15 Filipino Parenting Myths: What to Keep or Let Go, According to Stage

Who hasn’t heard a tita exclaim, “Pwera usog!” upon seeing a cute baby? Or what about that lolo who warns you daily not to take your newborn outside at night because they might get hamog? Filipino myths have lasted generations, and while most of them aren’t medically sound, many have been deeply woven into family life that it’s become ritual to follow them.

These Filipino myths supposedly protect your little ones, from keeping them healthy to helping parents make sense of the mystery of child-rearing. But since you have access to more information about child health and development now, it’s smart to ask: which parenting pamahiins are worth holding on to and which ones can you let go?

Mom, ParenTeam is here to untangle the confusion. From usog to hamog, here’s a closer look at the most familiar Filipino myths about raising children. It’s time to separate the cultural traditions worth cherishing from the ones that don’t quite hold up today.

Why Do Filipino Pamahiin Still Matter to Families?

Yes, pamahiin and modern science co-exist—and it’s a phenomenon not exclusive to the Philippines. Many beliefs have become embedded into local culture. And, in the Philippines where close ties are highly expected, respect for elders, conformity, and fulfilling family obligations are the primary reasons these myths remain important.

Sometimes, saying “Sige, Ma” to a well-intentioned grandparent can be a way of keeping the peace or acknowledging where the advice came from.

Beyond that, there’s also the “just in case” factor. If someone tells you not to let your baby sleep with wet hair because they might get sick, following the advice appears harmless. Why take the risk? When the perceived cost of following a pamahiin is small, some parents may decide it’s better to be safe than sorry. Even when there isn’t scientific evidence behind the belief.

Pero wait! This doesn’t mean you should follow every pamahiin “grown-ups” tell you. You’re a grown-up yourself, Mom. You have access to information from pediatricians, researchers, and, of course, ParenTeam. Understanding where these beliefs come from can help you decide if these customs have a place in your parenting style. After all, you can love the wisdom of your lola, while still asking, “Okay, pero may saysay ba talaga?”

Filipino Parenting Myths About Pregnancy

Whatever Filipino myths you come across, there’s no better way to confirm your baby’s sex than with medical methods.

Here’s a look at some of the familiar Filipino myths that might have plagued you during your pregnancy.

1. “Kung ano ang pinaglilihian, magiging ganun ang itsura ni Baby.”

“Gusto mo ng chocolate? Baka hindi maputi anak mo.” This is one of the most familiar beliefs around paglilihi.

Paglilihi itself is a very real part of pregnancy, particularly those sudden or unusual food cravings that can leave everyone in the household scrambling to find a particular snack. But while cravings are common during pregnancy, there’s no scientific evidence that they determine a baby’s appearance.

Verdict: Enjoy the paglilihi, but don’t worry that indulging—or not indulging—in a particular craving will change your baby's features.

2. “Kapag matulis ang tiyan, lalaki. Kapag bilog, babae. ”

Who needs an ultrasound or blood test if the shape of your pregnant belly can tell you what you need to know about the baby’s sex. This Filipino myth is fun to play during family gatherings, but your bump isn’t a reliable way to determine your child’s physical characteristics. Your belly’s form depends on many factors, including your own body shape and abdominal muscles, as well as the baby’s position.

Verdict: Keep—only for the fun of it. Don’t take any guesses too seriously. If you want confirmation of your baby’s sex, use a medically reliable method.

3. “Kumain ng kambal na saging para kambal ang baby.”

Have you been avoiding conjoined bananas because you aren’t physically and financially ready for twins? Well, go ahead and spoil those banana cravings. Once again, there’s no scientific evidence that eating conjoined fruits can cause a twin pregnancy.

Verdict: Enjoy those bananas. They’re good for you! Don’t avoid them because you don’t want a multiple pregnancy.

4. “Huwag magsabit ng kahit ano sa leeg dahil baka mabalot ang pusod ni Baby.”

