The birth of a child among the Tatars is associated with numerous rituals, which were considered necessary to ensure the protection of the mother and child from the influence of evil forces...

This was the act of introducing the child to the family and partly to the wider community. In addition, these rituals expressed feelings of joy and hope in connection with the arrival of a new family member.

The Tatars believed that a woman should give birth and thereby contribute to the growth of the family and the population of the village as a whole. A young barren woman became the object of gossip and gossip from those around her. Such women were called "koryk"(barren flower).

In the absence of children, the woman was always considered guilty.

Large families met with public approval. The birth of a child was seen as an important event. The birth of a son brought especially great joy to parents; the birth of twins was also considered a good omen.

The pregnant woman was surrounded to a certain extent with care. So, in the fifth or sixth month of pregnancy, she was entrusted with relatively easy work; she was not left alone in an empty hut at night, since, according to existing beliefs, evil spirits could replace or kill the child even in the womb. Therefore, in the absence of her husband and other family members, an old neighbor was invited to stay with her for the night.

The cycle of rituals associated with the birth of a child usually included the following elements:

childbirth,

birthday party (babi tuye),

naming,

first hair cut,

first tooth celebration

circumcision,

rituals against the evil eye.

As sources note, births were attended by midwives everywhere2. The birth took place at home on planks. Midwife or experienced one elderly woman cut the baby's umbilical cord, placing it on a silver coin. This custom, according to the Tatars, provided the newborn with strong, metal-like health and wealth. The umbilical cord along with the afterbirth was wrapped in a clean rag and buried in the ground, choosing a clean place in the yard for this. In some places, the Tatars had a custom of preserving the umbilical cord of a newborn: it was wrapped in a rag or leather and stored in the gap between the mat and the ceiling boards. According to legend, this umbilical cord protected the life and health of the child.

The newborn was bathed by the midwife and wrapped in his father's shirt.

This was done with the wish that the child would be close to his father and loved by him. After the first bath, the midwife lubricated the child’s mouth with butter; more often, she wrapped the butter in gauze and gave it to him to suck. In some villages of the Kryashen Tatars, a child was given chewed bread with butter wrapped in a rag to suck. In the villages of Zakazanya, the closest relative or mother of the woman in labor brought “Vlbђ” - a delicacy made from flour fried in boiling oil with the addition of dissolved honey or sugar.

Immediately after childbirth, on the same day or the next, a bathhouse was always heated, which was called a newborn bathhouse - “babi munchasy.” In some villages, relatives and neighbors were invited to the bathhouse, and tea was prepared for them. In others, their family washed themselves in the bathhouse. And when she became too hot, the midwife helped the woman in labor wash and bathe the baby, for which she received a special gift.

The most important, honored guest on this day was the mother of the woman in labor. For the first-born, she brought a child's dowry, consisting of a blanket, pillow, diapers, and food.

If the child was not the first, then there might not be a dowry. In some villages, the mother of the woman in labor also brought shaky. More often the mother-in-law or the child’s father prepared the shaky soup.

In the first days after giving birth, the woman was visited by neighbors and relatives. They brought food with them. This custom was called “bibi ashy kerti”. The treat could consist of baked goods, as well as eggs, butter, etc. It was believed that what more women comes with a treat, the more milk the mother will have.

During the first forty days of life, the child was bathed every day, alternating warm soapy water with slightly salted water. Required temperature water was determined by the elbow or the back of the bather’s hand. From forty days to one year, the child was bathed once every two to three days. For a week, starting from the child’s first birthday, a bathhouse was heated, where the midwife washed the woman in labor.

In the first 3-4 months of the child's life, the child was swaddled. It was believed that swaddling retains warmth and protects the baby's limbs from bending. After the child was 40 days old, he was placed in a cradle, and until that time he lay on a pillow next to his mother on a bunk.

The first shirt for a newborn was made from an old one, as they believed that in this case the child would wear the clothes carefully without wearing them out.

The shirt was worn only in the early days. It was impossible to go longer, otherwise the newborn could be whiny and painful. Then the shirt was washed, ironed and saved for the next child, “so that the children would be friendly with each other”3. Children under six months of age, regardless of gender, wore a vest. From the age of 1-2 years, the clothes of boys and girls began to differ.

If in some families children died, then after the birth of the next child, in order to “protect” him, they performed the ritual of “selling” the newborn: the midwife took the wrapped child out into the street, put it on a pile of garbage, and returned home. Another woman immediately picked him up, approached the window and offered the owners to “buy” the child.

After a short bargaining, the woman handed the child out the window. This ritual, widespread among all the peoples of the Middle Volga and Urals, was obviously intended to deceive evil spirits, to convince them that the child does not belong to the woman they are pursuing.

Among the peoples of Central Asia, the birth of a child was also the most joyful and important family event. A woman who had many children and grandchildren was considered the happiest. Special conditions was not created for a pregnant woman in the past. The only thing she was not allowed to do during this period of her life was lift heavy weights.

It was believed that from the moment of childbirth, the mother and child were especially actively threatened by evil spirits. Therefore, no one was informed that the woman was beginning to experience labor pains, otherwise the birth would be very difficult and long.

For this reason, sometimes even the midwife was called at the very last moment. In addition to the midwife, the mother of the woman in labor and two or three close relatives were present at the birth. If they were not there, they invited a neighbor who had many children and experience in helping women in labor. Preferred as a midwife healthy woman so that its properties are magically transferred to the mother and the child.

