A memory such as 'around lunch' is a clue, not an exact birth time. Start by recording what is known and what remains uncertain. Do not turn a family estimate into a precise timestamp just because a form requires one.
Recover the Original Time Range
Ask whether the family remembers a clock time, daylight, a hospital routine, or a particular meal. Meal schedules vary, so 'after dinner' cannot identify a traditional two-hour period on its own. Check a birth record when one is available.
Keep Candidate Charts Separate
If the plausible range crosses an hour boundary, compare both charts using the same date, place, and calendar settings. Record the uncertainty beside each chart. Do not quietly overwrite the estimate after an appealing interpretation.
Use Past Events Carefully
Choose a few dated, independently remembered events rather than broad personality descriptions. Agreement with a story does not prove a birth time; selective memory can make several charts seem convincing. If the evidence remains weak, keep the time range open and explain which parts of the reading depend on it.