Feeling cold? Forget the shawl. Feeling fashionable? Don’t you dare put on that necklace. According to this myth, these could cause your baby’s umbilical cord to wrap around their neck. This pamahiin is especially prevalent in Sorsogon.

While an umbilical cord can sometimes become wrapped around a baby’s neck during pregnancy, it’s unlikely that your choice of accessories has anything to do with it.

Verdict: There’s no medical reason to avoid necklaces or similar items for this purpose.

5. “Huwag tumingin sa pangit o nakakatakot na bagay dahil baka maging kamukha nito si Baby.”

If you believe this myth, you might want to avoid horror movies for a while. Your baby might look like Undin! Jokes aside, your child’s looks are largely due to genes. Before modern medicine and genetics gave us a better understanding of how babies develop, pamahiin offered ways for parents to make sense of the mysteries of pregnancy. Including this one.

Verdict: This is definitely one of those superstitions that you can keep in the past.

Filipino Parenting Myths About Newborns

The Filipino myth about hamog reminds you to dress your child appropriately, no matter the time of day.

Once your baby arrives, the pamahiin don’t stop. In fact, they seem to multiply. Suddenly, there are rules about who can hold the baby, what to say when someone compliments them, and even the best time for the first haircut.

1. “Pwera usog!”

You’re likely familiar with usog, the belief that if a stranger admires or greets your baby—especially someone with strong energy or who’s hungry at that moment—they might unintentionally make your little one feel unwell. How? Your baby can suddenly become fussy, develop a fever, or cry more than usual.

To prevent it, you say, “Pwera usog!” Or have the stranger dab a bit of their saliva on your baby’s forehead or tummy.

Verdict. Hard pass, Moms. There’s no scientific basis behind the usog phenomenon. And there’s no way transferring saliva to another person is safe.

That said, always be careful when introducing your baby to new people and situations. Always err on the side of hygiene and sanitation and make sure not to overwhelm your little one with new faces. If your baby does develop a fever or seem unwell, best to look for the actual cause and consult your pediatrician when necessary.

2. “Huwag mo ilabas yung bata sa gabi. Baka mahamugan siya.”

Many old folks believe that hamog (the dew in the cool, misty air often present in the evenings or early mornings) causes babies and children to catch colds or fevers.

Of course, you don’t want your child to get sick. What parent does? But viruses and bacteria cause colds and illnesses, not cool air itself. If you’re going out with your baby at night, make sure your baby is dressed appropriately, keeping them comfortably warm and dry.

Verdict: Let go. Hamog itself doesn’t cause colds or fever. Still, keeping your baby comfortable and appropriately dressed is always a good idea, no matter the time of day.

3. “Huwag munang gupitan ang buhok ni Baby bago mag-isang taon.”

Based on old wives’ tales, you shouldn’t cut your baby’s hair until they hit their first birthday, or else “di na kakapal yung buhok niya”. Another familiar belief is that your baby’s first hair clippings should be tucked into a book or dictionary to help make them smarter. Some variations even involve having someone intelligent do the first snip, supposedly passing on their brainpower.

Yes, those first soft strands of baby hair are so precious. But the timing of your baby’s first haircut has no bearing on how thick or thin their hair will be in the long run. According to the National Library of Medicine, genetics primarily determines hair thickness and texture.

As for keeping those first hair clippings in a book, it won’t magically boost IQ. Intelligence is a trait shaped by genetics and a wide range of environmental factors, including nutrition and learning.

Verdict: You can cut your baby’s hair whenever you’re ready. While keeping those first hair clippings in a book won’t make your child smarter, it can be a lovely way to preserve a precious milestone.

4. “Lagyan ng basang papel ang noo ni Baby para mawala ang sinok.”

Baby hiccups? Lola’s cure is always to grab a little piece of paper, moisten it with saliva, and stick it on your baby’s forehead. Supposedly, this cure works in minutes. The explanation? The paper “distracts” the baby’s brain, disrupting the hiccup cycle.

