Abandoned Baby
The abandoned baby is a rare three-candle reversal: a long candle in the trend's direction, a doji that gaps away from it, and a long opposite candle that gaps back the other way. The doji is left isolated between two gaps.
Imagine a market racing lower, then gapping down into a session where nothing happens, then gapping straight back up. The quiet session in the middle — the "baby" — is left stranded by gaps on both sides. That is the abandoned baby, one of the rarest and most dramatic candlestick reversals. This entry explains the bullish and bearish versions and how they differ from star patterns.
- Category
- Price Action
- Reading time
- 4 min
- Also called
- Abandoned baby pattern, Bullish abandoned baby, Bearish abandoned baby
- Updated
The abandoned baby in plain words
A bullish abandoned baby has three candles: a long black candle, a doji that gaps below its low, and a long white candle that gaps above the doji.1
The bearish version flips it: a long white candle, a doji gapping above its high, then a long black candle gapping below the doji.2
It is a rare reversal pattern defined by a gap, a doji and another gap in the opposite direction.3
How to spot an abandoned baby, step by step
Confirm a trend
There must be a move to reverse. See Trend.
First candle
A long body in the trend's direction.
Gap to a doji
The doji gaps beyond the first candle's range. See Doji.
Gap back
The third candle gaps the other way.
Strong third candle
A long body against the old trend.
Manage risk
Stops beyond the doji's extreme. See Stop Loss.
Worked examples
Example 1 — Bullish abandoned baby
Bullish reversalDay 1: a long black candle with a low of $40. Day 2: a doji trading $38–$39. Day 3: opens at $40.50 and closes at $43.
| Gap down | Doji high $39 < day 1 low $40 |
| Gap up | Day 3 low above $39 |
| Day 3 body | $40.50 → $43 |
The gaps on both sides of the doji reinforce the bullish reversal.1
Example 2 — Bearish abandoned baby
Sharp reversalAfter a rally to $57.50, a doji gaps higher, then a long black candle gaps down and the stock slides to $47.50.
| Peak area | $57.50 |
| Later price | $47.50 |
| Decline | −$10 (≈ −17%) |
A bearish abandoned baby can mark a sharp reversal, as in a StockCharts example of a move from $57.50 to $47.50.2
Example 3 — Morning star, not abandoned baby
Different patternSame as Example 1, but the doji's high is $40.20, overlapping day 1's low of $40.
| Gap? | No — ranges overlap |
| Pattern | Morning doji star |
The abandoned baby needs gaps on both sides of the doji; without them it is a morning star.1
Abandoned baby vs morning/evening star
| Aspect | Abandoned baby | Star pattern |
|---|---|---|
| Candles | Three | Three |
| Middle candle | Doji | Small body or doji |
| Gaps | On both sides of the doji | Not required |
| Frequency | Rare | More common. See Morning Star and Evening Star |
How traders use the abandoned baby
Major reversals
Spotting sharp trend changes.
After climaxes
Exhaustion after a panic or blow-off.
Gap analysis
Gaps add conviction. See Price Gap.
Stock charts
Most common where markets close overnight.
Advantages and disadvantages
Advantages
- Strong, clear reversal signal.
- Gaps show a decisive shift.
- Easy to define objectively.
Disadvantages
- Very rare.
- Almost never appears in 24-hour markets.
- Wide stops after big gaps.
Going deeper
Read as far as you need. Each level builds on the one before it.
Why the gaps matter
Beginner
The first gap shows the old pressure still in control; the doji shows it easing; the gap back shows the other side taking over.1
Near-dojis count
Intermediate
Open and close need not be exactly equal: a small middle body with balanced shadows can still capture the essence of a doji.2
Market structure
Advanced
Because it needs gaps, the pattern belongs mainly to markets with closing sessions such as stocks; in forex and crypto true gaps are rare. See Price Gap.
Common mistakes
Accepting overlapping ranges
Without both gaps it is a star pattern.
Ignoring the trend
It must follow a clear move.
Oversized positions
Gaps can make stops wide.
Looking for it in forex
Continuous markets rarely gap.
Check your understanding
Test yourself before moving on. Each answer comes with an explanation.
Key points to remember
- The abandoned baby is a three-candle reversal.
- A doji sits isolated between two gaps.
- Bullish after declines, bearish after rallies.
- It is rare and mostly seen in stocks.
- Without the gaps it becomes a star pattern.
Frequently asked questions
How rare is the abandoned baby?
Does it work in crypto?
Is it a reliable pattern?
Further learning
- Morning Star and Evening Star
The more common cousin.
- Doji
The middle candle.
- Price Gap
Why gaps matter.
Sources
This article is written in our own words. The sources below support the specific facts, rules and figures marked with a number in the text. Links open the original publisher’s page.
- StockCharts ChartSchool. Candlestick Bullish Reversal Patterns (opens in a new tab) Checked .
- StockCharts ChartSchool. Candlestick Bearish Reversal Patterns (opens in a new tab) Checked .
- StockCharts ChartSchool. Candlestick Pattern Dictionary (opens in a new tab) Checked .
Read more elsewhere
- Trading Metrics (our sister site): Abandoned Baby (Bullish) (opens in a new tab)
Educational content, not financial advice. Examples use hypothetical prices and simplified costs; actual fees, margin rules and regulations vary by broker, market and country. Trading Metrics is our sister site, under the same ownership; we are not affiliated with any other publisher linked above. Last reviewed . Report an error or request a source credit.