When the baby has already been born, and the young mother is in a hurry to return home with the baby, relatives and friends begin to remember all possible folk signs and beliefs regarding newborns. As it turns out, there are a countless number of them and for every ban, parents have a lot of questions. One of these is: “Why can’t you show a newborn up to 40 days?” The question is quite interesting and relevant, so we will analyze it.

Folk signs

The number of popular beliefs about newborns is innumerable, but they all belong to the realm of superstition, regardless of what point of view you look at it from - scientific or religious. Superstition itself means a prejudice that was founded by pagans who believed in the existence of otherworldly forces and their direct influence on human destiny.

The most common folk signs are the following:

1. It is forbidden to carry a newborn child near a mirror so that his reflection is reflected in it. It is believed that in this way one can bring upon him a strong evil eye, a terrible illness and even death.
2. It is not allowed to kiss the baby on the lips. Legend has it that this can cause muteness (the baby will not speak).
3. You should not bathe or breastfeed a newborn in front of strangers - there is a high probability of the evil eye. Sometimes a person can cast the evil eye without even knowing it.
4. It is forbidden to rock a cradle, crib, stroller without a baby - this can cause irreparable consequences to him.
5. If a newborn is smeared with lard, then good luck will accompany him throughout his life.

Some of the popular beliefs make most new parents just grin. After all, if you think like this, then, in all likelihood, every negative event in the baby’s life will be attributed to the evil eye: tummy ache, colic, nervous disorders, and so on.

However, many moms and dads are still wary of some folk signs, trying in every possible way to observe them. Among these is the topic of today’s article – the ban on showing a newborn up to 40 days.

Why can’t you show a newborn before 40 days?

The birth of a newborn becomes his first life test. Adaptation to the outside world is a rather complex process, so the baby needs some time to get used to life outside the womb.

Of course, the young mother can’t wait to show her little miracle to her friends and family, because they have all been waiting for this event for so long. However, both science and religion recommend abstaining a little and rescheduling the show.

From a scientific point of view

The newborn organism is not yet fully formed and is very weak, which is an excellent option for attacking various viruses that are everywhere. To avoid serious pathogens, it is necessary to initially refrain from any contact between the child and strangers around him. After all, they can be carriers of viruses that are life-threatening to the baby.

Of course, you can let them take a look from afar, with one eye, but only to close people and it is advisable that they do not pick up or squeeze the baby in their arms.

You can brag to friends and acquaintances at any other moment when the child’s body adapts to the microbes around it. As a rule, this happens a month after the baby is born. It is not recommended to show your baby to strangers before.

If parents really can’t wait, then in order to avoid trouble they should adhere to the following rules:

1. Don't forget about that that new people around the baby also introduce new smells and sounds, which lead to overexcitation of the child. As a result, the baby loses his appetite, mental and sleep disturbances occur. To avoid this, you should postpone the visit of guests and let the baby get used to the real environment.
2. Not recommended invite all relatives, friends and acquaintances to visit at once. To begin with, a couple of people will be enough. A noisy gathering will not bring any benefit to either the nursing mother or the child.
3. Every visit to the baby should be agreed upon in advance and last only a short time.
4. Before as To introduce a tiny miracle to a new person, it is worth asking about his state of health. Most people do not consider minor illnesses to be a serious danger, but for a newborn it can lead to unpleasant consequences. Don’t be afraid to offend the guest; an adult will definitely understand that the baby is most important to the mother.
5. When to visit the baby Visitors should definitely ask them to wash their hands with soap, because a person coming in from the street can bring a large number of different bacteria harmful to health.
6. Arranging a visit with friends or relatives, you need to remind them not to wear things made of natural wool. Since it is a strong allergen and also a collector for dust.
7. Of course, everyone Anyone who wants to look at the baby will want to give something. Moreover, the majority directly ask their parents about this. In this case, there is no need to rush and say that it does not matter. It is worth thinking carefully and telling the person what the child really needs, for example, diapers, rattles or some kind of clothing.

