10 Unsettling Facts About Babies That Will Shake You to Your Core

A newborn can’t be that complicated, right? You probably think you have a pretty good handle on things like how conception works and the general factors that influence a baby’s development. But the truth is, the world of babies is much more bizarre and full of surprises than you might think. From the unexpected impacts of a mother’s diet to the surprising reach of technology, here are ten facts about babies that will completely flip your perspective.

The IVF Club Is Way Bigger Than You Thought

Since 1978, In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) has become a popular and effective option for couples who have trouble conceiving naturally. The technology is so successful that a “test tube” baby is born every 35 seconds. More than 13 million people across 101 countries have been born via IVF. And that number is likely much higher, as it doesn’t include countries that don’t report IVF statistics or places like Australia, where the registry didn’t exist until the early 1980s. Experts believe that more than 4 million additional births could be missing from the final tally.

Winter Babies Start Crawling Earlier

If you were born during the colder months, you might have been a crawling champion. A 2014 study from Israel’s University of Haifa found that babies born in the winter began crawling up to 5 weeks earlier than those born in the summer. Researchers believe that the layered clothing and less outdoor time during the winter months may encourage babies to use their muscles differently, leading to earlier crawling. Similar results were found in studies in Japan and Colorado, though a Canadian study didn’t show the same major difference, possibly because indoor heating keeps home temperatures consistent year-round.

Summer Babies Are Healthier

Interestingly, while winter babies might crawl sooner, summer babies seem to have a health advantage in the long run. A 2015 study in the UK looked at data from 500,000 people and found that babies born in the summer were generally heavier and grew taller into adulthood than their winter-born counterparts. The study also noted that summer-born girls began puberty later, which is often a sign of good overall health. One theory behind this is the “sunlight effect.” It’s believed that mothers who get more sunlight during their second trimester absorb more vitamin D, which can aid in the baby’s development in the womb.

The First Remotely Created Baby

The quest to advance reproductive technology has led to some incredible breakthroughs. Scientists have developed a new tool that can remotely operate IVF, meaning a doctor can control the process in one country and perform it in another. The goal of this technology is to automate a highly delicate, 23-step procedure required for IVF—the injection of a single sperm into an egg. This step often damages or destroys eggs when done manually, but automation hopes to eliminate that risk. In 2025, the first baby was born using this automated treatment, marking a significant step forward for reproductive medicine.

Older Mothers Give Birth to Smarter Kids

Decades ago, having a child later in life wasn’t as common, and the children of older mothers often faced more challenges. Today, the opposite is true. Cognitive tests show that children born to older mothers outperform their peers with younger mothers. This isn’t just a coincidence. In developed countries, older mothers are often more educated, more financially stable, and have established careers. They also tend to avoid risky behaviors like smoking and are generally better prepared to raise a child. Additionally, firstborns—who are often born to older mothers—tend to perform better on cognitive tests because they receive more parental attention and resources before siblings arrive.

Breech Births Are Genetic

While most healthy babies are born headfirst, about one in twenty are born feet- or bottom-first, a position known as a breech birth. This can lead to health complications and, in some cases, be fatal. A major Norwegian study in 2008 found that a person’s birth position can be inherited. The study showed that a firstborn child was twice as likely to have a breech birth if one or both parents were a full-term breech baby themselves. This vital information helps doctors predict which babies might be at risk and plan accordingly.

The Oldest Baby Ever Born Was 30 Years Old

In 1994, a couple named Linda and Archerd had a baby girl via IVF. The procedure yielded three other embryos, which they decided to freeze. Decades later, Linda decided to put them up for adoption. Another couple happily accepted one of the embryos, and it was thawed and implanted. The baby was born in July 2025, after being frozen for just over 30 years, technically making him the oldest baby in the world at birth.

Famine Leads to More Girl Births

Historically, more boys are born than girls. However, during times of famine, female births tend to dominate. One theory suggests that this is an evolutionary survival mechanism. While only a few strong males can reproduce in a survival situation, almost all women are capable of giving birth, even when malnourished. It’s thought that having a girl might improve the odds of a mother’s DNA surviving a prolonged crisis. One study even found that male embryos can be lost if a mother’s blood sugar is consistently low, leading to more female embryos surviving in mothers who are hypoglycemic due to hunger.

Space Babies Don’t Exist (Yet)

Despite popular culture and futuristic visions, no human baby has ever been born in space. The process of a successful birth is incredibly delicate, and 75% of embryos are lost before a person even knows they are pregnant. In space, the lack of gravity and the risks from cosmic rays and radiation pose major threats to a child’s development, from conception through delivery. From the simple risk of a baby slipping out of a doctor’s hands to the unknown effects of a weightless environment on development, scientists have a lot to figure out before we can truly become an interplanetary species.

The Last Human Baby

While society often worries about both overpopulation and extinction, a truly worst-case scenario could result in the end of human fertility. If a disaster were to erase our ability to procreate, the human race would likely last another 70 years or so. As the last child ages, humanity would lose its ability to maintain infrastructure, medicine, and food production. Society would descend into chaos, and violence could kill the last human, or they would simply succumb to a lack of healthcare and proper nutrition. It’s a sobering thought that highlights how fragile our existence truly is.