The midwife, having received the child, tied and cut the umbilical cord, and sprinkled the wound with ash from the burnt threads of the silkworm cocoon. For their work, the midwife was given one piece of soap, a piece of fabric for a dress and some cotton wool.

To facilitate childbirth, they opened doors and locks in the house, and during difficult, protracted labor, they unexpectedly broke a teapot next to the woman in labor, hoping that, being frightened, she would give birth faster.

To ward off evil spirits, amulets such as a knife, pepper, onion, garlic, and caraway seeds, widely known in Central Asia, were placed under a woman’s pillow. All this was done so that the woman in labor would not have bad dreams, so that evil spirits would not come to her, so that there would be peace. There were other ways to protect and help a woman in labor. For example, if a woman had a difficult birth, they took a prayer written on a piece of paper from the mullah, wrapped it in a rag and tied it to the leg of the woman in labor. To facilitate childbirth, the woman in labor had her completely unbraided braids lowered onto her chest, or only the ends of the braids lowered onto her chest were unbraided.

After the birth of the child, the midwife bathed him in a basin in heated water. Salt, clay from the walls, coins, and egg shells were added to the water to protect the newborn from illnesses. The midwife, having bathed the child, took out the coins and took them for herself. In some areas the child was bathed immediately after birth, in others this was done seven days later. After washing, the mullah read a passage from the Koran, and this completed the ritual of the first bath.

The newborn was wrapped in rags left over from old shirts, dressing gowns, or in an old person’s quilted shirt or dressing gown, which was supposed to contribute to the child’s longevity.

The joyful news of the birth of a child was most often conveyed to relatives and friends by teenagers aged 10 to 15 years. Among the Uzbeks of Northern Khorezm, the birth of a child (especially a son) was first reported by the midwife to the grandfather, and then to the father.

Before the mother put the baby to the breast, he was given a piece of butter in his mouth. On the first day after the birth of a child, a treat was arranged, to which guests brought gifts in the form of fried eggs or raw, and sometimes boiled eggs, sweets, sugar, and in some places money. The main dish at this holiday was scrambled eggs with fried meat.

During the forty-day period after childbirth, according to existing beliefs, the fifth, seventh and ninth nights were considered the most dangerous because of evil spirits: the fifth night was especially dangerous. That night, a lot of people gathered around the woman in labor with her child, and relatives came. That evening they usually ate pilaf or rice porridge.

On the 5-7th day after birth, when the child’s umbilical cord fell off, he was bathed for the second time, clothes were put on him for the first time and a holiday was held - “bishek-tui” - “lullaby wedding”, at which the child was put into the cradle.

Even before the “bishek-tuya”, the mullah who was invited would pronounce the call to prayer - azan - in the child’s ear and call his name.

A woman with many children or a midwife placed the child in the “bishek-tui” cradle. At the same time, she said: “Don’t be afraid of anything, grow up healthy, be brave, live long.”

When the child was already tied to the cradle, dried fruits, sugar, and sweets were poured over the blanket covering it, while saying: “Bismillah” I. The sweets were picked up and eaten by the women present in the hope that this would help them also give birth to a child. The child was not shown to the guests. In the morning, before the thuy, very long noodles were prepared, and in the afternoon they were distributed to the guests. The long length of the noodles was supposed to magically contribute to the longevity of the child. In Samarkand, there was also such a custom: a long thread, almost to the ground, was left at the collar of a child’s shirt, which was also intended to ensure his longevity.

After the end of the forty-day period, the mother and child went to their closest neighbors and relatives, who gave her various sweets. Guests came to the house of a woman who gave birth to congratulate her and look at the child. Guests gave money as a reward4.
The Tatars had a fairly persistent belief that the first forty days of a baby’s life are especially dangerous, and therefore the child should not be left alone, so as not to cause trouble. The same was typical for the Uzbeks, Kazakhs, Turkmen and some other Turkic-speaking peoples.

The child was carefully protected from the evil eye, so they did not take him to places where it was crowded and did not show him off.

In addition, “preventative measures” were used: the shaky tree was hung on a rowan pole. A sprig of rowan or bird cherry was tied to a fluffy tree, sewn to a child’s hat, and they were credited with the property of being a talisman against the evil eye. For the same purpose, a shell and a bright button were sewn to the cap.

Numerous beliefs of a magical nature were also present in the customs of the Bashkirs. Their main goal is to ensure the safety and health of the newborn.
To protect a pregnant woman from the influence of evil spirits, various amulets were sewn onto her clothes, and to facilitate childbirth, they tapped her with an empty leather vessel or shook an empty bag over her.

In the past, when child mortality was high and especially many children died in early childhood, the death of a child was most often attributed to the action of evil forces. That is why many magical rituals were aimed at preserving the life of a child and his health by scaring away evil spirits. For this purpose, various amulets were attached to the cradle: body parts of various animals, as well as rowan fruits, rings, arrows, stones from sacred places.

Picture of magical power arrows capable of driving away evil spirits existed among many peoples. Just like other sharp piercing objects (a knife, a dagger, scissors placed under a baby’s pillow), the arrow, according to the Bashkirs, was an effective means for protecting the health and well-being of children.

