What if we adopted the habits of our Scandinavian neighbors? While we are constantly afraid that our children will catch a cold, they make them take a nap outside in subzero temperatures!
Essential for growth, beneficial for emotional development, excellent for the immune system, baby’s nap is a sacred moment! Whether looked after at home, by a childminder or in a nursery, a baby under one year old generally takes a nap in the morning and one in the afternoon. We of course take care to create an environment conducive to sleep and a comfortable bed for him. We also make sure that baby doesn’t get cold! But in Scandinavian countries, if baby’s comfort is obviously central, naps take place in conditions that are surprising to say the least.
A nap in the fresh air for Danish babies
A baby sleeping peacefully in his pram when the outside temperature does not exceed two degrees and it is snowing? If these images are surprising (even frightening!) for us French people, there is nothing more banal in Denmark and other Scandinavian countries. It is in fact completely normal to see in the streets, lined up in front of cafes, rows of prams sheltering babies well bundled up and peacefully sleeping. Same thing on terraces, in gardens or in nurseries. It is neither a fad nor an oddity, but an ancestral tradition which is perpetuated from generation to generation. And if you listen, you will hear neither cries nor complaints. Babies simply sleep soundly!
Of course, for baby to sleep outside safely and comfortably, he must be sufficiently covered. Babies therefore have several layers of warm woolen clothing, a hat, mittens, a feather or down suit. Without forgetting a sheep or reindeer skin. It is also not uncommon for babies to be swaddled.
What are the benefits for baby of a nap outside?
Several studies have obviously looked into this phenomenon, and the result is clear: the benefits for babies are considerable. According to a study carried out in 2011 by Finnish researcher Marjo Tourula, from the University of Oulu, putting babies to sleep outside allows them to sleep longer and more deeply, but also to gently learn to go back to sleep on their own. In addition to this improvement in the quality of sleep, the researcher also notes that this practice has a very positive influence on the development of the immune system, therefore with fewer viruses. Still according to Marjo Tourula, the ideal temperature for an outdoor nap would be… -5°C!