These parents are going the extra mile.
While it may be frowned upon in the US, it’s not uncommon in Denmark to leave infants by themselves in their strollers on the street.
“Denmark: where babies sleep outside alone,” mom-of-four Annie Samples explains in a viral TikTok that shows strollers lining a street and even parked in special stroller-sized bays marked with “P.”
“The Danish practice of having your baby sleep outside in their stroller is not only the cultural norm, but it’s even recommended by our midwives and baby nurses,” she said.
She added that fresh air is meant to keep the babies healthy and help them sleep better.
The American mom — whose family has relocated to Copenhagen — explained babies are dressed in lightweight wool and have a down duvet to regulate their body temperature and keep them warm without overheating while they nap in various weather conditions.
“It’s common to leave your baby napping outside while you go shopping or sit in a café,” she explained.
“Babies here don’t get kidnapped because no one wants the responsibility of someone else’s kid, especially when our healthcare system does everything it can to help anyone who wants a baby have one at little to no cost,” she added.
Samples says she always keeps a close eye on her baby and places a baby monitor in the stroller. She loves letting her little one nap outside.
“It’s her most familiar sleeping surface at this point,” she said. “[And] we’re never stuck at home.”
More than 73,000 people commented on the post — which has over 15.8 million views — several in disbelief over the ease at which she leaves her baby.
“I get doing this at home, in backyard or on balcony, but NO WAY in public,” one person wrote. “It’s like leaving [a] car with [the] engine running.”
Some US parents couldn’t help but compare the two countries.
“Meanwhile in the 🇺🇸 you can’t leave your Amazon boxes outside for too long,” one joked.
“I’m in Texas. The child would be carried away by mosquitoes,” added another.
