Spotted: babies sleeping undisturbed in the freezing cold. TikTok continues to share videos of the little ones blissfully napping in strollers, strategically parked in squares or along the sidewalks of Copenhagen, while mom has a cup of coffee with a friend inside.
The Danish trend of sleeping outside, even in winter temperatures, is not only the norm but also the advice of their midwives. Is this brilliant or completely insane? An American mother went straight to the point and called Iben Sandahl, a family counselor in Copenhagen and author of ‘The Danish Way of Parenting’, to find out if these videos are real.
The Danish standard
“Yes, it is a tradition. I slept outside when I was a kid. My children also slept outside.” Traditional in all Scandinavian countries and rooted in the philosophy of “friluftsliv” – in other words, dedicatedly enjoying fresh air, regardless of the weather forecast. “We always say in Denmark: there is no bad weather, only bad clothes,” says Sandhal.
According to Sandahl, Danish parents are already starting to sleep outside as soon as their newborn is back to birth weight, which should only take a few weeks. After that, as long as the little one continues to nap, at least one daily outdoor nap is the norm. In rain or snow, parents can use the weatherproof covers of strollers. And when the wind is blowing or it is freezing, they simply rely on their common sense.
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Better sleep
It’s not just that Scandinavians aren’t scared of cold air – they embrace it as a method of building immunity. “When we wake them up from a nap, we really want to see rosy cheeks in our children,” Sandahl jokes. That blush indicates a fresh, healthy environment. This almost religious belief runs so deep that daycare centers leave rows of strollers out in the cold for the afternoon nap.
Evidence shows that children sleep better outdoors; a 2008 Finnish study found that some kids nap 30 to 60 minutes longer outdoors than indoors. 66 percent of parents reported that their offspring were more active after outdoor naps, and 54 percent said they ate more. And as long as the sleep environment is safe, Dr. Williams, also known as the “TikTok Kid Doc,” doesn’t care much if it’s outside. That means the child lies flat on their back, has plenty of breathing room, and mom has a monitor to keep an eye on things.
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The succes
While the Danish practice of sleeping outdoors may be considered unorthodox, research shows that it can have significant benefits for children. This structured approach can contribute to a better sleep rhythm for the little ones. The success of outdoor sleeping depends on factors such as clothing, environmental conditions and the child’s health.
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2024-02-17 12:23:18
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