Chinese Myths - Advice for Babies
Looking after babies is a family affair, and rarely is it the case that parents go it alone. Quite often the mother has a break from work during this period, but she is usually helped either by a family member or a paid nanny to care for the newborn.
Indeed, paid nannies are becoming quite popular in China now as parents rush back to work, and there is a shortage of qualified workers. Skills that parents usually look for in a nanny range from personality to ability, but what sets them apart from the competition is their modern approach to baby care.
Having said that, old habits dies hard and most nannies have some unusual and interesting ideas about looking after babies and infant, and I’ve compiled a list of my favourites;
- Newborn babies should sleep on small, hard pillows to form a beautifully round head shape
- The bridge of the nose of a baby can be regularly pinched and squeezed to form a high-bridge, something considered beautifully unique in Chinese culture
- Babies should always wear several more layers than adults, even it the temperature in more than 30C (I have seen babies in coats, trousers and hats in such weather)
- If a baby has the hiccups, it means that they have ‘caught a cold.’
- If a baby drinks water and it makes them cough, the solution is to pull both of their ears vertically downwards with some force.
- If a baby is frightened for whatever reason, the best answer is to rub the earlobe until they feel better
- Shaving a baby’s hair regularly is vital for thick growth
- Baby boys usually look like the father, so if they resemble the mother it means there will be future fortune in the family
- If 2 babies who can't speak fluently yet kiss each other, they will become mutes in later life
- If a baby has a fever, dabbing alcohol onto the forehead will help
- When a child feels indigestion, squeezing and rubbing on the back near both kidneys will prompt a fast poo and an end to the discomfort
As you can see, there are some ideas here which make some sense, but most of them don’t. If there are any unusual and interesting habits in your country’s culture, please add a comment below and let us all know
