A baby is safely born.  Parents and families experience the universal feelings of excitement, joy, anticipation and relief.  Everyone prepares to welcome the newest addition to the family. 

Around the world, the actions and events surrounding a newborn are shaped by many unique factors.  History, folklore, religious and cultural beliefs, superstition and family tradition all play important roles.  Most people have no idea how their customs developed, and  they keep getting passed down from generation to generation. 

Sometimes the customs have endured for centuries with little change, but often they evolve over time.  Some traditions simply fade away over time.  Following are some current traditions that Americans use to mark the addition of a new family member.

Current Traditions in the U.S.

Most of today’s birth activities in the U.S. are dictated by religious, cultural and to a lesser extent family customs.  

For instance, many Christian religions require a child be baptized or christened within a certain time-period.  Prior to any religious  ceremony, the parents will select godparents who will be there to guide and protect the baby in the years to come.  The parents or close family members might give the newborn a bible or other religious gifts.

In the Jewish faith, a male baby is circumcised on its eighth day in a religious ceremony called a Briss, while a female child is feted with a baby-naming ceremony. 

Family traditions also play a part in welcoming a newborn.  A first born son might be named after his father, or a female is given the mother’s maiden name as her middle name.  Perhaps the family presents the new baby with a special baby outfit that is passed down through the generations.

Many families gather after the birth of a child to take pictures of the parents, grandparents and older generations. 

Some families consider it bad luck to buy baby gifts ahead of time, so a baby shower is held shortly after the newborn arrives.  It is customary to also bring a present when visiting the baby for the first time.

Often newborn traditions involve a time for the new mother to bond with her baby.

In Latin American countries, for example, they still practice the “quarentina” – a period of 40 days following the birth when family and friends take turns caring for the new mom and baby.  A similar practice takes place in India, where the new mom is expected to stay home for the first 45 days.  Family members pamper the new mother who is not even supposed to venture into the kitchen, since it might cause her milk to dry up! 

New mothers in China receive a lot of care and attention.  By tradition, new moms aren't supposed to leave their home for a month. Grandparents and other relatives take care of the household duties so the mom can recuperate and care for baby.  Mom is fed high protein soups and other special foods until she is fully recovered.

Officially Welcoming the Newborn

Baby announcement cards came into use in the U.S during the 1950s, and today a baby announcement card is an expected part of childbirth.  Usually the announcement features personal information about the newborn and often a picture.

Other newborn traditions have been popular for long periods and then began to wane.  The cigar is one such example.  For many years it was customary for new fathers to pass out cigars to friends, family and co-workers.  Most Americans would probably be surprised to learn that this tradition came about from the Native American potlatch ceremony that took place among tribes living on the Northwest Coast.  During a potlatch, tobacco was smoked and then blown toward the sun to please the gods and as a gesture of thanksgiving.  Early settlers adapted this ritual and the cigar eventually became a goodwill gesture surrounding the birth of a baby.

The cigar custom became very widespread and thrived for years.  However, since smoking is no longer viewed as a desirable activity, the cigar tradition has faded considerably. 

Newborn Traditions of Long Ago

Today we look back on many birth and newborn practices with a mixture of amazement and amusement.  How could anyone possibly  believe that evil spirits might capture their child?  Did anyone really throw out the baby with the bath water?  Why did some cultures refrain from bathing a newborn baby for a long period of time?

However, these rituals, and many more, were taken very seriously and most everyone followed them for fear of harming a child or mother.  Here is a sampling of what some cultures and societies practiced and believed.

In Ancient Ireland, people believed that a nursing mother needed to be protected from otherworldly beings so she was seldom left alone.  It was thought that these evil beings needed nursing mothers, so a nursing woman could be abducted.

Another old Gaelic custom in Ireland dictated that a child’s first movements should be upward, so he or she will have great fortune throughout life.

The German people thought that parental actions could affect a child, either for the good or for the bad.  For instance, one belief was that a child would be clumsy later in life unless the newborn was placed on his or her left side immediately following birth.  Many people in Germany also believed that if the mother of a newborn put pins in a curtain within six months of giving birth, then the baby was sure to develop very bad teeth.  In some parts of Germany, there was also the belief that if the parents went shoeless, it would cause their child to have difficulty walking. 

Strange as it seems now, the French were convinced that a sneezing powder aided in the birth process.  Royalty during the 18^th century made childbirth into an elaborate event, with many people crowded into the birthing room.  Following the birth, the baby was washed in oil, red roses and red wine.

When babies were born in China, a Taoist priest was present to whisper prayers into the mother’s ears as she gave birth.  Babies were never washed for the first three days – or until the influences of evil forces were considered to be less threatening.

In the Eskimo culture, the husband played a major role in the birth process.  After childbirth, he would wrap the placenta in animal skin and leave it outside the family hut for the animals to feast.  The father then selected as many as three names for the newborn.  The numerous names were for protection against the evil spirits that the Eskimo believed existed in the wind. 

In the Zuni Indian culture during the late 1800s, a grandmother of the new baby would throw the just delivered placenta in a nearby river to be washed downstream.  Six days following the birth, the new baby would be introduced to the Zuni gods and be made an official member of the Zuni people.

Delivery of a baby always took place at home in ancient Malaysia and Indonesia because a baby's first cry should be heard at home. Upon birth, words of Allah were whispered into the baby's ear and the baby was introduced to the grandparents – a sign of respect and honor. The placenta was then washed and placed in an earthenware pot with spices and kept near the mother.  After a period of 40 days, the family buried the placenta nearby the family home.

Information for this article was gathered from a number of blogs and websites, including midwiferytoday.com, medhunters.com, mothering.com, parents.com and several other sites.

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Contemporary Newborn Rituals