Pregnancy & Baby Superstitions from Around the World
by K.A. Fairless

Your new baby is a bundle of joy; that's the way it's been for all of human history. However, there are always plenty of fret-worthy issues. While 21st century new moms think they have enough to worry about with picking attachment or traditional parenting, deciding on vaccination dates, or choosing the best baby jogger; our ancestors didn't have it so easy either.

In previous eras, pregnancy and childbirth were a maze of superstitions and odd beliefs -- to be flouted at your peril!

Here's a quick round-up of some of the weirdest and most wonderful old wives' tales:

Before Baby Is Born
Guyana:
Wearing high heels while pregnant means your babe will be born cross-eyed.

Japan:
Pregnant women must take care to keep their bathroom clean if they want a healthy baby, out of respect for the god of the toilet.

England:
Stay away from the zoo; an old belief says lions and tigers become enraged at the approach of a pregnant woman.

For an easy birth
Turkey:
If you want a problem-free delivery, the Turks say you should lock all the door locks in the house and unbutton all the buttons on baby clothes.

Early days
China:
If a newborn baby wears clothes passed down from an older baby, it won't cry at night -- at least in China.

It's also thought in some countries that new clothes and toys are generally unlucky, so bypass the baby shower and head straight for the hand-me-downs!