Shaving Babies Head

[robbo1]

just a question is it common to shave the baby"s head in Thailand, my wife wanted to do it and I was very hesitant about it.

Is it a Buddist thing or just Thai tradition.

I should just explain my wife is christian. Note the baby did not lose his hair.

[Xangsamhua]

We did it with our children, and I think my wife might have done it with a couple of the grandchildren, too, when we were in Oz.

It's fine. I think the idea is just to help the hair grow evenly. Seemed to work for our kids. Don't worry about it.

[cdnvic]

A month or two after it's done you won't notice, and the hair grows back nice and even.

[SteeleJoe]

Did it with my first, not with my second.

Not a big deal either way in my family (it was a bit nerve wracking and that's the main reason why we both decided not to bother for the girl) but some family's think it's rather important.

[krading]

They shaved our 2 year old niece's head to get rid of an ear infection.

Told me it was caused by water tracking down the hair and into the ear canal.

What a load of crapola, I told them.

Superstitious old wive's tales.

Wouldn't you know it, it worked.

I keep my comments to myself and my old wife now.

[maiphedmaiaroi]

My daughter came out with a perfect hair style. Sons was ok too. No need to shave it to make them look ugly. Just give it a trim when it starts to get long after 1 month lol

[richard_smith237]

I thought it was to promote a thicker hair growth, some families also shave their Babies eyebrows for the same reason.

[Thongkorn]

I thought it was to promote a thicker hair growth, some families also shave their Babies eyebrows for the same reason.

Must be a lot of hairy balls in Thailand then

[sinbin]

It's done out of pure ignorance. For the first six months of a baby's life it's body hair stops growing. This is known as the sleeping period. Unable to comprehend this, Thais go through the pretence of shaving the head and cutting the eyelashes by claiming it to be a Buddhist thing. They've been doing it so long now that they've actually forgot why they started doing it in the first place.

They believe that by shaving and cutting the body hair it will grow back thicker. That is a myth. Google it. When it does grow back it's spiky and rigid, giving the impression of strength. All hokus pokus.

http://babytipz.com/...aby-hair-growth

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hair-removal/an00638

Edited May 18, 2011 by sinbin

[Atmos]

^

maybe different area, different traditions, at New Year 2009/10 my partner's nephew (3mths old at the time) had his hair cut as is their local tradition - first his parents, then grandma and a few notable people (me included!) took a little snip of hair, then someone took over with a proper electric shaver, followed by a family visit to the temple for a small 'service' and blessing of the child.

Never heard any mention of it being related to improving his hair growth.

[gregb]

When my wife did it to our 2 month old babies, she said it was to remove the bad spirits left over from their previous lives. So it appears there are many stories made to justify this tradition.

Just accept it is a Thai tradition, whatever the reason, and let it go. The hair will grow back. There are bigger, more important battles facing you raising children here.

[KRS1]

Shaving a baby's head is an old thai tradition so the new born doesnt get possessed by a lost soul that was waiting for the child to be born. Shaving the head confuses the spirit and he cannot find the baby and possess them.

That is the real purpose, not to grow hair back fuller.

[Mirth]

Shaving a baby's head is an old thai tradition so the new born doesnt get possessed by a lost soul that was waiting for the child to be born. Shaving the head confuses the spirit and he cannot find the baby and possess them.

That is the real purpose, not to grow hair back fuller.

The other story is that the hair is "dirty" being in the mother's womb for so long. Shaving the head bald is something like "cleaning" up the kid after birth.

[Xangsamhua]

Shaving a baby's head is an old thai tradition so the new born doesnt get possessed by a lost soul that was waiting for the child to be born. Shaving the head confuses the spirit and he cannot find the baby and possess them.

That is the real purpose, not to grow hair back fuller.

Interesting thread. There seems to be multiple reasons or beliefs. I don't think my wife would have had any time for the "lost soul" idea, though that may well be the practice's origin, but she certainly believed it was a good thing to do. The hair did grow nice and evenly afterwards, but whether it had anything to do with the shaving ...?

[sinbin]

Shaving a baby's head is an old thai tradition so the new born doesnt get possessed by a lost soul that was waiting for the child to be born. Shaving the head confuses the spirit and he cannot find the baby and possess them.

That is the real purpose, not to grow hair back fuller.

You're getting mixed up with giving the child a nickname. A nickname is given so when the spirits come and ask for the child by their proper name, the reply will be that only (nickname) lives here. Therefore confusing the spirit to go away.

