Will and I had a language class this past trimester and we were the only two people in it. We just treated it like a 2 hour tutoring class every day and we ended up really enjoying it. Our teacher allowed us to direct the class and talk about what we wanted to which ended up helping us out tremendously. I had asked her if she could teach us vocabulary for baby items and some different verbs associated with having a baby. This is a whole new world we're entering in to! So one day she brought in a full list of necessary baby items according to Costa Rica. The words are so different and some of the items are so funny to me that I had to share...
First of all, every mother has one big baby shower called a "te de canasta". The picture below is an example of how huge this event is. It's a catered event in a banquet hall, can easily last all day, everyone is invited (men and women) and it costs a whole lot!
First of all, every mother has one big baby shower called a "te de canasta". The picture below is an example of how huge this event is. It's a catered event in a banquet hall, can easily last all day, everyone is invited (men and women) and it costs a whole lot!
Baby items here are very expensive too and there are no second-hand stores to buy used baby items. For example, the cheapest baby blanket I've seen is $20 and we saw a cheaply-made bouncy seat for $120. There is a Carter's store here in the mall and a typical sundress is around $30 (in the States you can buy those at Costco for around $6!). We're really having to think through everything we're purchasing for baby Ally...which is a good thing.
Okay, on to the list...a few things really stuck out to me!
NOUNS
- los panales de tela o desechables - cloth or disposable diapers
- el cochecito de bebe - stroller
- la silla para el carro - car seat
- las camisetas enterizas con broches - onesies
- el cepillo/ el peine - brush/comb
- la cuna - crib
- EL TOLDO - MOSQUITO NETTING
- la almohadita - little pillow
- las medias / los zapatitos - socks & shoes (every baby MUST have a complete outfit on at all times. And all germs come through the feet so baby MUST wear socks at all times or baby will die)
- los guantes - gloves
- EL FAJERO - BELLY BUTTON BELT (baby must wear this for the first month to prevent having an outie belly button...that's very ugly. You put a button in their belly button and strap this belt around their waist)
- el aceite - baby oil
- LA COLONIA - BABY COLOGNE (the brand "Mennen" is the best)
- la chupeta - pacifier
- el movil - mobile
- el monitor - monitor
- el termometro - thermometer
- el aspirador nasal - nose sucker thingy
- las vacunas - vaccines
- el encierro - pack n play
- el portabebe - baby carrier
- los colados - baby food
- las compotas - puree baby food
- EL MOISES - MOSES BASKET
- el goltero - medicine dropper
- las toallitas humedas - baby wipes
- la crema para cuerpo y las nalguitas - diaper rash cream
- las pijamas - pajamas
- los gorritos - hat (newborns MUST have hats on or baby will die)
- los escarpines - baby booties
- el jabon - soap
- la tina - baby bathtub
- las sabanas - sheets
- las cobijas - blankets
- las protectores de la cuna - crib bumper
- los panitos - washclothes
- los baberos - bibs
- el ahulado - changing pad
- el talco - baby powder
- el cortaunas - nail clippers
- los aplicadores - qtips
- el chilindrin - rattle
- la silla para comer - high chair
- el sacadientes - teething ring
- la formula - formula
- las gacillas - safety pin
- los juguetes - toys
- el bolso del bebe - diaper bag
- el chupon - bottle
- las vinchas - baby bows
- tiraleche - breast pump
VERBS
- sacarle el colico - to burp
- amamantar - to nurse
- alzarlo o chinearlo - to hold or rock
- ASOLEARLO - TO SUN (sun before 9am the first year)
- curarle el ombligo - to care for the belly button
- arrullarlo - to sing lullabies
- cambiarlo - to change
- estimularlo - to stimulate/exercise
- gatear - to crawl
- balbucear - to babble
- salirle los dientes de leche - teething
- dar los primeros pasos - to start to walk
The last thing I had to mention are a few customs:
One is that the baby should always be warm. Remember, it hardly ever gets below 70 degrees here, but during the windy and rainy months babies have on fleece footed pajamas, hats, gloves, sweaters, scarves and blankets. The babies look so hot to me!
Another is that baby girls get their ears pierced in the hospital when they are 1 day old. This is how people can tell if your baby is a boy or girl...period. We haven't decided if we're going to pierce Ally's ears or not.
Everyone seems to find out the gender of their baby. There are very few gender-neutral items in stores around here. This is a very common question....not IF I know what I'm having, but what is it.
Lastly, the baby and mommy do not leave the house for 40 days after childbirth. I have heard it's because the baby will get sick (of course) and that the mom just is NOT presentable...which is probably true. Appearance is huge here. You will never see a woman wearing tennis shoes and a tshirt out unless she is exercising and you must bath every day. So, if a woman isn't bathing daily and can't put her high heels on, she doesn't leave the house. After 40 days she is expected to step out into society as a new woman...and look the part as well. I think I will go crazy if I can't leave my house for 40 days, but we'll see.
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