According to pediatricians, a piece of paper on the forehead has no direct physiological effect on pagsisinok. Instead, try gentle stroking motions on the forehead or other proven methods.

Verdict: The paper itself isn’t what stops the hiccups. Since baby hiccups are generally harmless and usually go away on their own, there’s no need to do anything except have patience.

5. “Pisilin ang ilong ni Baby para maging mas matangos.”

The thinking behind this Filipino myth? A small child’s cartilage is still soft, so you can allegedly help shape their nose to look more defined with a high bridge as they grow.

Everyone wants what’s best for their baby. But, as a review on the genetics of nasal development shows, the shape of your child’s nose again comes down to genes. Simple actions, like pulling or pinching, won’t override this genetic blueprint.

Verdict: Pinching or pulling your baby’s nose won’t make it more matangos. Best to just adore that cute little nose exactly as it is. Loving yourself is always a good lesson, which you can never teach too early!

Filipino Parenting Myths About Toddlers

Consult your doctor when your child has a fever. Dress them in light clothing, instead of doing kulob.

Nope, the pamahiin don’t stop once your child hits the toddler years. They evolve, too! From eating habits and fever remedies, these superstitions are all too familiar. But do they still hold up today? Are any of them worth keeping?

1. “Kapag hindi naubos ang pagkain, kukulubot ang mga daliri.”

Wasting food is bad, so, of course, over time, parents may have thought up ways to scare their little ones into clearing their plates. The idea behind this pamahiin is simple: if you don’t clean your plate, your fingers might curl or become deformed.

It may be effective, but there is no scientific connection between leaving food unfinished and the way a child’s fingers develop.

There’s also a good reason to be careful about using fear to get children to eat. A 2023 review published in Nutrients showed that when children experience ongoing negative emotions, like anxiety or stress due to fear, they may develop unhealthy eating habits.

Verdict: Finishing food has no bearing on your children’s fingers. Instead of frightening kids into cleaning their plates, try teaching them to listen to their hunger and appreciate food without making mealtimes stressful.

2. “Dapat pagpawisan ang bata para gumaling ang lagnat.”

Have you sought advice from your elders about treating your child’s fever? Did they tell you about kulob or bundling your child up in thick blankets or heavy clothes. Supposedly, sweating a lot helps the fever break.

It may seem logical that sweating will “release” the fever, but that’s not how a fever works. In fact, wrapping a feverish child too tightly can make them even hotter and may lead to overheating.

Modern medical advice for managing a fever typically recommends light clothing, plenty of fluids, and, when appropriate, other measures to keep your child comfortable. Your doctor is always the best person to ask for advice on handling your child’s fever.

Verdict: Skip the kulob and focus instead on keeping your child comfortabe and hydrated. And when your child has a fever, especially if you’re worried about their symptoms, check with your pediatrician.

3. “Huwag patulugin si Baby na basa ang buhok, baka magkasakit.”

Many Filipinos grew up with this pamahiin, which has several versions. The main idea is that if you let your child go to bed with wet hair, something bad could happen. They might go blind, catch a nasty cold or pneumonia, or even lose their hair!

Waking up with a damp, cold scalp isn’t the best feeling and can make your child feel a bit chilly if the room is cool. But wet hair itself won’t cause sickness, blindness, or baldness—though hair can be more prone to breakage when it’s wet.

According to the Sleep Foundation, colds are caused by viruses, not by wet hair itself. There is a slight possibility of fungal growth on the scalp if it remains damp for long periods, but this isn’t the same as saying that sleeping with wet hair will make your child seriously ill.

Verdict: There’s nothing wrong with drying your child’s hair before bedtime if it makes them more comfortable, but you don’t need to worry that wet hair itself will cause a cold or other illness.

4. “Huwag mong tapakan o lampasan ang batang natutulog. Baka hindi tumangkad!”

