Taboos . In old days when a baby was born , people put up a curtain with strips of red cloth on it to cover the door of delivery room , indicating that visitors were avoided . If neighbors, friends or relatives called on ,when they saw the strips of red cloth , they stopped entering . Even if members in the family had to stay outdoors for a certain period before stepping in ,when returned after being long out and away . All though , this custom came from superstition ,it was good for lying-in woman and the baby to have good rest and prevent epidemic disease .It has been popular up to now.
Bathing . On the third day after birth of the baby ,the delivery room was heated warmer sill ,then the baby was bathed in water with Chinese mugwort . It was the baby’s first bath after birth ,while ,food was prepared to feast invited guests for celebration . This custom still continues today .
Confinement .In old days because of poor life and bad sanitation in countryside , a woman usually gave birth , rested , slept and fed baby on heat-able brick bed covered with sand which was called “zuo yue zhi ” meaning child birth confinement which lasted a month , then sand was swept away ,the lying-in woman changed into clean clothes and the baby could be taken outdoors . This custom is no longer in existence ,but it sill prevails to celebrate a baby’s completion of its first month of life .
Trial .On the child’s first birthday , adults in the family dressed him up and let him pick up willingly things on a table such as coin , pen ; abacus and whip ,while adults stood by , watching what he took first . they said it could tell the future of his career . It is absolutely ridiculous , but being a kind of game , some people still do it .