37 - They let their babies nap in the freezing cold
RECEIVE NO SHOCK Finns have a habit of letting your baby nap outside in freezing cold. Some Finns believe that this would improve the child's health. They leave their well-dressed baby on the balcony or in front of the well-dressed supermarket in the cold air. Even if for us as French people it seems inconceivable, the practice is very common in Finland. A CULTURAL PRACTICE DATING BACK TO THE 1940S This cultural practice became popular in the 1940s when infant mortality was very high and air quality in homes was poor. It was believed that sunshine and fresh air could prevent rickets (a disease of growth and ossification seen in infants and young children) and increase immunity to bacteria. While children's health has improved dramatically over the decades, there is no research to prove that there are benefits to letting children embrace the cold.