A handy-dandy guide on all things parenting when it comes to metal rat babies.
According to the Chinese zodiac, if you’re having a baby this year (from 25 January 2020 to 11 February 2021), you’re having a Metal Rat. To the uninitiated, here’s the good news: it’s a pretty awesome to have a Metal Rat baby! Legend has it that to decide on the animals’ order in the zodiac, the Jade Emperor threw a party and whoever arrived first would be the first animal in the zodiac. The Rat knew he didn’t have a chance so he tricked the Ox into giving him a ride to the party. But just as the were about to reach the finish line, the Rat jumped down and scurried in front of the Ox, making it to first place – pretty sneaky stuff!
This story says a lot about the Rat’s personality – they’re courageous, smart, resourceful and also quite lucky. It doesn’t matter if you’re a first-time mum or a jaded second-timer; learning more about your bub’s personality helps a lot, especially when you’re at your wits’ end. And trust us, you’ll be thanking us later, especially when you hit those darned terrible twos. Without further ado, here’s our guide to raising a Metal Rat…
The Metal Rat’s personality traits
The Metal Rat is one of the smartest animals in the Chinese zodiac. They can easily adapt to their surroundings and are the first to seize any opportunity they spot. Not only are they smart, they’re also very hard-working, which means you can rely on them to be responsible and efficient. They also love having fun (who doesn’t?) and are very easy going. Sounds like a breeze so far, right? Before you get too comfortable… read on!
Don’t be fooled by that charm
Although Rats may seem shy at first, don’t be fooled. They’re actually quite the charmers! They also secretly love being the centre of attention, and they’ll do anything to stay there. They’ll smile, giggle and coo just because they know they’re cute. But they’ll also cry their lungs out or throw tantrums just to get you to notice them. If your Rat baby has siblings; be warned – they’ll stop at nothing to keep the spotlight on them and off everyone else!
Parenting tip: Stand your ground and try your best to keep your cool. Count to 10 if you need to! The calmer you are, the easier it will be to deal with your tantrum-ing Rat bub.
They’re constantly on the go
Just like their namesakes, Rats are always, always in flux. They’re super curious so they love getting into everything and running around. Mums, be prepared to have your water bottle at the ready. Baby Rats are very active so you’ll want to keep up!
Parenting tip: Can’t get your active Rat to sit still? Get them to chill out by playing or singing their favourite songs. If that doesn’t work, pick a fun book with lots of flaps and textures and scoop them up for a quick read.
They’re super smart
As you can see from the traditional tale above, Rats are some of the most intelligent animals in the Chinese Zodiac. They easily adapt to change and are very quick-witted. It’s easy for them to think on their feet, which is great and also not so great for parents. On one hand, we don’t have to worry about them much but on the other, we need to be on top of their every move because they’ll outsmart us if we aren’t being careful!
Parenting tip: Nurture your Rat’s natural curiosity and intelligence by skipping screen time and reading books together instead. Speak to them like you would an adult and as much as possible, avoid baby talk. Remember, kids are sponges and will repeat everything you say!
So there you have it, our guide to raising a Metal Rat. Which traits are you looking forward to seeing the most?
