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It is practically commonplace in Denmark for babies to be left alone in their prams to sleep outside. Yes, you are not mistaken! Danish parents leave their babies in prams while shopping or dining. Parents in Denmark often park their prams on the pavement and let their children sleep outside while they dine in a restaurant.
American-born Annie Sample is a 36-year-old content creator, contributor and mother who lives in Denmark with her husband and four children. In her TikTok video, Babies are advised to take naps outside because fresh air helps them sleep better.
Annie shares, “It’s very common to let your baby nap outside while you’re shopping or sitting in a cafe. Not only is it their culture, our midwives and baby nurses even recommend it!”
Babies in Denmark take naps outdoors in all weathers
While the thought of leaving your baby unattended may scare you, Danish parents still take safety measures by always keeping an eye out or keeping a baby monitor in the pram. Many of their strollers come with high-tech baby monitors, so parents can keep an eye on their little ones while shopping or dining indoors.
Danish parents explain: “Napping the baby outside in the pram is possible in all weathers. The baby is dressed in light fleece and has a duvet that regulates the baby’s temperature.” The Danish National Board of Health also recommends napping in the baby Check your baby’s temperature regularly during this period.
Annie said: “It sounded crazy to me at first, and I was pleasantly surprised to see it actually happen here. I tried it on my third child before with no success, and gave up on this altogether. Thoughts. I tried it again after my fourth was born when our nurse emphasized the importance of outdoor stroller naps, and most people do too.”
Do you let your baby sleep outside alone?
Many people are taken aback by this practice, especially knowing that it is a safe place for babies to nap at a distance. In fact, other people in European countries also think this is common.
Here are some comments from netizens:
“Here in Finland, our kids sleep outside like that – in winter too (with warm clothes of course)”
“It’s a great custom. Sometimes the babies wake up and you hear them laughing and chattering. They don’t cry, they’re happy.”
This is the “normal” behavior for the Danes and has been doing this for many years, if not forever. Of course my mother was surprised, shocked, amazed, disbelieved and thought: “You don’t really leave BB alone?!” This is a deep-rooted tradition in Denmark and part of life here, although not all Danes Everyone does it.