How To Conceive A Boy , 6 Special Tips to Have A Baby Boy

Are you wondering how to conceive a boy?

If so, I’m sure you’re interested in knowing the various methods said to stack the odds in your favour, when it comes to conceiving a boy. This is also known as gender swaying.

Various gender swaying theories have been around for decades.

These theories aren’t guaranteed for success and aren’t always backed by science (unlike some of our suggestions!).

But if you’re keen to learn all the theories and want a boy, it can’t hurt to try – you have a 50% chance either way!

How to conceive a boy

At the end of the article, I’ve included details of a more recent book to be published, which is based on scientific research and evidence about how to specifically conceive a boy or girl.

As far as BellyBelly is concerned, we believe the very best outcome is a healthy baby. You also can’t be sure of baby’s gender, but you can try to have a specific sex.

So it’s important to bear that in mind as you read on about increasing your odds of conceiving a baby boy.

However, we do understand couples around the world have their own personal reasons for wanting to try for a boy (1).

How to conceive a boy – step by step

So you can get to the information you need faster, here’s a helpful list of what you need to know while trying to conceive:

How to have a boy – the basics

Before we jump into tips about how to have a baby boy, there are some important basics you need to know.

Male reproductive cells (sperm) contain one of two chromosomes related to your baby’s sex (2).

A baby girl will have an X chromosome and a baby boy will have a Y chromosome.

Therefore, the sperm that fertilizes the egg will determine the sex of your baby.

So if you want to have a boy, you need to focus on the external conditions which make it favorable for boy sperm.

How to guarantee a baby boy

If you’re looking for methods to guarantee a baby boy, currently there are no known natural options of gender selection which will 100% guarantee the sex of your baby.

The only way you can do this is via artificial means (such as in-vitro fertilization – IVF), if your country allows gender selection in a fertility clinic.

However, if you’re not wanting to go down a clinical gender selection path, or if you’re unable to, your best chances at conceiving a boy are via the methods mentioned in this article.

What is the Shettles Method for conceiving a boy?

No matter if you’re trying for a boy or a girl, you may have heard of The Shettles Method.

Dr. Landrum Shettles, the author of the best-selling book, How to Choose the Sex of Your Baby, believes male and female sperm have a number of key differences.

Through research, Dr. Shettles reported finding male sperm to be weaker, smaller and faster than female sperm.

He also reported female sperm to be more resilient, being able to survive for longer periods inside a woman’s body.

However, some medical specialists disagreed with his findings, specifically that male and female sperm had any differences.

Dr. Shettles guidelines can be found in some of the suggestions below, along with other more current views about how to conceive a boy.

How To Conceive A Boy #1: Sex positions

Dr. Shettles believed deep penetration during sex was important to give the male y sperm a head start.

With less distance to travel, they would be able to out-swim the x sperm and fertilize the egg.

The Shettles method claims that to improve your chances of conceiving a baby boy, you should have sex in positions that allow for deep penetration.

The closer you can get to the cervix, the better.

Best sex positions to conceive a boy

How To Conceive A Boy #1: Doggy style

The position most recommended for those who want to know how to conceive a boy is doggy style.

Doggy style allows for deep penetration and is considered the optimum position in which to conceive a boy.

You should kneel on all fours, and have your partner enter you from behind.

You could also adjust this position so that you are kneeling or leaning over a raised surface, if you prefer.

How To Conceive A Boy#2: Standing up

Another position allowing for deep penetration is standing up.

According to some gender swaying experts, boy sperm are given an advantage in this position.

This is because it’s claimed male sperm can swim faster than female sperm. It’s a race against gravity to reach the finish line!

While standing up, your partner may be able to lift you up, or you prefer to lean against a wall.

How To Conceive A Boy #3: Straddling

Another great position to conceive a baby boy is straddling.

The man should lie or sit up on the bed, chair, sofa, or wherever you choose.

The woman should sit on top, straddling him.

Straddling allows for deep penetration, but with the added benefit of the woman being in control.

If the man has a large penis, or if the woman feels discomfort when trying the positions mentioned above, she may prefer a position like this where she can be on top. This will allow her to control the depth of penetration.

How To Conceive A Boy #2: What foods to eat to conceive a boy

Want to know how to conceive a boy? You need to go bananas!

One study claimed a diet high in potassium and sodium favored the conception of a boy (3).

Specialist in mammalian biology at Exeter University, Fiona Mathews, said:

“We were able to confirm the old wives’ tale that eating bananas and so having a high potassium intake was associated with having a boy, as was a high sodium intake.”(4)

Bananas are one of the worst fruits for carbohydrate content (meaning it will spike blood sugar levels). So if you have diabetes, or want to avoid gestational diabetes, go easy on the fruit.

See a helpful visual representation of the carbohydrate content of a range of fruit here.

As for sodium, sprinkle Himalayan salt on your foods, or perhaps consider stocking up on electrolytes. Electrolytes are fantastic for proper hydration during pregnancy and in the post-natal period (and any time!).

See our article about electrolytes during pregnancy.

How To Conceive A Boy #3: The best time to conceive a baby boy after periods

This tip is believed to be one of the most important ones – which is the best day to conceive a baby boy after periods?

Because male sperm is the faster of the two, Shettles suggests having intercourse as close to ovulation as possible, so the male y sperm can reach the egg first.

If you have sex several days before the day of ovulation, the less resilient male sperm may die off.

This leaves more female sperm to fertilize the ovum (5).

Not sure how to identify ovulation?

It’s a good idea to start charting your monthly cycle and observing your cervical mucus. When you notice egg-white cervical mucus, this is fertile mucus, and a good time to have intercourse. Your chances of conceiving a boy are high around this time.

Also, around ovulation time, you can use ovulation test kits (like pregnancy test kits) to give you added evidence that you’re ovulating.