Does a Sweet Tooth In Pregnancy Mean a Boy or Girl?

The Sweet Tooth Myth

Across many cultures, people have long believed that pregnancy cravings can predict a baby’s gender. Sweets like chocolate and desserts are thought to point to a girl, while cravings for meat, chips or salty snacks supposedly suggest a boy. These gender-prediction stories have been passed down for generations, especially in family conversations, online parenting groups and antenatal chats. They are fun to talk about, but they don’t stand up to scientific scrutiny.

What Science Actually Says

Scientific research consistently shows no connection between the type of cravings women experience and the sex of their baby. Studies examining thousands of pregnancies have found that while most women experience food cravings at some stage, the type of craving whether sweet, salty or sour does not indicate the baby’s gender. Medical professionals view this myth as pure folklore rather than fact.

Why Sweet Cravings Happen

If a sweet tooth isn’t a clue about gender, what causes it? The answer lies in your body’s biology. During pregnancy, hormone levels such as oestrogen, progesterone and hCG fluctuate dramatically. These hormones affect taste, smell and appetite, sometimes making sweet foods far more appealing than usual. Pregnancy also increases your body’s energy and nutrient demands, so sugar cravings may simply reflect your need for quick energy or a temporary blood-sugar dip.

Cravings can also be influenced by emotional or cultural factors. If you associate sweets with comfort or celebration, your brain might crave that sense of relief when pregnancy feels overwhelming. It’s not your baby asking for dessert, it’s your body and mind trying to adapt to huge physical and emotional changes.

ALSO READ: The weirdest pregnancy cravings!

Nutritional and Emotional Triggers

Cravings can sometimes highlight nutritional gaps. For example, craving chocolate could be linked to a need for magnesium, and a preference for red meat or salty foods may reflect an iron or sodium imbalance. It’s important not to ignore persistent or unusual cravings, especially if you feel drawn to non-food items such as ice, clay or chalk (a condition called pica). These may indicate a deficiency that your healthcare provider should check.

Emotional wellbeing plays a major role too. Fatigue, stress and anxiety can influence what you crave and how often. Sweet foods trigger the release of serotonin and dopamine, the “feel-good” hormones which can temporarily improve mood.

Healthy Ways to Manage Cravings

Cravings are completely normal, but balance is key. Try to:

• Eat regular, nutrient-rich meals to stabilise your blood sugar.
• Keep healthy sweet options nearby, such as fruit, yoghurt or smoothies.
• Stay hydrated, as dehydration can mimic hunger or sugar cravings.
• Get enough rest — tiredness often intensifies the desire for quick energy.
• Don’t restrict yourself harshly; occasional treats are fine.

Pregnancy is not the time for extreme diets or guilt over cravings. Listening to your body while maintaining a balanced diet supports both you and your baby’s health.

Why the Myth Still Exists

Despite modern medicine and easy access to information, old wives’ tales remain popular. They offer comfort, curiosity and a sense of control during a time filled with uncertainty. Guessing your baby’s gender based on cravings, belly shape or heart rate can feel fun and harmless, as long as you remember it’s just for entertainment.

Cultural storytelling also keeps these myths alive. Families often pass them down affectionately, and coincidences reinforce belief, if you craved sweets and had a girl, it’s tempting to think the theory worked. But for every person who says it was true, there are plenty whose experiences were the opposite.

The Only Reliable Ways to Know

If you’re genuinely curious about your baby’s gender, the only dependable methods are medical ones. An ultrasound scan, usually between 18 and 22 weeks, can often reveal the baby’s sex, and blood tests like non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) can determine it earlier with over 99% accuracy. Everything else, the cravings, bump shape or pregnancy glow remains in the realm of myths and fun guessing games.

Final Thoughts

Craving sweets in pregnancy does not mean you’re having a girl, just as craving salty food doesn’t mean you’re having a boy. Your cravings are the result of hormonal changes, nutritional needs and emotional factors not your baby’s gender. Enjoy the guessing games, but remember that every pregnancy is unique and every craving is simply your body communicating what it needs in the moment.

Pregnancy is full of mystery and discovery, but when it comes to food cravings, the only real message is to listen to your body, take care of yourself and savour the journey.

References

• Parents.com – “Old Wives’ Tales About Baby Gender Predictions”
• South China Morning Post – “Old Wives’ Tales in China: Food Choices and Gender Myths”
• National Library of Medicine – “Food Cravings During Pregnancy: Patterns and Associations”
• Medical News Today – “Can Pregnancy Cravings Predict Baby Gender?”
• WebMD – “Predicting Your Baby’s Sex”
• AlphaBiolabs – “Can Pregnancy Cravings Be Used to Predict Baby Gender?”