6 reasons April babies are special
If you’ve got a due date this month, you might be welcoming a future CEO.
Winter is over and the world is beginning to bloom again. Mamas with April due dates can consider themselves lucky to be so in sync with Mother Nature. Being born during this month of renewal will have a lasting impact on springtime babies, because research shows your birth month matters. Below are six ways an April due date can impact your little one for years to come.
6 things to know about April babies
1. They’re more likely to stay up late
A study in the journal Sleep found people with spring and summer birthdays generally go to bed later than those born in the fall and winter. So your little April baby is more likely to grow up to be a night owl.
Related: 6 reasons February babies are special
2. They’ll likely have a positive outlook
A 2014 study of Hungarian university students found that babies born in March, April and May are more likely to rate higher on the hyperthymic scale later in life. A person with a hyperthymic temperament is optimistic and positive. Your April baby is more likely to be an optimist if you live in a place with dry summers and cold winters, like Hungary (or a lot of northern states). Your mileage may vary in equatorial climates.
3. They learn leadership skills early
According to researchers at the University of British Columbia’s Sauder School of Business, April babies (and those born in March) are more likely to become corporate leaders later in life than those born in the summer. After analyzing the birthdates of 375 CEOs’ S&P; 500 companies between 1992 and 2009, researchers concluded that this is due to the way we structure the school year. April babies are more likely to be the oldest in the class and therefore singled out as leaders early in life.
4. They have a lower risk of asthma
A 2015 study of New York City babies found kids with springtime birthdays have a lower risk for these medical issues. The decreased asthma risk could be because dust mites are more abundant in the spring, and if a baby is exposed during the first two months of life, that might strengthen their immune response.
5. They have a lower risk of ADHD
That same study notes ADHD is more commonly diagnosed in babies born later in the year, but this has nothing to do with dust mites and everything to do with the way the school year is structured, as the youngest kids in class are often perceived as not being as calm as the spring-born babies.
Related: 20 April baby names that scream adventure
6. They should start wearing sunscreen early
An April due date means you’ll want to be mindful of early sun exposure. Studies have shown spring babies are more at risk for melanoma in adulthood, maybe because they get more sun exposure in the earliest months of life. So make sure to slather the sunscreen on your little Aries or Taurus this summer and protect their skin while developing their sunny personality.
A version of this post was originally published March 30, 2018. It has been updated.