet to find real, significant evidence to support the relationship between certain sex positions and how to conceive a girl. Sperm reaches the female cervix within minutes, regardless of position or gravity at play.

The most important thing to prioritize during sex is the comfort and connection that is felt between you and your partner, rather than ‘technique’.

What’s the Right Diet to Conceive a Girl?

Some claims suggest that a particular diet can promote the conception of a baby girl. Some theorize that an acidic environment in the female vagina might favor X sperm, or that a higher caloric intake leads to baby boys, while others suggest magnesium and calcium are the way forward for a daughter.

Popular “girl-friendly” foods typically include: 

• Leafy greens

• Whole grains

• Meat

• Blueberries

• Beans

• Almonds

While there may be some small correlations, these studies do not represent true, reliable proof, with many other experts affirming that the sex of the baby remains largely at random regardless of diet.

Eating a nutrient-dense, balanced diet is, in fact, an integral part of supporting your fertility and your body through pregnancy. You can also further support your body with the Prenatal supplements, or even the Mira Fertility Tea, both of which have been expertly formulated with organic, natural ingredients for gently supporting the female body.

IVF with Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis

Although there are no known ways to naturally control the sex of your baby, IVF with preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) is one known, reliable method to choose your baby’s sex through science, but it is expensive and raises some ethical concerns.

At the moment, IVF with PGD is only used for the detection and prevention of potential sex-linked disorders or genetic diseases, and is banned in many countries for non-medical reasons.

How to Increase Chances of Having a Girl

So, what’s myth, and what’s evidence-based?

Now that we’ve touched on the most popular theories on how to have a baby girl, let's break each of them down, including the evidence behind them, and see how they compare…

Some of the above theories have been backed by small studies, but despite being interesting takes on female conception, they each lack strong, modern evidence and remain largely unproven as a means of reliable sex selection through natural conception.

The main thing you can do to help your body through conception and pregnancy is to support your general fertility health through a balanced diet, rich in magnesium and calcium.

You may now be wondering, how else can you improve your chances of actually getting pregnant?

What Actually Improves Your Chances of Conception

While we may not be able to prove how to get pregnant with a girl, there are ways couples can increase their chances of conception to begin with. If you’re trying to conceive, being well-informed on the science at hand remains a highly beneficial part of getting pregnant.

The true, evidence-backed factors you could consider focusing on when TTC include:

• Tracking ovulation accurately (via apps or monitors).

• Maintaining balanced nutrition.

• Managing stress and sleep.

• Consulting a fertility specialist if needed 

If you’re looking to track your ovulation using hormonal data, try the Mira Hormone Monitor. With the specially designed Wands and the Mira App, it can help you identify when you’re at your most fertile in your cycle. We have even designed the Mira Male Fertility Kit, which can offer support and insight to your partner, whose fertility health is equally important when it comes to conception.

You can also track your basal body temperature (BBT) each day to help confirm ovulation. BBT tracking becomes useful only after monitoring a few menstrual cycles, as patterns take time to emerge. It cannot predict ovulation or define the entire fertile window in advance; instead, it shows that ovulation has already occurred by detecting a temperature rise afterward.

Using our Basal Body Thermometer each morning can provide accurate, evidence-based insights when the data is interpreted over time and alongside other fertility signs. If you’re looking for further guidance or have questions about your fertility health, our fertility experts can offer personal insights and advice.

The important thing to remember is that while you cannot choose your baby’s sex, you can strengthen and support your fertility.

The Bottom Line

The one thing we encourage you to take away from this article is that there is no “how to conceive a baby girl naturally calculator,” nor the best month to conceive a girl, or even certain times of the month, that can sway the odds in any way.

The most important thing to focus on is having a happy and healthy pregnancy, rather than being preoccupied with trying to control the outcomes. The journey to conception and through pregnancy into parenthood is a truly special time for you and your partner, and it can be full of surprises and unexpected turns.

It’s normal to hope for a daughter, and while it can be fun to try out some natural methods—much like making a wish on your birthday or throwing a penny into a wishing well—they aren’t true, data-backed methods. The odds of your baby’s sex will always be roughly 50/50.

We hope you found this article helpful. Always remember that your feelings are valid, and support is available if you’re experiencing any anxieties in this journey.

Frequently Asked Questions 

I have three boys now. How do I get a baby girl?

There’s no natural method that has been proven to learn how to conceive a baby girl. Instead, we suggest prioritizing your reproductive and physical health to better support your chances of getting pregnant.

Is it easier to conceive a baby boy than a baby girl?

No. It is not considered any easier to conceive a baby boy than a baby girl, as the odds are roughly 50/50 for all pregnancies.