From a religious point of view

The number 40 appears several times in the Bible. There are many different important events associated with it:

• Lent lasts 40 days;
• Jesus Christ wandered around the world for 40 days before his ascension;
• For 40 days, the soul of a deceased person wanders in the world of the living, after which it leaves it.

As for the newborn, it is believed that for the first 40 days of life the soul of the baby belongs to God, and only after this time, and... After this, the child has a guardian angel who will protect him throughout his life. It is from this moment that the church allows viewing of the baby.

However, today the baptism of a newborn is allowed to take place at any time the parents wish. Perhaps the belief is outdated?

Conclusion

Taking into account both points of view, we can safely say that the decision or not to show a child up to 40 days to others remains with his parents. However, before introducing your little one to new people, you should carefully weigh the pros and cons.

Many mothers do not show their baby in the first forty days, but not everyone knows why this is not recommended. Most often this is associated with religious belief. But a large number of people unfamiliar to the baby can bring infection and harmful bacteria, disrupting the health and peace of the baby.

A new person or a loud crowd can frighten a child. Children begin to cry in such cases, and it is not at all a matter of the evil eye or the aura of the people around them. The nerve cells and psyche of a newborn are still unstable and excitable, which leads to a disturbance in the emotional state. In the first month, the relationship with the mother is important for the baby, so do not rush to invite all relatives and friends home.

Why you can't show newborns

There has long been a belief that newborn children should not be shown to anyone in the first forty days. This is due to religious beliefs. The fact is that at this time the baby does not yet have divine protection, so the child can be jinxed. Such protection appeared after forty days, when the baby was baptized and given a name according to the calendar. With this name came protection.

Today, such a belief is a superstition and the question of when to show a newborn is not so pressing. However, some mothers continue to believe in omens and follow this tradition. In the first 40 days of a child’s life, it is not recommended to show it to everyone except immediate relatives or take photographs of the baby.

But superstition is not the only reason why you should not show a newborn in the first weeks of life. During this period, the baby’s immunity is still very weak and is just beginning to adapt to new conditions. And thin skin is not resistant to harmful bacteria, which can infect areas of the skin if an adult picks up a child, starts squeezing, hugging or kissing. Therefore, communication with new “strangers” can lead to the appearance of germs, infections and various diseases in the baby.

Baby development in the first month

The first month is very important in the life of every child, because it is in the first 30-40 days that the body adapts and the immune and nervous systems are strengthened. For a baby at this age, first of all, the constant presence of the mother is necessary, joint physical and emotional contact, as well as feeding with breast milk.

The baby must get used to his parents, and the parents must get used to the baby. By the way, at the age of one month, the baby begins to recognize the voice, touch and smell of its mother. And a baby can distinguish between familiar and unfamiliar people, recognize familiar voices, faces and even objects no earlier than four months. Some children begin to do this only by six months.

In the first month, the baby sleeps most of the day. Guests can disrupt the baby's sleep and routine. In addition, during this period the mother needs to provide proper care for the baby, because this is the key to the health and successful development of the child. It is important for a woman to recover after childbirth, get used to a new schedule and develop a diet, and establish lactation. And strangers can only interfere with this.

It is especially important to provide proper care for a premature baby, because such a child is much weaker. Due to low immunity, he can quickly catch an infection and disease from a stranger. A minute of communication is enough. Early children master skills and abilities later. With premature birth, the baby sometimes lags behind in development by 1-4 months.

Therefore, at this time you should pay maximum attention to the health and development of the baby, protect the baby from contact and communication with strangers or with a large number of people. With proper care, the condition of a premature baby is already approaching normal by the age of one year.

Should I show my baby before 40 days?

Wait until the baby gets used to the new conditions, the psychological and emotional state of the baby will return to normal. How long this will take depends on the individual development and characteristics of the baby. It doesn't have to be forty days. As a rule, such adaptation takes one to two months.

