Why May Is the Perfect Month to Welcome Your Baby

Expecting a May baby? How perfect, given that May ushers in new growth. (Way to contribute!) Read about your baby’s dazzling birthstone, sweet birth flowers, and blooming personality.

Key Takeaways

• May is a beautiful time to welcome a baby. May is peak spring, with mild weather that’s perfect for comfy pregnancy days and getting outside with your newborn once she arrives.
• May babies have rich symbolism and personality ties. May babies are linked to emeralds, lily of the valley, and hawthorn flowers, and are either grounded Tauruses or curious Geminis — each with distinct, fascinating traits.
• May is a month full of optimism and celebration. From everyday springtime cheer to holidays like Mother’s Day and Cinco de Mayo, May babies are surrounded by joy from the very start.

1. Mother Nature is at her best. May is named after Maia, the Greek Goddess of Spring. And now that spring has arrived, you don’t have to worry about bundling up to enjoy your baby in the fresh spring air.
   
   “I tell everyone that May is the absolute best month to have a baby!” says What to Expect Community member daisymommm, who has had three babies in May. “It’s way better to be pregnant over the winter when you can just be cozy in big sweaters, etc. And then it’s the perfect weather to go for walks with your newborn and get out a little.10/10 highly recommend!!”
2. May’s birthstone is an emerald. The stunning green gem represents rebirth, love, peace, and security. It’s thought to bring foresight, good fortune, and youth. No wonder Cleopatra is said to have claimed ownership of all emerald mines in Egypt in her day.
3. April showers bring May flowers, and May has two birth flowers. Lily of the valley represents sweetness, motherhood, good luck, and purity. The other May birth flower is hawthorn blossoms, which symbolize beauty, happiness, faith, fertility, and longevity. As your little one grows, be sure to share with them that hawthorn trees are thought to shelter fairies.
4. Babies born in May are either a Taurus (April 20 - May 20) or a Gemini (May 21 - June 20). And there’s quite a difference between them! Taurus (the bull) children belong to the earth element, meaning they’re grounded and practical (and maybe a tad stubborn), while Gemini (the twins) are air signs, making them intellectual, curious, and maybe a little flighty.
   
   Discover the fun astrological traits of your May baby with our free Birth Chart Calculator. And check out the What to Expect app for tips and advice at every stage of your pregnancy.
5. Some strong characters have May birthdays. Your May baby may share a birthday with one of these personalities: Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson (May 2), Adele (May 5), George Clooney (May 6), Rosario Dawson (May 9), Salvador Dali (May 11), Florence Nightingale (May 12), Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (May 22), Bob Dylan (May 24), or John F. Kennedy (May 29).
6. Your little one may look on the bright side as they grow. Researchers have found that a tendency to be very positive (called hyperthymic temperament) is significantly higher in those born in the spring and summer.
7. Joyful celebrations fill the May calendar. Your baby may be born on May Day (May 1), Cinco de Mayo (May 5) or on Mother's Day, which is the second Sunday in May. (What a great way to celebrate!) She could also be born on National Chocolate Chip Day (May 15), Brother’s Day (May 24), or Memorial Day (the last Monday of May).

Check out all May due dates