Why Scandinavians Leave Their Babies to Nap Outside All Year Round
Even in snow and rain.
You might have heard about Scandinavians and their obsession with fresh air. It’s a tradition that goes way back, and it starts early. Get fresh air every day, and stay outdoors as much as possible. There’s an old saying that goes, “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing.” Meaning, dress up (preferably in layered wool) and get outside.
Latte-Parents
It is not uncommon to see newborns bundled up in their stroller and left outside to nap. Some parents even go as far as leaving the baby in their stroller outside a cafe with a baby monitor while they go sipping lattes inside. Which, I am sure, sounds completely ridiculous to a lot of parents out there. How can Scandinavian parents be so irresponsible? What if something happens and you can’t get to the baby in time? What if the monitor stops working? All true and valid concerns. But the mindset of implementing fresh air and a unique relationship with nature stands firmer in their culture.
I am a Norwegian myself. I had my first two kids in Norway. During my maternity leaves, I had several friends that did just this. We would go out for lunch, and they would leave their baby in the stroller by the entrance. I never felt comfortable enough to leave my kids outside if I was not there, but it is a common thing. And you will not be judged for doing it. If you’re walking around town and see a stroller left alone outside a restaurant or cafe, it is not seen as a cause for worry.
The mindset of implementing fresh air and a unique relationship with nature stands stronger.
Also, Scandinavians generally trust people more. According to the World Happiness Report, Nordic citizens experience a high sense of autonomy and freedom and high levels of social trust towards each other. The report highlights this might have something to do with generally low crime rates in the Nordic countries.
Better Sleep
Another reason Scandinavians let their babies sleep outside is the actual sleep-part of it. There has not been a lot of research on babies sleeping outdoors vs. indoors, but a Finnish study by Marjo Tourula showed that children sleeping outdoors took longer naps than those sleeping inside. Karin Naphaug, a Norwegian sleep therapist, also claims that babies and adults generally sleep better outdoors.
If it is below -10 Celsius/14 Fahrenheit, FHI, Scandinavia’s leading provider of health information, advises you to let the kids sleep inside.
That being said, it is not recommended that babies and children sleep outside if it is dangerously cold. There are no national guidelines on when it is actually too cold for the kids to stay out. Still, FHI, Scandinavia's leading provider of health information to health professionals, advises that if it is below -10 Celsius/14 Fahrenheit, you should let the kids sleep inside.
The germs
Do kids stay healthier by sleeping outdoors in a daycare? That is a question that parents frequently ask before they send their kids off to daycare centers. Nina Misvaer, a Norwegian nurse and sleep expert, thinks so, namely because they breathe in the fresh air instead of sharing each other's air in a room filled with sleeping kids. That being said, there has not been thorough research on this, and Scandinavia generally follows their knowledge-based experience. I can speak from my own experience. My firstborn started daycare right after he turned 1, and his daycare let them sleep outside, with the daycare workers watching them and making sure they were OK. He was rarely sick the entire time he went to that daycare (2 years), but then again, it might be a coincidence.
So, fresh air, better sleep, and a better immune system are some of the main reasons you’ll see strollers outside all year, rain or shine in Scandinavia. It’s not really backed up by too much science, but then again, science and research are not why the parents let their babies sleep outside. It’s all about tradition and the way things have always been done, and somehow it seems to be working.