At the same time, remember that the health and safety of the baby depend not only on the child’s environment and on whether his relatives and friends saw him. It is important to ensure adequate breastfeeding and healthy nutrition for the baby, observe sleep patterns and hygiene standards, and organize regular walks in the fresh air. Read about proper child care in the first month of life.

When the baby has already been born, and the young mother is in a hurry to return home with the baby, relatives and friends begin to remember all possible folk signs and beliefs regarding newborns. As it turns out, there are a countless number of them and for every ban, parents have a lot of questions. One of these is: “Why can’t you show a newborn up to 40 days?” The question is quite interesting and relevant, so we will analyze it.

Folk signs

The number of popular beliefs about newborns is innumerable, but they all belong to the realm of superstition, regardless of what point of view you look at it from - scientific or religious. Superstition itself means a prejudice that was founded by pagans who believed in the existence of otherworldly forces and their direct influence on human destiny.

The most common folk signs are the following:

1. It is forbidden to carry a newborn child near a mirror so that his reflection is reflected in it. It is believed that in this way one can bring upon him a strong evil eye, a terrible illness and even death.
2. It is not allowed to kiss the baby on the lips. Legend has it that this can cause muteness (the baby will not speak).
3. You should not bathe or breastfeed a newborn in front of strangers - there is a high probability of the evil eye. Sometimes a person can cast the evil eye without even knowing it.
4. It is forbidden to rock a cradle, crib, stroller without a baby - this can cause irreparable consequences to him.
5. If a newborn is smeared with lard, then good luck will accompany him throughout his life.

Some of the popular beliefs make most new parents just grin. After all, if you think like this, then, in all likelihood, every negative event in the baby’s life will be attributed to the evil eye: tummy ache, colic, nervous disorders, and so on.

However, many moms and dads are still wary of some folk signs, trying in every possible way to observe them. Among these is the topic of today’s article – the ban on showing a newborn up to 40 days.

Why can’t you show a newborn before 40 days?

The birth of a newborn becomes his first life test. Adaptation to the outside world is a rather complex process, so the baby needs some time to get used to life outside the womb.

Of course, the young mother can’t wait to show her little miracle to her friends and family, because they have all been waiting for this event for so long. However, both science and religion recommend abstaining a little and rescheduling the show.

From a scientific point of view

The newborn organism is not yet fully formed and is very weak, which is an excellent option for attacking various viruses that are everywhere. To avoid serious pathogens, it is necessary to initially refrain from any contact between the child and strangers around him. After all, they can be carriers of viruses that are life-threatening to the baby.

Of course, you can let them take a look from afar, with one eye, but only to close people and it is advisable that they do not pick up or squeeze the baby in their arms.

You can brag to friends and acquaintances at any other moment when the child’s body adapts to the microbes around it. As a rule, this happens a month after the baby is born. It is not recommended to show your baby to strangers before.

If parents really can’t wait, then in order to avoid trouble they should adhere to the following rules:

1. Don't forget about that that new people around the baby also introduce new smells and sounds, which lead to overexcitation of the child. As a result, the baby loses his appetite, mental and sleep disturbances occur. To avoid this, you should postpone the visit of guests and let the baby get used to the real environment.
2. Not recommended invite all relatives, friends and acquaintances to visit at once. To begin with, a couple of people will be enough. A noisy gathering will not bring any benefit to either the nursing mother or the child.
3. Every visit to the baby should be agreed upon in advance and last only a short time.
4. Before as To introduce a tiny miracle to a new person, it is worth asking about his state of health. Most people do not consider minor illnesses to be a serious danger, but for a newborn it can lead to unpleasant consequences. Don’t be afraid to offend the guest; an adult will definitely understand that the baby is most important to the mother.
5. When to visit the baby Visitors should definitely ask them to wash their hands with soap, because a person coming in from the street can bring a large number of different bacteria harmful to health.
6. Arranging a visit with friends or relatives, you need to remind them not to wear things made of natural wool. Since it is a strong allergen and also a collector for dust.
7. Of course, everyone Anyone who wants to look at the baby will want to give something. Moreover, the majority directly ask their parents about this. In this case, there is no need to rush and say that it does not matter. It is worth thinking carefully and telling the person what the child really needs, for example, diapers, rattles or some kind of clothing.

