Pinoy superstitions about pregnancy and children

They sound silly. They're old school. But admit it, you still adhere to these Pinoy superstitions - just in case.

Admit it - you still adhere to these Pinoy superstitions. Source: Getty Images/Indeed

1. Don’t look at 'ugly' people while pregnant.

Beauty is as beauty does. Source: Getty Images/Andrew Bret Wallis

If you don’t think that genetics play a role when it comes to how your child will look like, you might tend to believe that looking at ‘ugly’ people will lead to an ‘ugly’ child. On the flipside, this superstition also states that looking at ‘attractive’ people will make your child ‘attractive.’

But maybe, instead of looking at other people to determine what your child will look like, you should look at the person sleeping next to you. Or, a mirror.

2. Don’t take a bath for a week after you give birth.

Giving birth is dirty business. Source: Getty Images/RubberBall Productions

Anyone who has ever given birth will tell you this – pushing that baby through the birth canal or having someone rummage through your insides to bring that baby out is dirty business. It’s sweaty and bloody, and unfathomable fluids and bits come out of you.

So, do get some rest after giving birth; but please, take a shower when you can – for your sake, and for everyone else’s.

3. If a child has two hair whorls or puyo, he or she will be naughty.

Unruly hair, unruly child? Source: Nikki Alfonso-Gregorio

While having two hair whorls or puyo is a genetic predisposition, there is no scientific evidence that states this unique hair feature leads to hyperactivity and/or naughtiness.

The real unruly thing about children with two hair whorls? That stubborn strand of hair at the back that won’t go down.

4. Pwera usog and wiping saliva on a baby's tummy.

Seriously - don't let other people wipe saliva on bub's tummy. Source: Pixabay (Creative Commons)

Pinoys believe that babies are more susceptible to illness if a stranger greets them and expresses fondness for them. Even after merely stating how cute a baby is, the stranger is supposed to wipe saliva on the baby's tummy to prevent usog or a fever from developing.

But more than usog, what parents should worry about is the other person's saliva. After all, the mouth is the dirtiest part of the human body.

5. After baby turns one and gets a hair cut, cut strands should be placed in between pages of a dictionary.

Will placing bub's hair in between dictionary pages turn him into a wordsmith? Source: Getty Images/Yasser Chalid

Because dictionaries tend to be thick, and yes, they do contain a lot of words, the belief is that doing this will help children have thicker hair and wider vocabularies.

According to this superstition, hair in book equals intelligence; however, maybe eyes on book will give you better results.

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