After the birth of a child, all sorts of measures were taken to protect him from the evil eye: they tied the child’s wrist with red threads, smeared his forehead with red paint or soot, or crushed a rowan berry on it, etc.

Juniper, oregano, and birch chaga mushroom were endowed with magical properties, with the smoke of which a child was fumigated if there was a suspicion that he had been jinxed6.

The first days and months after birth were extremely significant in the mythological and ritual traditions of many peoples. They were especially afraid of the appearance of a person with a “bad fate” in the home. Among the Tomsk Tatars, for the first forty days the woman in labor did not leave the house and did not show the child to strangers. After this period, the child was washed with “40 spoons of water,” adding them to the bathing water. At the same time they read a prayer.

The tradition of forty days was typical for the maternity rites of many Turkic peoples. The ceremony, known as “chilla” among the Uzbeks and Tajiks, “kyrkynan shykty” among the Kazakhs, “kyrk kun” or “kyrk” among the Kyrgyz, marked the end of the child’s period of greatest vulnerability.

On the fortieth day, the Kirghiz of the Atbashi region organized a festive meal, during which forty specially baked flat cakes were distributed to children. By this time, a special shirt was sewn for the child. It was assembled from forty pieces. The mother begged for them, going around the neighboring yurts. An obligatory part of the celebration was bathing the child in forty spoons of water. In traditional thinking, 40 days apparently corresponded to the 40 weeks of the lunar gestation cycle7.

The Tatars named the child a few days after birth. Leaving him without a name any longer was considered dangerous, as he might get sick.

The naming ceremony - “isem kushu” was carried out with the invitation of the mullah and honorary elders, relatives and neighbors. The baby was brought to the mullah on a pillow, and he, reading excerpts from the Koran, loudly pronounced the name of the newborn several times and immediately made an entry in the newborn registration book. The predominant names were from the Muslim birthday party.

The naming ceremony was concluded with a treat - “ash”. This was the only feast to which men were invited, and even then mostly older ones. The feast for women was more crowded, which was sometimes held after the men were treated. Women always came with a gift for the newborn. They brought a piece of cloth, soap, a scarf, etc.8

The naming ceremony is described in the work of K. Fuchs: “After three days, on the fourth, a mullah is invited to perform a religious ceremony, in which the mullah holds the child in his arms in front of him and loudly shouts the azan into his right ear, and then whispers a stone into his left ear , the same as adhan, and at the same time gives the child a name. The mullah is paid for this, each according to his condition, and he is treated luxuriously.

All male acquaintances are invited to this feast. Over the course of several days, all the women they know come to the mother in labor and each one brings a tooth just like the Russians. In addition, they bring a shirt for the newborn, the rich - silk, the poor - calico, many also give blankets, chaplashkas, skullcaps and caps. They say that a rich mother in childbirth receives so many such gifts that she fills a considerable chest with them.”9

And here is what this ritual looks like as described by Ya. D. Koblov:

“After some time - after a week, and sometimes earlier - after three or four days, the ceremony of naming the newborn takes place. Father newborn is coming to the mullah and asks him to come to the house to name the baby. They prepare for this day as if it were a holiday. Relatives and close friends are invited, mainly those who have previously brought gifts to the mother and the child... Upon arrival, the mullahs carry the child out and place it on a bunk or on the floor facing Mecca. The mullah asks the parents what name they want to give the baby. Parents appoint the name of a prophet, a companion of Muhammad or a saint, famous for his exploits and learning... The religious celebration is accompanied by abundant refreshments.”

The ceremony of naming a child among the Siberian Tatars was quite modest. They invited a mullah, who read the necessary prayer and whispered in the child’s ear: “Let your name be...”. After this, the mullah wrote down the child’s first name, patronymic, last name and date of birth in the birth register. For naming a child, the mullah was paid a certain amount of money. A treat was arranged, at which, in addition to the mullah, the grandfather, father and other relatives of the newborn were present. There was no fun at all.

Similar to other groups of Tatars, the Mishars had a ritual associated with naming a child.

Turkic names appear in early documents. In the second half of the 19th - early 20th centuries. Muslim names associated with the names of Muhammad and other Islamic figures were more common. The displacement of ancient Turkic names by Muslim ones occurred as the influence of Islam increased12.

Naming in traditional cultures was, without a doubt, the main form of modeling social status. The name, containing a characteristic, an image of a little man, seemed to predict his future. It is no coincidence, according to the explanation of the Tomsk Tatars, that relatives, when giving a name, sought to ensure that the child’s namesake did not turn out to be an unworthy or poor neighbor.

Upon receiving a name, the child was entered into the system from the first days of life family relations. The essence of his further existence was his gradual integration into the family, society, and clan collective. Rituals associated with the making of the baby's first clothes and the first hair cutting were important in this process.

For the Teleuts, these events coincided. The child’s first shirt and “boots” were sewn six months after birth.

Having dressed the child in the first shirt, the parents first of all paid a visit to the midwife. They tied a gift (scarf) to her right hand, “gilded her hands,” and then gave her a treat. The midwife gave the child 15-20 kopecks - “blessed with a tax.” The next to be visited were the parents of the newborn's mother. They gave the young family cattle. Only after these two obligatory visits could a woman visit her neighbors. When she first appeared with the child, each neighboring family gave something to the baby. This is how a circle of social connections developed.

A particularly close relationship was established between the child and his father - his maternal uncle.