From a religious point of view

The number 40 appears several times in the Bible. There are many different important events associated with it:

• Lent lasts 40 days;
• Jesus Christ wandered around the world for 40 days before his ascension;
• For 40 days, the soul of a deceased person wanders in the world of the living, after which it leaves it.

As for a newborn, it is believed that for the first 40 days of life the baby’s soul belongs to God, and only after this time, the baby must be baptized and given a name. After this, the child has a guardian angel who will protect him throughout his life. It is from this moment that the church allows viewing of the baby.

However, today the baptism of a newborn is allowed to take place at any time the parents wish. Perhaps the belief is outdated?

Conclusion

Taking into account both points of view, we can safely say that the decision or not to show a child up to 40 days to others remains with his parents. However, before introducing your little one to new people, you should carefully weigh the pros and cons.

With the arrival of a baby, all sorts of beliefs, signs, and prohibitions immediately emerge in the family. You should not look at a sleeping baby, you should not bathe the child in front of strangers, you should not watch breastfeeding by strangers, and most importantly: you should not show the child to strangers for 40 days after birth. What is the reason for this belief and is it worth sticking to?

Ancient Christian interpretation

Since the emergence of Christianity in Rus', many beliefs began to be associated with the number 40. Forty holy martyrs-warriors, forty days Jesus Christ walked around the world after the resurrection and before the ascension, forty days the soul of the deceased awaits the determination of its further stay... It was believed that the soul of a baby was the first 40 days does not belong to this world, still with the Lord. If the baby lived safely the first 40 days after birth, he should have been baptized, giving him a name and, accordingly, a Guardian Angel. After this, the child’s soul was already protected from the machinations of the evil one, so it was allowed to begin the ceremony of the bride. Today the Church allows the rite of Baptism to take place not necessarily after 40 days, but it can be done much earlier, depending on the wishes of the parents and the condition of the baby. Can we consider that the belief has lost its relevance?

Having come into this world, the baby goes through a difficult path of adaptation and getting used to close people and new living conditions. For normal adaptation of mother to child and child to mother, it is believed that it is necessary to establish the most comfortable emotional and spiritual contact. If in the first month of the baby’s life strangers, friends, neighbors endlessly crowd into the house and take the child in their arms, the adaptation period will be significantly delayed, turning into psychosomatic manifestations. The child will begin to catch colds easily, become capricious, and have problems with nutrition. Pediatricians also draw the attention of parents to minimize contact with strangers in order to avoid problems with the baby’s immunity.

Many parents today continue to believe in the superstitions that we inherited from our great-grandmothers. They recommended wearing safety pins and not holding the baby up to a mirror or placing it on a table. Such superstitions prompt parents to search for hidden meaning. That is why they think about why it is impossible to show a newborn before 40 days. Each family decides whether to believe it or deny it.

Medically

Scientists who carefully analyzed the situation from the medical side tried to reveal the secret of forty days. Immediately after birth, a child is faced with a large amount of information. It is difficult for them to immediately get used to an unfamiliar atmosphere and specific sounds. During this period, pediatricians also recommend minimizing the likelihood of contracting various infections.

In the mother's womb, the child has complete protection from external negative energy. Immediately after birth, the baby is faced with a huge number of viruses and bacteria. That is why it is recommended to limit the child during the adaptation period to all external irritating sources. They also have a negative impact on the psychological state of the child.

Doctors insist that during the first 40 days of life it is necessary to undergo prevention against various viral diseases. During this period, the risk of contracting viruses and infections increases significantly. They can lead to dangerous consequences in the future.

In an adult, the immune system functions fully, so it can protect him completely. That is why he may look completely healthy, but carry a dangerous virus for the child. Perinatologists insist that during the first 40 days the child should not have contact with anyone other than parents, breastfeeding specialists and a therapist. Parents should not rush to invite guests to the house.

