People are in shock after a mum shared a clip of her baby sleeping outside alone – something she says is the ‘cultural norm’ where she lives.
Mum-of-four Annie (@annieineventyrland) is an American who lives in Denmark, who regularly posts on TikTok about what life is like in her adoptive home, whether it’s taking her kids to the dentist or what Halloween is like for her family.
More recently, she also told followers about the common practice of leaving babies to sleep outside in their prams or buggies, while you run errands in the shop or head inside a café for a latte.
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In a video that has racked up a whopping 15.7 million views and 2.7 million likes, she explained: “The Danish practice of having your baby sleep outside in their stroller is not only the cultural norm, but it’s even recommended by midwives and baby nurses.
“Fresh air is said to keep babies healthy and help them sleep better, and napping your baby in their stroller outside is done in all sorts of weather.
“Babies are dressed in light-weight wool and have a down duvet, which regulate the baby’s body temperature [and] keep them warm without overheating.
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“It’s common to leave your baby napping outside while you go shopping or sit in a café. Parents always keep a close eye or have a baby monitor in the stroller.”
Annie continued: “Babies here don’t get kidnapped because no one wants the responsibility of someone else’s kid – especially when our healthcare system does everything they can to help everyone who wants a baby to have their own at little to no cost.
“Some people ask why I would have my baby sleep outside in her stroller outside while we’re at home. It’s for her to get the benefits of fresh air.
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“It’s her most familiar sleeping surface at this point, and I love that if my family and I ever want to go somewhere while she’s napping, we’re never stuck at home.”
Naturally, her post sparked a huge debate in the comments, with many people left stunned at the unusual practice.
One commented: “I get doing this at home in backyard or on balcony but NO WAY in public. It’s like leaving car with engine running.”
Someone else said: “Neverrrr I'm afraid someone would take my baby away.”
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A third wrote: “This is just crazy. Would never ever ever do it! In your temperatures over there? Kids survive without that fresh air. I could never! Oh my goodness!”
Many others pointed out that it's more of an interesting reflection on social and cultural norms in other countries, with one saying: “As an American, I cannot even fathom a society this safe… which is sad.”
Another commented: “In London you can’t even leave your online shopping outside for one second much less a baby, big up Denmark.”
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One other added: “Imagine not living with a background level of fear and distrust of strangers as the norm in your society.”
Jess Hardiman