Among all the South Siberian Turks, he took an active part in raising his sister’s children, in arranging their fate and material well-being. Close ties between the nephew and Tai arose from the first days of the child’s existence. The uncle had priority in naming his nephew. He also had to bring a cradle.

The uncle played one of the main roles in the ritual of the first haircut. This procedure was given special meaning. The hair with which the child was born put him on a par with natural creatures. Their symbolic removal was a prerequisite for socialization. Parting with baby hair, small man moved away from another, wild world. Tuvans kept this hair for many years. Telengits, according to some information, burned them in their parents’ house or took them to a secluded place. They first had this haircut at about the age of one year.

Ty, cutting off a lock of hair from his nephew’s head, took it for himself. When the child was three years old, his mother took him to her brother. The nephew was on his way to “bath his hair.” Tai gave a return gift. This exchange cemented the relationship between the two sides. Three year old child received some kind of official recognition. He joined his mother's family. It is clear that the most important figure in this process was the mother’s brother: “through him, relationships were established with someone else’s family”13.

According to the observations of Ya. D. Koblov, the Tatars attached serious importance to the first haircut of a baby.

This ritual took place at different times - after two weeks, after a month, sometimes later. The hair taken from the head was weighed and alms to the poor were determined by this weight. People of average income paid alms in silver according to the size of the child’s hair, while rich people paid alms in gold.

Rituals on the occasion of the appearance of the first tooth, the first hair cut, or the first steps of a child are characteristic of many Turkic peoples. Here is how they were carried out, for example, among the Uzbeks of Southern Khorezm: “When a child’s first tooth erupted, they held a holiday to which only a small circle of the closest people were invited: relatives, neighbors (the mullah was not invited). It was believed that this holiday must be organized, then the child’s teeth would erupt faster and better.

The celebration of the first hair cutting of a child took place at different times, when the child turned from one to three years old. In families of the poor, sometimes such a party was not held at all, but the rich celebrated it with great pomp and invited many people. The celebration was usually attended by old people, relatives and neighbors with their families, a mullah and a hairdresser, who, when cutting off a child’s hair, left one bun on the boy’s crown. The girl’s hair was also cut off, leaving two strands on the top of her head on either side of her crown. For his work, the hairdresser received a shirt (or a piece of fabric for it), money in a scarf, and cakes.

The cut hair was given to the child's mother, who hid it.

Often, cut hair was wrapped in a piece of cloth and, having made amulets from it - tumar, the latter were sewn to the child's cap or to his clothes on the back. In some areas, there was such an interesting custom: the mother kept the tumar made from the boy’s hair, cut off on a toy, in a chest until her son’s wedding, and then gave it to her son’s wife, and she hung it on a chain around her neck.

Mullah, invited to the meeting, read a prayer. Sometimes it was not the hairdresser, but the mullah who cut off a little hair from the child, which his mother then hid in a chest or some crevice in the wall. According to existing beliefs, it was dangerous to throw away or lose the first hair cut off from a child: firstly, because birds could carry it to their nests and then the child would allegedly have a headache for the rest of his life; secondly, if birds peck them, the child may go bald.

After the first haircut, the child's hair continued to be cut off by the parents themselves from time to time, but they did not touch the tufts of hair that were left to hang out.

The girl's hair was cut until she was 5-6 years old, then stopped. For a 5-7 year old boy, a tuft of hair left on the soch-toy was cut off at sunnat-toy - a holiday on the occasion of circumcision, genetically associated with the boy’s transition to another age group.

When the child began to walk, his parents organized an ayak-toy festival (foot festival), at which the child was dressed by his mother. Usually only neighbors and relatives were invited to the ayak-toy, and they were treated to pilaf and shurva.”

The eruption of a child's first tooth was considered a joyful event among the Temnikov Mishars. The parents rewarded the first person who noticed the appearance of a child's tooth with a small gift.

The Turkic peoples attached great importance to such a rite as circumcision.

This is how K. Fuchs described this ritual: “After three or five years they perform circumcision. Tatars, by prejudice, believe that on an even number, such as at four or six years old, a circumcised child must die. Circumcision is performed by one of the mullahs chosen for this, who is paid for every ritual, whatever is possible: they give 50 rubles, others in gold, and so on. During circumcision, any surah from the Alkoran is read.”

The importance of performing this ritual for the Tatars was emphasized in his essay by Ya. D. Koblov:

“Circumcision is performed at different times - from 1 year to five years. This operation is rarely performed by mullahs; for the most part, this work is carried out by special specialists who are called “babai” (grandfather) and move from one village to another to perform circumcision. Sometimes in the village children remain uncircumcised until the designated “babai” comes. For his work, in the villages he is paid 20-40 kopecks, and, in addition, they give him meat or chicken and certainly a loaf of bread and salt, so that the newly circumcised person will be a hospitable person; In cities, rich people pay the circumciser more, of course.

It must be said that the position of “babai” in some areas is passed down hereditarily; people engage in this business with the permission of the previous “babai”.

Even Mohammedan doctors are treated with distrust by the Tatars if the doctor has not received the right to perform this operation from the “Babai,” and there are examples when doctors actually turned to the “Babai” for permission. In the Kazan province there is a village called Masra, almost all of whose inhabitants have been practicing circumcision for a long time.

