Don’t Step Over a BabySouthern Child-Rearing Folklore
I never heard this one grown' up, I've only read it. Seems like a way to prevent accidents. I never heard this one grown' up, I've only read it. Seems like a way to prevent accidents. Origin
This superstition has been passed down in the South and Appalachia for generations. Babies were often laid on quilts on the floor while family worked or visited, and stepping over them was thought to bring harm. Similar beliefs exist in Europe, but Southerners repeated it so often that it became a standard piece of child-rearing folklore, right alongside sayings about teething, walking, and growth.
Notes
Related Pages
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- Folklore: Linea Nigra - Southern Pregnancy Folklore About Baby Gender
- Folklore: Pregnancy Cravings - Southern Folklore About Baby Gender
- Folklore: Reaching Overhead in Pregnancy - Southern Folklore About the Umbilical Cord
- Folklore: Wedding Ring Over a Pregnant Belly
How to Cite This Page
- APA (7th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, October 1). Don’t Step Over a Baby
Southern Child-Rearing Folklore . HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/folklore/dont-step-over-a-baby - MLA (9th edition)"The Hillbilly Dude." "Don’t Step Over a Baby
Southern Child-Rearing Folklore ." HillbillySlang.com, 1 Oct. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/folklore/dont-step-over-a-baby. - Chicago (17th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. "Don’t Step Over a Baby
Southern Child-Rearing Folklore ." HillbillySlang.com. October 1, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/folklore/dont-step-over-a-baby.
Dislaimer
What you're reading here is old Southern folklore and storytelling - not medical advice, and not meant to guide health, or pregnancy decisions (especially pregnancy decisions!). These tales are part of how folks once made sense of the world, passed down from grandparents and midwives.
If you have any medical questions or concerns, talk with a qualified healthcare professional.
Learn more on the Folklore hub page.