BabyCare

Latino traditions for babies

If you're a new mom, you may be facing issues you've never faced before, from changing diapers to keeping your baby's umbilical cord stump clean. All these new situations can sometimes make you feel insecure, especially if you're surrounded by abuelitas or other expert moms who are eager to give you all kinds of contradictory advice about childrearing.

Our culture has numerous traditions that go back many generations, concerning how to care for your baby and what to do when your baby gets sick. These popular beliefs were the pillars of childcare when there was no scientific explanation for certain illnesses. Traditional practices attributed illness to a blend of physical and spiritual causes.

When a baby is born into a Latino family, it's common for the elders to offer the new mom advice and support. The help they offer for breastfeeding, for instance, is very important, because some women do experience difficulties at first and it's easier to give up without your relatives' support. But you may come across advice and practices that are based more on traditional Latino culture than on modern medicine. You should take these practices with a grain of salt.

Listen to the suggestions your elders offer you, keeping in mind that their traditions belong to our rich culture and are a part of our heritage. But if their advice sounds dangerous in any way, explain why you don't think you can apply it to your baby. Invite your family members to come along to your next pediatric appointment, so that they can hear firsthand from the doctor why some of those traditional practices have been replaced by other medical recommendations.
The umbilical cord stump

Our culture has very strong and ingrained beliefs about how to care for the umbilical cord stump. Long ago it was thought that babies could take in "air" through their belly button, so it was kept covered. In fact, in many places in Latin America you can still buy ombligueras — a kind of gauze or fabric made for wrapping snugly around the baby's tummy. Another tradition says that when the dry umbilical cord stump falls off, you can keep the belly button from becoming an "outie" by placing a button or a coin on it and then covering it.

The truth is that putting pressure on the belly button doesn't alter its shape. The belly button is the scar that's left after the umbilical cord stump has fallen off. The stump is an opening in the skin that has to heal, and the best way to care for it is to keep it dry, clean, and exposed as much as possible. Covering it with something can cause an infection.
Umbilical hernias

Umbilical hernias are relatively common in newborns. Inside your womb, food and oxygen were delivered through the umbilical cord. And the muscles that covered your baby's belly were slightly separated to allow a small space for the cord.

Muscles usually fill that space after birth — but sometimes they don't, and when this happens, a small part of the intestine bulges out through the gap and can be felt on the baby's tummy. Many hernias go away on their own in time, but if they're big enough, they might require surgery.

As with the umbilical cord stump, popular belief says that applying pressure with an object and wrapping the baby tightly in a girdle will make the hernia disappear. There's no proof that this is true, and compressing a baby's tummy can cause discomfort and even vomiting.
Sunken fontanel (caída de mollera)

The fontanel is the soft spot on top of the head, where your baby's skull has not completely closed yet. According to tradition, the fontanel becomes sunken when a baby is withdrawn from the nipple too suddenly. It's also said that this can happen if someone gives the baby the evil eye. The popular remedy for a sunken fontanel is to hold the baby upside-down and strike the soles of her feet.

This maneuver could be dangerous for a baby. Even more important, a sunken fontanel is a sign of dehydration, a serious condition that requires immediate medical assistance.

Babies get dehydrated very easily, and just giving them water isn't enough. If you think your baby may be dehydrated, call or see a doctor immediately.
Cold and heat

Latino traditional medicine relies heavily on theories related to cold and heat. Something cold can cause an illness by chilling the body, and something hot can cause an illness by heating the body. So if you have a problem that seems related to cold or heat, traditional Latinos will avoid giving you certain foods that would (it's believed) make your condition worse. In addition, traditional Latinos believe babies feel the cold more than adults do, and therefore need to be more bundled up.

Although it's true that babies can't regulate their body temperature properly for 24 to 48 hours after birth, later in life they perceive heat and cold pretty much as adults do. Bundling them up excessively can make them uncomfortable and cause other problems such as heat rash. Overdressing a baby while she's sleeping has also been related to a higher risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

You should avoid giving a young baby herbal teas or home remedies to fight "body cold." Before age 4 to 6 months, a child's digestive system isn't ready for anything other than breast milk or formula, and herbal remedies might cause diarrhea or other health problems.
Fright or panic (susto o espanto)

When a baby behaves abnormally — cries inconsolably, appears nervous, or doesn't want to eat, for example — the traditional explanation is that the child is suffering from fright or panic (susto or espanto in the words of many abuelitas). This means that something or someone frightened the baby and that the "fright" is still inside her, and is causing her restlessness. Traditional healers or curanderos usually treat this condition with a blend of spiritual rituals and herbs.

There are many possible explanations for a baby's crying jags or lack of appetite, and your baby's doctor should rule out any medical conditions. A spiritual ritual may be beneficial for both your baby and your family, if it helps you all calm down. But be very wary of herbs, as they can cause diarrhea and other problems.
Evil eye (mal de ojo)

According to tradition, a baby who is the victim of the evil eye or mal de ojo can run a fever, cry nonstop, or show other symptoms. To protect babies from the evil eye, they're given a red or pink bracelet to wear, or a seed such as ojo de venado or azabache to wear around the wrist or neck.

There's nothing wrong with protecting your baby from the evil eye with these practices, but be sure to keep safety in mind. Don't hang the amulet around your baby's neck or anywhere that she can grab it and swallow it. You can put it in the stroller, over the crib, or somewhere else, as long as it's out of reach.

As for the symptoms of evil eye, just as with the symptoms of fright, there are many possible causes. Check with your doctor and take the necessary steps to make your baby better.

Respecting our elders and our traditions isn't necessarily at odds with modern medicine. But for the best chance of keeping your baby healthy, always consult a doctor to treat illnesses, and ask about traditional practices to make sure they're safe and advisable. If you don't have medical insurance, your baby can be treated at no cost to you.

By Lourdes Alcañiz, author of Esperando a mi bebé: una guía del embarazo para la mujer latina