Upon completion of the rite of circumcision, the child becomes a full member of Mohammedan society. Although circumcision has no dogmatic meaning - it is only Sunnat, that is, a commandment, the fulfillment of which is left to the arbitrariness of everyone, but this rite is so widespread among Mohammedans that an uncircumcised person in the eyes of Mohammedan society is not a real Mohammedan, even if he professed the tenets of Islam. Only a circumcised person upon reaching adulthood can perform, on an equal basis with others, all the religious rites of the Mohammedan community as an equal member of it.”

This ritual was carried out similarly among other Turkic peoples. Some discrepancy is observed only in the timing of its implementation. For example, among the Siberian Tatars, this event occurred in boys aged 5 to 7 years. The ritual was performed by “wandering specialists”, receiving a heifer, a sheep or money for their work. After the circumcision, the relatives gave the boy gifts according to their financial capabilities. A tray was placed at the boy’s bedside, on which visiting guests put small money and sweets.”

Among the Mishar Tatars, circumcision was performed in the third year of life.

On this day, guests congratulated the boy on his circumcision and gave him gifts. If the boy was the first grandson, then the grandfather gave him a ram or a foal for this occasion. Relatives and friends, in addition to gifts, also brought buza.

“The Krasnoyarsk Nogais perform circumcision on children no older than seven years of age. The circumcision operation is performed by a specialist in this part (bawa), and 5-6 women are always present. The child is placed on the bed and occupied with various gifts or toys, then a scarf is covered over his head, and the bawa quickly does his job.

The cut-off piece of the body is burned immediately, the ash from it is sprinkled on the wound of the child, but not the one on whom the operation was performed, but the one following him; his own wound is covered with ash from the child who preceded him.

After this, the relatives of the father of the circumcised child, who have gathered with him for Sunnat-Tui, congratulate him and the refreshments and racing begin. The owner who has a circumcision in his house must give a prize for the race, and the prize is good: sometimes they give a bull or a horse. This prize is called “bangi”. The holiday of Sunnat-Tui is considered mainly for old people, and then old people often get drunk on kumis”21.

As we can see, the rituals associated with the birth of a child among the Turkic peoples are largely similar and differ only in certain elements. Their history goes back more than one century. However, they turned out to be so tenacious that many of them have survived, albeit in a somewhat modernized form, to this day.

The birth of a little man is a real miracle! The baby immediately becomes the main focus of the interests of the whole family; his mother and one of the relatives constantly fuss around him. Of course, in addition to care and love, any person who is directly related to the child tries to give him something very useful and, in his opinion, vital. So gradually the young mother and baby begin to be surrounded by huge mountains of toys, outfits “for growth”, as well as jars, bottles, cups and other cute, but not very functional cutlery. It is about them that our conversation will go.

Ideally dishes for newborns up to six months is completely unnecessary. Of course, provided that it is on breastfeeding and receives breast milk in sufficient quantities. Otherwise, mom should stop by the pharmacy or store in advance and arm herself with everything she needs. Here's what your baby will really need.

1. Feeding bottles. Under no circumstances should you skimp on price here! But it’s also not worth overpaying for incomprehensible and unnecessary functions. Choose bottles according to the following principle - availability of a mandatory certificate, convenience, beauty and aesthetics. An item that only vaguely resembles a feeding bottle is not the most the best option- stick to traditional external design. Many mothers opt for plastic bottles and here's why. Glass, as you know, tends to break at the most inopportune moment. Although such dishes look attractive, they are not very functional in everyday life. But modern plastics not only differ in their intended baby food environmental friendliness, but also convenience, easy care and even heat resistance! Therefore, there is only one conclusion - it is worth buying high-quality plastic feeding bottles. If the baby is on artificial feeding, you will need about 7-9 bottles with a capacity of 125 to 250 ml. This amount is necessary to protect you from unforeseen situations. In addition, the child will very soon begin to consume juice or other drinks in addition to formula milk.

And here is the question that worries many nursing mothers - do their babies need bottles? It is clear that in addition to mother's milk, a newborn also needs water and, later, juices. But the latest data in the field of pediatric medicine suggests that there is no need to introduce “natural” children to the pacifier. This applies not only to pacifiers designed to satisfy the sucking reflex, but also to feeding from bottles with a nipple. That is, everything that not mother's milk, given to the child from a spoon (water, juice, and tasty puree). This theory is based on the fact that in this way it is possible to maintain and increase lactation, because if the child sucks only the breast, milk comes in abundance. Therefore, if you decide that you will feed your baby with your milk for a long time, you most likely will not need feeding bottles.

2. Replaceable nipple nozzles. The bottle comes with only one nipple attachment, and it is this that is subject to the most wear and tear. In addition, babies love to drink liquid porridge from a bottle through a nipple with a large hole. This means that it is worth purchasing more attachments in advance - it would be optimal to keep 7 nipples with a small hole and 3 nipples with a large hole for porridge.

Nowadays you can buy silicone or latex nipple nipples everywhere. They are distinguished by their high strength, comfortable shape, and affordable price - so the choice is entirely yours. What does it really require? special attention, so this is care. Any pacifier attachment must not only be washed, but also sterilized after each feeding! The pacifier, already inserted into the feeding bottle, should be kept with the narrow side down, and the bottle should be covered with the special cap that comes with it.

