As an astrologer and a mother, one of the things I’m most commonly asked (along with, “When will the world improve!?”) is what role astrology plays in my parenting. Questions like, “Did you plan to have a Libra?” are common (and for the record, the answer is no). The truth is, while my babies’ sun signs (aka their ‘star sign’) helps me understand how they see the world, it’s their moon sign I lean on most often. To figure out what your baby’s moon sign is, you’ll need to cast their birth chart.

What is a birth chart?

A birth chart is like a snapshot of the sky (from the perspective of the earth), from the moment they took their first breath. By looking at that picture, we can analyse the position that the planets (Mercury, Venus, Mars etc) and luminaries (the Sun and Moon). The signs each body is in (the zodiac signs) and the patterns and shapes they make with each other (known as aspects) describe different flavours to their personality.

It all comes together as a kind of ingredient list that makes up the astrology of you (which just happens to be the name of my new book! Boom tish!). If you think of their chart like an ingredient list it helps make sense of how two children can both have the same astro signatures (like the same Sun or Moon sign) but present completely differently. Flour and eggs make pasta, but they can also make a cake.

What is a moon sign and what does it say about my child?

The moon sign is simply the zodiac sign the moon was in when your child was born. The moon changes signs every 2.5 days, which means it’s the fastest moving body in our birth chart. In astrology, the moon represents our inner emotional world, describing how we process emotions and what we need to feel safe and loved. It is instinctive, intuitive and intrinsically linked with our nurturing style – both in the sense of how our children nurture others, and how they like to be nurtured. Understanding what motivates your child on an emotional level offers amazing insight, and helps explain (difficult) situations, frame (tricky) conversations, and comfort them in a way that feels truly nourishing.

What is a sun sign and what does it say about my child?

The sun sign is much more connected to the way our kids rationalise things. Think of it like an IG filter that they see the world through. While it’s not, not important, their sun sign tends not to show up as strongly in young kids because, well, young kids aren’t very rational (no, just me and mine?).

So without further ado, here is a quick reference guide to understanding your babe’s moon sign. For more astro insights, follow Emma on Instagram or check out my her book The Astrology Of You: Finding Love, Creativity and Soul Purpose In Your Birth Chart.