Traditionally call-names would be after things with low value, eg 'dirt', which was to convince bad spirits that the child was not worth their attention

. Edited May 18, 2011 by sinbin

[Unwisemonkey]

Being a history channel type anthropologist I asked my wife why Thai's dothis, and she didn't really know. We speculated, I came to the conclusion that it was probably because a long time ago before Thais had doctors, the monks were responsible for teaching people about health and cleanliness as well as spiritual beliefs, and that it was probably just something they did to help control lice and other parasites. She responded with... How did you know the monks used to control all Thai medicine? I explained that it happens in every culture around the world because religion is one of the first structural forms to organize any society. I still think the lice control is the primary reason for doing this. I've seen Thai's often picking through each others hair like chimps grooming each other. Kind of nice way to bond I think. This is one Thai way I wouldn't mind seeing more of in the west.

[Xangsamhua]

Shaving a baby's head is an old thai tradition so the new born doesnt get possessed by a lost soul that was waiting for the child to be born. Shaving the head confuses the spirit and he cannot find the baby and possess them.

That is the real purpose, not to grow hair back fuller.

You're getting mixed up with giving the child a nickname. A nickname is given so when the spirits come and ask for the child by their proper name, the reply will be that only (nickname) lives here. Therefore confusing the spirit to go away.

Traditionally call-names would be after things with low value, eg 'dirt', which was to convince bad spirits that the child was not worth their attention

.

That would explain why I have a nephew whose nickname when he was little was หน้าแหล้ (naalae), Lao meaning "dirty face".

[Shurup]

I've seen Thai's often picking through each others hair like chimps grooming each other. Kind of nice way to bond I think. This is one Thai way I wouldn't mind seeing more of in the west.

They also do that to pull gray hair out. They seem to start getting few at the earliy years comparing to westerners...

[sinbin]

Being a history channel type anthropologist I asked my wife why Thai's dothis, and she didn't really know. We speculated, I came to the conclusion that it was probably because a long time ago before Thais had doctors, the monks were responsible for teaching people about health and cleanliness as well as spiritual beliefs, and that it was probably just something they did to help control lice and other parasites. She responded with... How did you know the monks used to control all Thai medicine? I explained that it happens in every culture around the world because religion is one of the first structural forms to organize any society. I still think the lice control is the primary reason for doing this. I've seen Thai's often picking through each others hair like chimps grooming each other. Kind of nice way to bond I think. This is one Thai way I wouldn't mind seeing more of in the west.

The reason why they groom each other is to remove grey hairs and curly hairs. The grey hairs are unsightly and the curly hairs are supposed to make your head itch as they grow.

[Unwisemonkey]

Being a history channel type anthropologist I asked my wife why Thai's dothis, and she didn't really know. We speculated, I came to the conclusion that it was probably because a long time ago before Thais had doctors, the monks were responsible for teaching people about health and cleanliness as well as spiritual beliefs, and that it was probably just something they did to help control lice and other parasites. She responded with... How did you know the monks used to control all Thai medicine? I explained that it happens in every culture around the world because religion is one of the first structural forms to organize any society. I still think the lice control is the primary reason for doing this. I've seen Thai's often picking through each others hair like chimps grooming each other. Kind of nice way to bond I think. This is one Thai way I wouldn't mind seeing more of in the west.

The reason why they groom each other is to remove grey hairs and curly hairs. The grey hairs are unsightly and the curly hairs are supposed to make your head itch as they grow.

Those are reasons I am aware of. I still think they pick through each others hair looking for lice though who would admit that?. My point is that grooming each other, regardless of the reasons is cool we ought to do it more in the west.. And that shaving a babies head probably had more to do with keeping parasites away then anything else.

[bina]

cutting hair is often a symbolic thing among many religions/cultures: welcoming someone in to the human world, the adult world, whatever (among jews its at three years old, when a male child is thought to start to understand basic 'adult' type things. before that, he is a baby and is not required to know anything....

as for lice, babies dont tend to get lice, its older children and teenagers, wears off among older folks... and my 17 yr old still asks me to check her for lice just for the pleasure of me playing with her hair. we also do that, yes, we look for lice but its also very nice to have someone play with your hair.

and yyes thai hubby is fanatical about plucking grey hairs. he would do mine also but i refuse. faster to dye hair.

as for the cutting, who cares why... doesnt bother the child, the old folks like it done, hair grows, big deal.

bw, a co worker doesn wash her hair often as she lost her hearing due to horrible ear infections, and she also claims that washing her hair the water goes down in to her ears even if she uses ear plugs that were specially made for her...

bina

[sinbin]

.

as for the cutting, who cares why...

I do. If you accept outdated rituals because the 'old folk like it' then you sanction the circumcision of young girls ? Shame on you. Time for these outdated practices to be put to bed.

[sinbin]

.

as for the cutting, who cares why...