3. Brush for washing bottles. It is enough to purchase two high-quality brushes different lengths to forget about this issue forever. A short brush is needed for 125 ml bottles, a long one for large 250 ml bottles. The brushes should also be thoroughly washed and doused with boiling water after each use.

4. Bottle warmer. This is more of an appliance than a children's utensil, but, as practice shows, it will be difficult for you to do without it. Some mothers place the heater right in the newborn’s room so as not to run to the kitchen at night (along with it, a mini-fridge “moves” into the nursery for storing ready-made canned food and formulas). When purchasing, pay attention that the heater is equipped with a special sound signal, has tongs for removing heated mixtures, and most importantly, is suitable for the bottles you purchased.

Your baby's first "adult" dish.

With the introduction of the first complementary foods there will be new question- the need to purchase plates and spoons for feeding your baby. Most mothers pay attention primarily to external performance dishes for baby, fortunately, now there really is plenty to choose from. But how to choose exactly what will not just be a new decoration for your kitchen, but will also become an excellent feeding assistant?

The first criterion by which you should choose dishes for a child is environmental friendliness. No Chinese “consumer goods” from the market will clearly fit here. Buy baby kitchen utensils only from large stores and don't skimp on trademark The manufacturer is stingy, as you know, pays twice, but children's health is generally priceless!

Dishes for a child must be durable. What it will be - safety glass, heat-resistant plastic or traditional ceramics - is up to you. The baby will soon become an adult, and just like you, he will need several devices for different types food. Therefore, immediately purchase a set of plates of different diameters and depths.

A separate topic is the choice of spoon for feeding a child. Some people prefer high-quality plastic; such spoons are comfortable to hold in their hands. An alternative is regular tablespoons, but smaller in size (dessert spoons). Almost every family has them, so you don’t have to buy them additionally. However, you should make sure that the “baby” spoon is used by the child and only him! And another type of spoon is silverware. Everyone knows about the wonderful properties of this metal. And many mothers choose silver spoons, since a baby with such a “device” for eating already looks elegant and noble.

Dishes for mothers. This category includes everything that you personally need to prepare baby food. These are: - a spoon with a long handle for stirring the mixture; — a funnel for pouring cooked cereals into feeding bottles; - measuring spoon and measuring cup.

It wouldn’t hurt to purchase a few pots designed specifically for a baby. One of them is necessary for sterilizing baby bottles. This is a pan with a diameter of about 25 cm and a height of 20 cm. Several bottles will fit into it at once if you place them in a special holder. A small saucepan is also useful in the kitchen for preparing porridges and purees. This can be a non-stick saucepan, enamel or steel cookware. The most important thing is not the material, but the integrity of its internal coating.

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Incredible facts

1. Umbilical cord inside a wooden box (Japan)

As a rule, when a baby gets his hair cut for the first time, parents in most cases leave a strand of his hair as a souvenir; others keep the baby's first shoe. Japanese mothers usually prefer to nurture the umbilical cord.

In Japanese hospitals, the umbilical cord is packed inside wooden boxes and given to the mother upon discharge from the hospital.

A small doll depicting a sleeping baby in a kimono is sometimes placed inside the box.

It is believed that preserving the umbilical cord in this way is this is the guarantor of the future wonderful relationship between child and mother.

A week after birth, new parents and close relatives hold a naming ceremony (Oshichiya), during which the child receives his official name in front of the home altar.

2. Baby's street sleep (Denmark and Sweden)

Would you leave your newborn baby outside in the cold during his afternoon nap? Most “northern” parents will answer in the affirmative without hesitation.

For them, this is part Everyday life because of the belief that Cold air actually helps babies sleep and eat well.

Danish and Swedish babies spend their afternoon naps on the balcony or just outside, while their mothers and fathers go shopping and enjoying free time.

In addition, most kindergartens in Sweden also leave children outside during nap time, despite low temperatures (-5 degrees Celsius).

The theory behind this method is that sleep fresh air, both in winter and in summer, contributes to the fact that Children's immunity is strengthened, so their chance of catching a cold is much lower.

Parents believe that having their child in the same room with 30 children all day is no good at all.

The Children's National Council on Health also recommends this practice. Some companies even make special alarm clocks for parents, which let them know when the baby wakes up to pick him up.

Gifts for baby

3. Every newborn receives a “maternity package” from the government (Finland)

In Finland, children are “born with a box.”

For 75 years now, women preparing to become mothers have received a “package” from the state. The package is starter kit clothes, diapers and toys.

The mother has a choice between the package and a cash subsidy of 140 euros, but in 95 percent of cases women choose the “package” because its contents are worth much more.

Initially created for low-income families, the “maternity package” has become available to any woman giving birth since 1949. Since then, the package has become a staple for newborns and a sign that, regardless of their future, all Finnish children receive an equal start in life.

4. Place the newborn in a large sieve and shake it to help the baby begin to get used to the vicissitudes of life (Egypt)

In modern Egypt, survival and the number seven are inextricably linked. Therefore, on the seventh day of the baby's life, its existence is officially recognized the outside world in a ceremony to receive a name called Sebooh.

According to tradition, the mother places the baby, dressed in a white robe, in a large sieve and begins to gently shake it to help the newborn begin to get used to the vagaries of fate. After this, the baby is placed on a blanket spread on the floor with a knife on his chest, whose role is to ward off evil spirits.