According to superstition, stepping over a sleeping child—accidentally or not—can stunt their growth.

In many Filipino homes, especially those with limited space, children often nap together on mats (banig) on the floor. Stepping over someone when crossing the room is often unavoidable.

However, there’s no scientific reason to believe that stepping over a sleeping child will affect their height. As with nose shapes and hair thickness, your child’s size is influenced mainly by genetics. Nutrition, overall health, and other factors can also impact growth.

Verdict: You can still tiptoe around a sleeping child—mostly because waking a napping toddler is something every parent would rather avoid—but you don’t need to worry about affecting their growth.

5. “Huwag paliguan ang batang may sakit. Baka lumala.”

This is another belief many Filipino children grow up hearing: when a child has a cold, fever, or is otherwise unwell, it’s better to skip bathing until they feel better.

If you think about it, it’s almost...reasonable? A sick child already feels cold and uncomfortable, and nobody wants to make that worse. But a bath itself (like hamog and wet hair) doesn’t cause a cold or make an illness worse. In fact, a lukewarm bath can sometimes help a child feel better, particularly when they’re sweaty from a fever.

What matters is making sure the water isn’t too hot or too cold, and that your child is dried and kept comfortable afterward.

Verdict: A bath doesn’t cause or worsen a cold. If your child is sick, focus on keeping them comfortable and hydrated. Plus, follow your pediatrician’s advice, especially if they have a fever or other concerning symptoms.

How Can You Respect Traditions While Keeping Your Children Safe

Pamahiin and modern medical knowledge don’t have to play on opposing teams. The rule of thumb: if a tradition is harmless, sentimental, or simply a way to bond with Lola, then there’s no need to push back on it. There’s real value in feeling connected to your roots and in keeping the peace at home.

That said, Mom, you need to draw the line the moment a belief risks delaying a check-up, replacing real medical care, or compromising a baby’s health. The matter becomes less about debunking pamahiin in front of your elders and more about reframing it.

You can say something like this: “Ma, sinusunod ko naman ‘yan, pero sabi ng doctor namin kailangan din nito.” This way, you’re not directly rejecting tradition, but adapting it to what you now know. In the end, any generation wants the same thing: a healthy baby and parents who feel supported. If you focus on this shared goal, you can find a version of both worlds that work.

When Should You Consult a Pediatrician?

Pamahiin can be a meaningful part of family traditions, but they should never take the place of proper medical care. When your child isn’t feeling well or something about their health or development concerns you, it’s always okay to ask your pediatrician, even if you’re not sure whether it’s something serious.

If your child’s symptoms are severe or appear suddenly, don’t wait to see if a pamahiin will help. Seek medical attention promptly.

Rule of thumb? When in doubt, consult your specialist.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some common Filipino myths about pregnancy?

Pregnancy comes wrapped in generations of pamahiin, and most Filipino moms have heard at least a few of these growing up. Some of the most common ones include:

• Eating conjoined bananas will result in twins
• Anything you do or see during your pregnancy will be reflected on your baby
• The shape of your bump is a tell-tale sign of your baby’s sex
• Don’t wear anything around your neck to prevent cord coil

What are some superstitions about babies?

Once your baby arrives, a whole new set of pamahiin takes over. One of the most common is "pagpag," the practice of shaking out or airing baby clothes before use, believed to remove any lingering spirits.

Many families also avoid taking a newborn out of the house before a certain age—often until the baby turns one month old—to protect them from usog or hamog. There’s also a widespread belief around a baby’s first haircut and nail-cutting, with some parents delaying these milestones or asking specific relatives to do them, believing it affects the child’s future luck or intelligence.

Some of these Filipino myths sound silly, sure, but they’re traditions that carry deep sentimental and cultural weight, even for parents who don’t necessarily believe in the supernatural reasoning behind them. What are some of the most out-of-this-world pamahiins you’ve heard? Share them on the ParenTeam Moms and Dads Facebook Group and trade stories with other parents!