From a religious point of view

If we approach the issue from a religious point of view, the church also recommends protecting the child from unnecessary contacts during the first 40 days of life. During this period, he develops protective forces against negative influences. Religion claims that after baptism, a Guardian Angel appears in the baby at 40 days.

There are a number of superstitions regarding photographing a newborn. Priests allow the formation of photographs, but they should not be shown to outsiders. This number has a sacred meaning in many religions.

This duration is typical for the following processes:

• World Flood.
• Peace of mind of a dead person.
• Securing the soul in the body of a newborn child.

Psychologists agree that the baby should not be shown during the first 40 days of his life. This period is also necessary for a woman to recover after childbirth and pregnancy. She did a great job - within 280 days, her body used all its resources to nourish and grow a new organism. Labor itself can last more than a day. At the same time, the body even uses up its reserve forces. Most of all, a woman gets tired from contractions and pushing.

After the baby is born, the woman still has to heal the tears and withstand hormonal changes. Even breastfeeding can dramatically worsen the overall psychological state of the mother.

The sacrament of baptism can only be performed after 1.5 months of life

As a rule, forty days is enough for a mother to learn how to feed and bathe her baby. After this, birth depression ends completely. Thanks to close contact, the mother begins to feel the baby. He also gets used to it and begins to respond to touch and changes in intonation.

If there are always guests in the house, then they will place natural contact. Against this background, a woman will not be able to pay enough attention to her child.

Additionally, it should be noted that the superstition about forty days has its origins in paganism. In those days they believed that the world was divided not between the living and the dead. It takes approximately forty days to move from one part of it to another. It was these that were given to the child for consolidation.

Over the course of 40 days, the process of accepting the baby into the new world takes place. At the end of this period, the pagans performed special rituals and ceremonies. Thanks to them, the soul felt completely protected and could not suffer from the evil eye. However, the rituals themselves have not survived to this day, but the memory of the need for an adaptation period has been preserved.

We should not forget that if the child is very tired, it will be difficult for him to fall asleep. Even while resting, the baby may shudder and wake up. Against this background, mom and the whole family cannot have a good rest. In a tense emotional situation, the risk of developing neuralgia and other dangerous disorders that can lead to complete loss of milk increases.

That is why you should not rush to introduce your newborn to a large number of friends and acquaintances. It is best to wait a period of 1.5 to 2 months.

Newborn's first meeting with relatives

If this period has already ended, then it is quite possible to arrange a baby shower. Parents must adhere to the following rules:

• The visiting session should last no more than 15 minutes. At the first stage, you should invite only close friends and relatives.
• It is best to pre-prepare the place or hold a meeting outdoors. If guests come home, then mother and child must have a secluded place with a quiet environment.
• Relatives and friends should not feel unwell. Otherwise, the virus or infection may have a negative effect on the baby’s body.
• Mother and baby should not go out to meet guests. It is best if they are in a room familiar to the child, where everyone will come one by one.
• After visiting friends, the child should be thoroughly washed in a bath with medicinal herbs. Massage manipulations also have a positive effect on the body. Mommy should feed the baby well and put him to bed. He should feel himself in familiar conditions. A constant feeling of threat to his life or health has a negative impact. All loved ones should show the maximum level of care towards the child.

The first days of life are necessary for establishing a bond between mother and child

When visiting a baby for the first time, it is customary to give gifts. Parents should plan ahead for gifts that will be useful in the future. Experienced mothers advise buying diapers from sizes 2 to 3. The child needs them in large quantities, so they are guaranteed to save a lot of money.

The superstition about forty days has not only a sacred, but also a medical meaning. Pediatricians also support this scheme. During this period, the mother will be able to establish an unbreakable bond with the child, which will help her in the future. That is why it is advisable to exclude fuss and other unnecessary trips and visits during the first months of life. A newborn is a great value for parents, which must be protected and appreciated.