Meanwhile, the ceremony guests are throwing the baby around grain, gold and gifts. All this symbolizes the happiness and wealth that is desired for the child. The mother stands seven steps from her child, again with the goal of driving away evil spirits, and listens to the singing of special people who conjure the baby to obey the mother and obey her.

This is followed by a procession with fire and incense led by the mother. Singing children and guests hold lit candles in their hands, blessing the house and its inhabitants.

In the Sebooh ceremony, the baby's name is also chosen using candles. Several candles are lit, each assigned a potential name for the child. The baby will get the name the candle with which will burn the longest.

Customs for welcoming newborns

5. The baby is placed on the floor surrounded by symbolic elements to find out his future (Armenia)

When a child grows up first tooth Armenian parents celebrate a ceremony called Agra Hadig. They sit the child on the floor, and various symbolic elements are placed around him, such as a tape measure, stethoscope, spatula, book and others. Then they ask him choose something suggested.

Depending on what the baby chooses, this will symbolize his future. For example, if a boy picks up a tape measure, this will mean that in the future he will become an engineer or architect. Of course, only time will tell whether such a prophecy is true or not.

6. New parents are given red ones. painted eggs as a symbol of happiness and new life (China)

In Chinese families, when the baby turns one month old, a Full Moon ceremony is held. This is the first important event in the life of a little person.

On the morning of the 30th day of the baby's existence, relatives and friends gather together to give gifts and their blessings to the newborn. The child's parents also give gifts to their relatives and friends.

The types of gifts vary from case to case, but red-dyed eggs tend to be the most popular gift, probably because in Chinese culture eggs are a symbol of constantly changing life and its fluidity.

Their round form- this is a sign of harmonious and happy life, and red is the color of happiness.

During the celebration, grandparents typically gift gold or silver to their grandson to demonstrate their deep love. Of course, parents and the newborn also receive “modern” gifts, such as children's clothing, toys, books, gift certificates.

At the same time, an equally common gift is money wrapped in red paper. In other words, everything is the same as in the West and Europe, only strictly in a month!

The birth of a baby in different countries

7. The placenta and umbilical cord must be buried in a special place, where a tree is then planted (Jamaica)

Surely you have repeatedly heard the phrase that each of us should plant a tree, build a house/write a book and raise/give birth to a son (varies depending on the culture). In Jamaica, apparently, all parents will have to do is write a book, because... they've already done everything else.

According to Jamaican tradition, after a woman gives birth, the afterbirth and umbilical cord must be buried in a specially chosen place, where a tree is planted. The tree is chosen by parents, godparents or other relatives and friends.

The tree is a pedagogical tool that teaches the child to take responsibility on himself, because it symbolizes the beginning of his life, which needs to be taken care of.

This tradition comes from a Jamaican expression that says: “home is where your umbilical cord is buried.” This speaks of a spiritual attachment to the place where each person comes from.

8. Babies' feet should not touch the floor because newborns are considered divine beings (Bali)

While some parents around the world feel quite comfortable leaving their baby to crawl on the floor, Balinese babies' feet do not touch the ground until they perform 210 days, because the child is considered a divine being who descended from heaven.

When the baby first steps on the floor, this indicates that he has become a full-fledged person.

What to give to a baby

9. Put money in the hands of a child so that his future will be prosperous (Trinidad and Tobago)

In Trinidad and Tobago, when people visit a newborn, they usually place money in the baby's hands to bless the baby for a successful life.

Also in this country there is a rule according to which some parents do not allow guests to come to them after 18.00, because it is believed that the evening dew that the guests bring with them will cause the child to become ill.

Traditions for newborns

10. Newborn baby gets 20 or more names (Nigeria)

On the seventh day after the birth of a girl or on the ninth day after the birth of a boy, the child is blessed with special elements that his mother conveys it to him with her lips.

First, the mother kisses him with lips dipped in water so that the baby has no enemies, then palm oil is placed on his lips so that his life is smooth and easy, bitter Kola (a type of nut eaten in Nigeria) so that his life is long, and also pepper and salt to make life sweet, filled with excitement and happiness.

After this, the baby is given a name. In addition to the surname, the newborn receives several names. One of the names describes the circumstances of birth, for example, the name Idowu means "child born after twins."

Another example would be when a middle-aged woman dies giving birth to her daughter, in which case the baby will be called Yetunde, literally “mother has returned.”

Valeria Protasova

Reading time: 11 minutes

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The first viewing of a newborn is not only an exciting event, but also a lot of questions. Moreover, both for the parents of the baby and for his first guests. The main thing in this matter is that the first visit does not become too burdensome for mother and baby.

So, what does a young mother need to remember, and How should guests prepare for the first meeting with the baby?

When should you organize a baby shower and who should you invite?

Each family has its own traditions that accompany the viewing of a baby. In the old days, this event was celebrated magnificently, loudly and cheerfully, but in modern life parents and guests still adhere to certain rules, taking into account possible risks.