I do. If you accept outdated rituals because the 'old folk like it' then you sanction the circumcision of young girls ? Shame on you. Time for these outdated practices to be put to bed.

[bina]

hair grows back and babies dont pay attention to how they look anyhow. circumcision chops off bits and pieces and they dont grow back and i dont condone the feminine form, it causes permanent damage both physical and psychological

... and, btw, my son was circumcised because that is what we do in my family's religion, 7 days after birth, here boys that havent had it done, well, u can imagine what happens in the army showers if someone is different. it means that he is not 'one of us'.... but nowadays, rather then using wine, local anesthetic is applied, etc... modern parenting....

but this thread is about hair, and really, most religious/cultural ceremonies are based on reasoning that most people dont remember from 'way back when' or because it 'says so in the bible/whatever religious book', or bacause 'our forefathers have been doing it for generations'.. it is one way to tie someoen to his/her community, a rite of passage, a symbol, a notch in the belt, makes u a member of a tribe.

the reasoning behind the popular tv show of 'survival' with all their 'tribal' symbolism. perhaps westerners are missing their rites of passage/tribal community rituals and so are anxious to adopt other cultures' symbols and rites, and yet are quick to laugh at seemingly 'primitive' rites that arent 'sexy' like some tribal rites.

one can weed out the dangerous rites and keep the others ... take pictures, show the kids when they are older, laugh about it, but deep down they are thinking it is really cool to have done some 'exotic' rite from the far east. and it keeps relatives and other old fogies happy...

bina

[Xangsamhua]

but this thread is about hair, and really, most religious/cultural ceremonies are based on reasoning that most people dont remember from 'way back when' or because it 'says so in the bible/whatever religious book', or bacause 'our forefathers have been doing it for generations'.. it is one way to tie someoen to his/her community, a rite of passage, a symbol, a notch in the belt, makes u a member of a tribe.

the reasoning behind the popular tv show of 'survival' with all their 'tribal' symbolism. perhaps westerners are missing their rites of passage/tribal community rituals and so are anxious to adopt other cultures' symbols and rites, and yet are quick to laugh at seemingly 'primitive' rites that arent 'sexy' like some tribal rites.

one can weed out the dangerous rites and keep the others ... take pictures, show the kids when they are older, laugh about it, but deep down they are thinking it is really cool to have done some 'exotic' rite from the far east. and it keeps relatives and other old fogies happy...

bina

Bina, you're speaking of ceremonies and rituals, but my memories of the infant head-shaving are that there were no rituals involved, or sense of ceremony, just a very quick and functional procedure when mother or grandma thought it was time.

PS My son was circumcised, too, at about 13. On the principle of "Why cut something if there's no need?" we didn't have him done as a baby, but after some irritation in the area at 12 or 13 the doctor advised circumcision and there was no more problem after that. I'm aware of other boys having had the same experience. (I've no idea if my grandsons have been snipped or not. Must ask.)

[KRS1]

Shaving a baby's head is an old thai tradition so the new born doesnt get possessed by a lost soul that was waiting for the child to be born. Shaving the head confuses the spirit and he cannot find the baby and possess them.

That is the real purpose, not to grow hair back fuller.

You're getting mixed up with giving the child a nickname. A nickname is given so when the spirits come and ask for the child by their proper name, the reply will be that only (nickname) lives here. Therefore confusing the spirit to go away.

Traditionally call-names would be after things with low value, eg 'dirt', which was to convince bad spirits that the child was not worth their attention

.

No, the thai tradition is called 'Tum Kwan Sam Won' where you cut the hair 3 days after the child is born, there's another date for it to be done also.

The Chinese tradition is to call the child ugly , so the spirits are not attracted to it.

A nickname is usually given so you dont have to pronounce the entire name like somsirijettraporn rattanakhosinratanakul...Som is much more convenient

Edited May 21, 2011 by KRS1

[joker7]

Before we cut or shaved out kids heads we went to the Temple and had a monk bless the baby and he took a wee snippet of hair. This allows us then to cut/shave the head.

[Pawpcorn]

I wondered about this too, as my bf's nephew's little baby girl got her first (VERY SHORT!) haircut today, one month after birth.

My bf said it's "tradition", and according to:

https://rudilewis.com/the-ceremony-of-hair/#:~:text=In Southeast Asian cultures%2C particularly,signifying freedom from the past.

 

"In Southeast Asian cultures, particularly Thai Buddhism, the hair of a newborn is called ‘fire hair’ and is shaved off, except for a small tuft at the crown, called a shikha, at the end of the first month of life. This hair is then set afloat on a banana leaf, signifying freedom from the past {lives}."