• When? Main question occupied by young mothers. The ancestors protected the baby from prying eyes, fearing the evil eye - for 40 days after the appearance of a new family member, access to the baby was strictly closed. Modern parents, the majority of them do not believe in omens, and the date for the viewing is set based on the baby’s health condition. Of course, it is not worth introducing the baby to relatives during the first month - the child has not yet adapted to life outside the mother, and any infection brought from outside can undermine his health. But after at least a month, you can start preparing for the show.
• Who should I call? There are always a lot of people willing - everyone can’t wait to cuddle the baby, snap a photo as a souvenir, tug at the cheeks and heels. But it’s better not to introduce the baby to strangers - acquaintances, comrades, colleagues will wait. But, of course, you can’t refuse close relatives. Grandparents of the little ones are an ideal option.
• How many people? Consider the emotional state of the baby - he is still too small for large companies to gather around him. A crowd of people unfamiliar to him, noise in the house - this is not will suit the child for good. 3-5 guests are enough.
• 
  Dinner or short visit? Of course, for the first acquaintance with the baby, a short visit from guests is quite enough. But if you want to “celebrate”, you can arrange a gala dinner for relatives (or close friends). The main conditions: the baby should not be taken into the kitchen or common room “for company” - it is enough to introduce him to his grandparents and remove unnecessary noise and bacteria from the room. And it will be more convenient for you to periodically visit the baby for feeding and various procedures. It is not recommended to organize a show in a cafe or restaurant - the child will not benefit from such a noisy and nervous event, and the mother will have to disrupt his sleep and eating patterns.
• Security measures. Remember the risks - protect your baby from bacteria as much as possible. Cover the crib with a canopy, put all the baby's personal hygiene items in the closet, and thoroughly ventilate the room before and after visiting. Don't forget about disinfection and wet cleaning. It also makes sense to apply a special ointment under the baby’s nose so that the infection does not “stick” (ask your pediatrician). You definitely shouldn’t allow your relatives to cuddle and kiss the baby now: no matter how adorable his heels are, only mom and dad can kiss them now.
• Do you need decorations? It all depends on how much time and energy the mother has. You shouldn’t overuse jewelry: even “harmless” balloons can cause allergies (especially since their quality is usually not very high) or severe fright(if one of the guests accidentally bursts the balloon). But garlands, ribbons and decorated posters are very suitable and will add mood. It wouldn’t hurt to have a special “book of wishes” in which each guest can leave nice words baby and mother.
• At what time? Invite guests based on your baby's sleeping and feeding patterns. It will be awkward if guests hang around in the kitchen for an hour and a half, waiting for you to feed your child. Perfect time- after feeding. The baby can be taken out to the guests, shown, and then taken to the room and put to bed.
• About gifts. and a newborn? If your wallet is hopelessly thin, you don’t trust the guests’ taste, or you need something specific for the baby “right now,” then inform the guests about this in advance (of course, if you are asked what to give, it is incorrect to demand gifts).
• What to cook for the table? A young mother simply does not have time to prepare for a grand feast. Yes, and this is unnecessary for now. Light snacks and 2-3 simple dishes or even just tea and cake are enough. Guests understand perfectly well that mom is too tired to cook for half a day and then wash dishes for the whole evening. And, of course, no alcohol!

Couldn't you hold a viewing party? Were the guests too busy or mom too tired? Dont be upset! Organize a show in honor of the 1st tooth. And the baby will be older, and the reason is no less solid.

10 Best Gift Ideas for Newborn's First Visit

They don’t go to the bridesmaid ceremony empty-handed. If a young mother is embarrassed to hint which gift will be more desirable, she will have to choose it herself.

And we will help you.

Also useful: high-quality bottle horns, a night light for the children's room, a huge massage ball (fitball), a car seat, a high chair, clothes, bathing sets, etc.

From can be noted:

• Cosmetic products (creams, powders, etc.). Mom knows best what the baby needs and what will not cause allergies.
• Various souvenirs (they are simply useless now).
• Baby clothes (toys) of dubious quality from the “Chinese” market around the corner.
• Mini cars , scooters and bicycles, huge plush “dust collectors” will also wait for now - not the time.
• Flowers. Choose only those that will not cause allergies in your baby. Better yet, replace the bouquet with useful things.
• Pacifiers. Not every mother will use them - many parents are categorically against the appearance of such bad habit at the baby's.
• Baby food. The choice of nutrition is a strictly individual matter. It is bought on the recommendation of a pediatrician, and not based on the price and beauty of the packaging.
• Stroller . If you don’t know for sure what model mom wants, don’t take risks.
• Furniture for a baby. Again, you need to be sure that there is a place for this furniture, that it is really needed, and that it will fit with the overall design of the room.

And most importantly. Buy a gift with love for your baby, not for show. Then its size and cost will not matter.

We are going to visit a newborn - rules for guests and signs

Has the gift already been purchased and there are only a few days left before the viewing? So, it’s time to remember the rules for guests...

Newborn baby shower - signs and superstitions

Today, few people remember omens; superstitious people are a rarity. From the old times, only a few “came to us” (and those - not as a guide to action):

• Showing the baby is allowed only after the 40th day from the moment of birth. And only after baptism. Then, as the ancestors believed, the baby would be ready to meet the world - protected from the evil eye, disease and damage.
• You should not take photographs of a sleeping baby. The explanations for the ban are very vague.
• It is forbidden to kiss the baby on the heels and cheeks. Otherwise, he will be late with his first steps and words.
• The best gift for a baby - a spoon made of gold or silver (so that the baby becomes rich).

If a young mother constantly puts up with viewings or tries to limit you in some way (not with children, not for a long time, not with a runny nose, etc.), don't be offended ! Please be understanding.

If you really can’t wait to see the baby - agree to meet on a walk. You will have time to talk to the mother and look at the baby.